Evening star., 1943-02-12
Editors Urged 10 Take
Lead in Protecting
Freedom Of Press
Asne Opens PorIey;;
Directors to Be Elected
Today and Tomorrow

'VOoy Ouu V'UOItOW
Americas editors were urged to-
day to assert their leadership In
protecting the freedom of the press
as the tvD-day war meeting of the
American Society of Newspaper
Editors got under way at the Willard
Hotel.
w. s. Gilmore, editor of the De-
troit News and president of the
society, in his annual report told
the assemblage of 200 editors that
they are the ones who should be
carrying the flag for a free and
untrammeled press"
Roy Roberts, managing editor of
the Kansas City Star and first vice
president of the ASNE. is slated to
succeed Mr.. Gilmore as president
of the society.
Members will elect four new direc-
tors today and tomorrow and the
board will then choose new officers,
Annual Dinner Tomorrow.
John S. Knight, second vice presi-
dent, is expected to fill Mr.. Roberts
post. Results of the election will be
announced tomorrow night at the
editors annual dinner.
The terms of Gardner Cowles. jr.::
Donald J. Sterling, Dwight Young
and Mr.. Knight expire, with Mr.
Young and Mr.. Knight renominated
Mr.. Cowles and Mr.. Sterling hold
temporary war assignments in Fed
eral agencies. In addition to the
two renominated, others from whom
the members will choose directors
include Ben M. McKelway, associate
editor of The Star; L. D. Hotchkiss
OF the Los Angeles Times. Louis I.
Jaffe of the Norfolk (Va) Virginian-
Pilot. James North, jr., of the Fort
Worth Star Telegram, Dwight Per-
rim Of the Philadelphia Bulletin and
Stephen c. holland of the Indianap-
oils News.
Mr.. Gilmore pointed out that
ASNE is more important to the
country than we have realized" and
he urged the members to carry a
greater share Of the load which
naturally falls on our shoulders.
Invited by owl Chief.
He reminded the editors that their
society now represents members
from newspapers which have COM
bined circulation Of more than
22,000,0 readers.
THAT is the size OF our audience
seven days q week." he said. That
is America"
The president, in revealing the
events of the past years, explained
the society had first considered
abandoning its annual meeting, but
that last October the Board of Di-
rectors, meeting in Chicago, re-
ceived a specific invitation from
Elmer Davis, owl director. sug-
gesting that the 1943 session be
held early in the year in Washing
ton.
Lauds Role Of Press.
Mr.. Gilmore also explained that
he had been empowered at the
Chicago meeting to set up special
committee known as the Committee
Of the Government and the Press
with powers to act on any subject
growing out of the war emergency.
He described the duties of this COM
mittee as being mainly protection OF
the rights of the press and CO.
operation with the Government in
advising officials whenever such
help was needed.
Mr.. Gilmore praised the role OF the
newspapers in connection with last
years scrap drive conducted
throughout the Nation.
That was a real demonstration of
the power of the press to arouse the
people," he said. "Only the news
paper can spread a message that
widely all over the land"
Most of the editors attending the
meeting did not arrive in the city
until this morning. in some cases
just before the first session was
scheduled to open at IL o'clock
They pointed out that they wanted
to avoid using hotel space any long
er than was necessary.
After a luncheon today the men,
bers were to hear owl Director
Elmer Davis and Censorship Direc-
tor Price in a closed session.
A conference with President
Roosevelt at the White House has
been arranged for 4 pm, after
which the editors will confer with
State Department officials. Tonight
members of the society will attend
the White House correspondents
dinner at the Statler Hotel.
Marshall and King to Speak.
Off-the-record speakers tomorrow
will include Gen. George c. Mar
shall, Army chief of staff; Admiral
Ernest J. King. commander in chief
of the United States Fleet; 1t. Gen.
Henry H. Arnold, commanding gen.
eral, Army Air Forces; Col Oveta
Culp Hobby, director of the Women's
Army Auxiliary Corps and former
member of the association; 1t.
Comdr. Mildred H. McAfee, director
of the Women's Reserve of the
United States Naval Reserve; 1t
Comdr Dorothy c. Stratton, director
of the Women's Reserve, Coast
Guard.
Also scheduled to speak are Donald
Nelson, chairman of the War Pro-
duction Board; Secretary OF Agri-
culture Wickard. War Manpower
Commissioner Paul V. McNutt,
Price Administrator Prentiss M.
Brown and Civilian Defense Direc-
tor James NJ Lands.
Mr.. Byrnes and Col John Jestyn
LleWellin, resident minister in
charge of supply and chairman of
the British Supply Council, will ad-
dress the final dinner meeting OF the
society at the Willard Hotel tomor-
row night