Evening star., 1943-07-09
WASHINGTON, D. G, 9
Roy Roberts Refuses
ito Resign From owl
Group Of Advisers
~ the Associated Press,

~ the Associated Press,
NEW YORK. July s.--Roy A.
Roberts, president OF the American
Society Of Newspaper Editors, says
he does not intend to Withdraw
from the Advisory Committee Of
the oflice of War Information ~
suggested by Dean Carl w. Acker-
man Of the Columbia University
Graduate School Of Journalism.
In urging Mr.. Roberts to with
draw, Dean Alderman said the
judgment and opinion Of the presi-
dent of the ASNE should be above
the influence Of ofIlcial pressure"
Mr.. Roberts replied that "acting in
an advisory, not an administrative.
capacity should not circumscribe or
limit independence of action."
The discussion was made public
yesterday in the form of an exchange
OF kilograms between Dean Acker-
man, q member OF the ASNE, and
Mr.. Roberts. who also is managing
editor Of the Kansas City star.
Hsyt Backs Roberts.
In q statement issued in Port
land, Greg. Palmer Hoyt, domestic
director of the owl, said he saw no
reason why membership on that
agency's Advisory Committee should
prejudice the actions of Mr.. Roberts
either as president Of the ASNE or
managing editor of the Star.
Mr.. Hoyt. on leave from the edi-
torship Of the Portland Oregonian,
in naming Mr. Roberts snd eight
other prominent editors and pub
lishers as the Owl Advisory Com
mittee Tuesday, said:
This is not front committee.
In fact, some Of them ,committee
members) have been very critical OF
our operations.
In his answer to the Columbia
Journalism School dean, Mr. Roberts
said that IF the time ever comes
when giving sll possible service to
the war effort is incompatible with
the presidency of the ASNE, then
the God given right of every Amer
lean to resign, tell why and raise
hell remains"
Mr.. Ackerman. in his message. de-
scribed the presidency of the ASNE
as nom political and as "one of the
most important journalistic trustee
ships in the world"
Fears Government Pressure.
He said that the society president,
as trustee, should hold this Office
above and beyond any possible in
fuence from any Government tenn
porarily in Office, or any political
party, or any pressure group inside
or outside of Government which
may seek to use the press for prop
aganda purposes" MI. Ackerman
continued.
THE propaganda interests OF any
government in war or peace are in
compatible with the complete free
dom of news and Of opinion which
editors should maintain. The time
will come when you will have 10
make q choice between Government
propaganda and the freedom Of
news
Mr.. Roberts replied that there
would be no free press If the war
were not won, and declared that the
war would not be won ''by every
body locking himself up in an ivory
tower and refusing to cooperate"
Declaring he believed the Gov
eminent had the right and duty 10
call any citizen to serve in the ma
tionsl effort, Mr.. Roberts said:
"As to owl, have felt its sctiv-
tiles should be confined to freeing,
not freezing. news. There should be
no propaganda whatever in it. More.
1 am not happy about the Govern
mentis relations with the press gen.
orally.
Must Help Win War.
whether we like or don't like
how the show is going, we still must
make any contributions we can to
victory. T agree with you that the
presidency of the ASNE is an i'm
portsnt journalistic trusteeship. But
acting in an advisory, not an ad-
ministfative, capacity should not
circtimscribe or limit independence
of action
''If it does, the obvious thing to
w l' " CIlu QUILL SCI tlIC WltIt ttlC
committee or terminate official posi-
ton with the society. That I will
do should such situation arise. but
+ will not PREJUDICE any war effort
in advance ss all bad"
Mr. Hoyt, in his ststement, said,
in part:
The prime function Of the do
M aSf1n hr.of an, Df I,a 1S
Information is to give the American
public the news about the war RS
directly, clearly and freely as pos
sible. 1t is my considered judgment
that Roy Roberts, both as president
OF the American Society of News
paper Editors and rs an outstanding
working newspaperman. is perform
ing a signal service for his Govern
ment and the press in accepting a
position on this vital committee.
Doesn't Prejudice Actions.
Il can see no reason why Mr..
Roberts acceptance Of this impor-
tant post prejudices his actions
either IS president of the society
or as a. managing editor of the
Kansas City Star"
The other members of the owl
Advisory Committee ere:
Lawrence l.. Winship, managing
editor Of the Boston Globe; George
w. Healy. jr., managing editor of
the New Orleans Times -Picayune;
Paul Bellamy, editor of the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer; Mark Ethridge,
publisher Of the Louisville Courier
Journal; Gardner Cowles, jr., editor
and publisher of the Des Moines
Register and Tribune; Fred Gaert-
ner, ir., managing editor Of the
Detroit News; Wilbur Forrest, as
sistant editor of the New York
Herald Tribune, and H. d. Paulson,
editor of the Fargo Forum, Fargo,
N. Oak.
Ynxsnr Tu~nk Pan~.AnI