Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-09-18
Federated Clubs
Hear Publisher

The fall season of The London
Federated Clubs opened with the
Sept, meeting and the Worth
while Club, Mrs. George Jones,
president was hostess club for
the month. The meeting was at
the Coover Memorial on N. Main
Street.
After a brief business session
presided over BY Mrs. Russell
McShane, Mrs. Jones presented
Mrs. Rodney Plynell who intro
duced the guest speaker Mr.. Rich
ard Conway, Publisher of the Mad
ison Press and The Democrat.
Mr.. Conway chose as his topic
Freedom of Speech-American
Style" He stated that one of the
principal reasons for the great
ness of The United States is our
freedom of speech-the right to
voice ones opinion. He said that
a newspaper Is actually a semi
public utility and as such a news
paper has responsibility to the
community. but the community
also has a responsibility toward
the newspaper and that both
should and could work together
for a common aim, namely the
good of the community.
PRESSURE GROUPS
Just as there are pressure
groups who attempt to suppress
the freedom OF the press, there
are sometimes newspapers which
abuse their privileges and their
responsibilities by perhaps back
ing policy which is not for the
common good of all; hence, it is
not always necessary to agree
with every policy or statement
that is printed; however. news
paper should make its readers
think by bringing the issues to
light.
Mr. Conway gave a brief his
tory of the local publications
which he purchased only few
years ago. The Madison Press
was established in 1843 and The
Democrat in 1857 and since one
is Republican paper and the
other a Democrat it is a rather
unusual situation; and although
the work of managing and pub
fishing the two Is combined, they
maintain entirely separate editor
ial policies. 1t was interesting to
learn that the local publishing
company is the smallest In Ohio
to be with Associated Press. One
of the. chief aims of the publish
er is to give Madison County a
daily newspaper Just as soon as
newsprint ALLEGATIONS permit.
One or the tasks of a newspaper
staff is the studying of the huge
amount of literature which comes
to its offices daily from all kinds
of groups and organizations, a
great part of which may be sub
VerSive. 1t is a tremendous un-
dertaking to read all of this and
to decide what is right to be re-
printed for general reading.
Mr.. Conway showed a sample
publication which might be con-
sidered Subversive, and is at
present under r. 3. /. 1nvestiga-
ton. Since many such publica-
tions are so worded thai it is diff
ficult TO determine if they are
meant to undermine our govern
ment and our way of life, one car
readily see the responsibility of q
newspaper in choosing between
such literature. We must not
however, say that such literature
may not or should not be printed
as there would go our own right
: to freedom of speech which we
must guard so carefully.
Mr.. Conway referred to a
treaty which is now before the
United Nations called "A Coven:
ant on Human Rights It, to al
appearances. starts out to be q
very fine document proclaimine
the right to decent living stand.
ards and all of the things ir
which Americans do believe, but
down near the end of the list i.
a clause which states that there
should be suppression of the press
and the right of individuals tC
criticize the government in time
! of emergency. Since the United
States honors a treaty If con
gress should ratify this treaty we
could look forward to suppression
of freedom.
BEST MEDIUM
A newspaper, properly used, i,
the best medium for good govern
ment, and that good governmen
should begin right in the com
n1unity A well informed publ,
I is the best way for good govern
ment.
To bring out some of the ligh
ter side in the life of newspapel
staff, Mr.. Conway quoted sevcra
amusing slips in print" which
he collects from both local and
other papers.
He summed up his very inter
esting talk by saying that in th'
business of newspaper publishing
it isn't always possible to pleas,
everyone all of the time, bu
that he and his staff are sincerel,
trying TO do a good job for the
nvZ