Evening star., 1949-04-22
Editors Challenged to Gust Any Hypocrites in Ranks

llN <lkllCk wan 1SN41ky VA <N1
paper Editors today was chal-
lenged to tighten its code of ethics
and expel from its ranks any
hypocrites, unbelievers. heretics or
charlatans."
The challenge came from Tom
Hanes, managing editor of the
Norfolk Ledger Dispatch. at the
ASNE convention at the Hotel
Statler during a panel discussion
of methods of bringing about bet
ter understanding between news
papers and their subscribers.
The ASNE could perform a tre-
mendous service to the press Of
America by providing at least one
stronghold of decent Journalism, |"
Mr.. Hanes told the gathering of
more than 800 delegates repre-
senting the Nations outstanding
newspapers.
Bluntly, Mr.. Hanes told the
editors that while the ethics Of the
ASNE are high. some editors do
not abide by them and hoodwink
their readers.
Self-Examination Urged.
Mr.. Hanes said the time has
come for every newspaper rep
resented to undergo rigid self
examination" to determine If 1t Is
living up to the ASNE code.
Mr.. Hanes' challenge high lighted
the opening session OF the second
day of the convention.
Erwin D. Canham, editor of the
Christian Science Monitor and
president of the society. announced,
as he called the session to order,
that he had received word from
the White House that President
Truman would hold an "off-the-
record" conference with the editors
at the Hotel Statler at $3.50 pm.
today if it is raining at that time.
Originally, the President had
planned to meet the editors at the
Rose Garden at the White House.
Secretary of State Acheson was
scheduled to deliver an "off-the-
record" address at luncheon
meeting at 1890 pm.
Philip H. Parrish, editor OF the
Portland Oregonian. told the con-
vention earlier that public re-
action toward newspapers after
the November election was much
more serious than after any of the
elections won by Franklin D.
Roosevelt"
Reporting Praised. y
Mr.. Parrish was one Of five
editors who participated in a
panel discussion of THE Press
and the People" His subject was
why the Press Was Wrong in
the 1948 Forecasts and What Our
Wrongness Signifies"
Newspaper editors have every
reason to be proud, Mr.. Parrish
said, Of the objective reporting
that characterized their news col
umns during the campaign.
Where" he asked, did the
people get the information upon
which they based conclusions con-
trary to our own?
1.-THE fact is that most Of lis
retain only column or two for
our own thoughts and relinouish
the rest of the paper to the
Propaganda of everybody else
especially to the dominating
propaganda Of the party in
power"
Sees Hidden Propaganda.
Because the polls had been 90
nearly right In past campaigns
and the public had grown tolerant
of small errors. newspaper editors
made the grave mistake Of vouch-
ing for their scientific accuracy
and printing them as news.
rather than as a news expert
ment," Mr.. Parrish said. ,,.,..x
Nevertheless, Mr.. Parrish added.
the polls are here to stay because
they have shown amazing value
under fixed conditions" Mr.. Par
rish corlsoled the editors who
guessed the campaign wrongly
with the observation:
Certainly there is no reason
for regret that the majority of us
were on the losing side so long as
our conScienceS are clear-ma-
jorities can be either right or
wrong. They crucif1ed Christ and
elected Hitler"
Paul Miller, editor Of the
Rochester Times Union, told the
delegates "there is nothing wrong