Evening star., 1943-04-19

to say few words as one Of two
survivors of those days of nearly so
years ago. President Mclean has
beaten the gun by a few months.
patiently to assure that there is still
survivor tottering around-in these
days you never can, tell! 1
Tribute to Associates.
While I have named Lawson and
Stone as the founders of our system,
I would not have you think that
they labored and accomplished
alone. Many, many others labored
with them. Conspicuous among
them were Charles Knapp, Frederick
Driscoll and Charles Diehl, the as
sistant general manager, who also
still survives.
I was literally born in the news
my father that it was highly
honorable following and entirely in
compatible with diversions into
political office.
I was 80 years old. when the battle
started and also when became OFF,
cially identified with the Associated
Press.
The Associated Press of Illinois
stemmed from the Western Asso-
ciated Press, which was a regional
organization, and represented the
determination of group of West
ern newspapermen to form ma
tional mutual non -profit-making Or
ganization that should be owned
by the newspapers forming its men,
bership and dedicated to the task of
collecting news service that should
be without bias Of any kind, political,
religious or economic; should be also
as accurate as humanity possible and
as expeditions as a regard for ac-
curacy permitted.
It must be understood that the
dominant national news service at
that time was privately owned and
IN our Judgment was in sinister
hands.
No Monopoly Sought.
1t was under this banner that I
enlisted and from that day to this
have regarded that cause as almost
a holy one and its success vital not
only to newspapers, but to the ma
tional welfare.
We in no sense sought monopoly.
We were then very small minority
OF the daily newspapers of the
country and I think even at this
time less than a majority of Amer
lean newspapers depend exclusively
on the Associated Press for their
general news service.
The very nature Of our structure
prevented the establishment of a
monopoly.
We were opposed to the creation
OF a monopoly as menace to ma
tional interest, and especially as
newspaper men did we wish for an
alert opposition to keep our own staff
on its toes.
The result of our policy is evident
today. Two privately owned news
gathering agencies are operating in
competition with us, efficiently and
I understand, profitably.
My one regret is that they do not
mutualize themselves and remove
the possibility of their being used
to advance the individual political
or other opinions that may be held
by their owners.
Praises Staff of the A.P.
I would be false to myself If I did
not pay very earnest tribute to the
working staff of the Associated Press
who produce in peace and in war
the news reports of which we are so
proud and to General Manager
Cooper, who is responsible for the
selection and the esprit d'corps of
this staff.
I have b, fathers affection for
| Kent and have gloried in his mag
nificent performance Of his great
/ task.
Speaking for the, founders of the
! Associated Press. whom we are hon.
oring, I thank the boards of direc-
| tors of the organization who have
served so faithfully for these so
years and Robert Mclean, our presi-
dent, who is 50 earnestly and intel
ligently guarding our interests in
these trying days. Our gratitude
and admiration go out to him.
For some reason I am irreStiStibly
reminded of a story coming from
the time of some interstate differ
ences of opinion that arose in the
186Os.
A Confederate colonel ran into
very bedraggled private in the
trenches and asked him casually
what he thought about the war.
t Then unctuously, Well, Colonel,
suh!, I've fit for my country, I've
bled for my country and I've starved
for my country; I'm willing to die
for my country because love my
country and I want to tell you,
Colonel, sub, if ever this dad blast
ed war is over I'll be gol derned if
I ever love another country as long
as I live"
And yet I wonder, both as to the
Reb and to myself.
| New Heights to Scale.
I can't quite bring myself to feel
that my love for the Associa ted
Press and my belief in the vital
necessity of its continuing success
will end for me in my grave.
Rather, I believe that this man
made sun of newspaper freedom,
our Associated Press, which had so
modest a rising so years ago and
fought its way so many of those
earlier days, through clouds of
doubt, of Indifference and of out
right opposition, has not yet
reached its zenith.
That it is indissolubly bound to
and an indispensable part of the
whole great system of freedom
which we call the United States of
America, and,
That If we but tend 1t with our
loving care and nourish it with
every ounce of our devotion, it will,
like truth, honor and virtue, shine
eternally.
| A.P.
CONTINUED From First pape)