Evening star., 1953-04-19
Editors Defeat Move
To Probe Criticism oi
Campaign Coverage

~UVV1WSV
The American Society of News
paper Editors refused at it's
final session here yesterday to
investigate serious criticism" of
the press in the 1852 presidential
campaign and recent charges by
two Senators that newspapers
have been unfair.
A resolution to that end was
proposed by Irving billiard of
the st. Louis Post-Dispatch, to
demonstrate the full belief of
ASNE in the peoples right to
know"
But the editors, a few minutes
earlier, had agreed to go slow on
resolutions. They had approved
a proposal to find ways of
strengthening any stand taken
by ASNE through resolutions. A
majority of members contended
scant attendance at closing con-
vention sessios render laSt-min-
ute decisios risky and rather
useless"
Cites Taft and Morse.
Mr.. billiard said Senate Ma
jority Leader Taft and Senator
Morse, Independent of Oregon,
both had leveled serious charges
at newspapers about coverage.
He argued that ASNE should go
into the subject for purposes of
presenting the facts fully.
Walter M. Harrison of Okla
homa City, moved to table the
resolution. He said:
LAS long as there are political
campaigns. such charges will be
brought"
He estimated that not more
than $50 of the $50 members
were present at the time. His
motion was carried by an over
whelming vote.
Don C. Shoemaker of the Ashe-
vile IN. c. Citizen, also failed
in an effort to put through a
resolution condemning an act of
the North Carolina legislature
permitting secret sessions of a
legislative committee. Members
said they sympathized with the
objective but they were unac-
quainted with the law under dis
cussion. They said the ASNE
Committee on Freedom of Infor-
nation should look into the
matter.
Jelke Case Discussed.
Earlier the society discussed
implications of court secrecy in
the Minot Mickey Jelke morals
case. They found themselves di-
vided on the correctness and
wisdom of a judicial ruling ex-
cluding reporters from the court
room.
Mr.. Shoemaker, whose news
paper editorially upheld the rul-
ing, asserted public decency COM
PEELED it. He said freedom of
the press does not mean license
to spread salaciousneSs. He as
serted protection of young peo-
ple' must transcend commercial
journalism.
Alicia Patterson of NewSday,
disagreed. She said it would
have been better to offend some
sensibilities than for judge
to arrogate to himself the power
exercised in this case.
Charles A. Guy of the Lubbock
(Texas) Avalanche journal sug-
gested that the courts ruling
may have saved editors trouble
and worry. But Malcolm w.
Bingay contended the issue was
not fight for any specific priv
ilege for the press. Rather, he
held, it was a fight for freedom
of the press.
"You don't have to print what
goes on in court" he declared.
Every editor is the possessor of
his own conscience"
Names of Juveniles.
Two members discussed the
question whether newspapers
should publish the names of jul
veniles who violate criminal laws.
Carl E. Lindstrom of the Hart
ford Conn Times, argued they
should have the right to do so.
Raymond A. Mcconnell. jr., of
the Nebraska State Journal, as
serted more harm than good
would result.
News and editorial costs were
discussed by a panel composed
of Vincent S. Jones, Gannett
Newspapers; Frank Eyerly, Des
Moines Register & Tribune; E. T.
Stone. Seattle Post-Intelligencer,
and Charles A. Storke, Santa
Barbara (Calif.) News-Press.
The retiring president, Wright
Bryan of the Atlanta Journal,
presided for the concluding ban-
quet last night, when Secretary
of States Dulles delivered his for
eign policy speech, and Charles
T. Lucey, veteran Scripps-
Howard reporter, received the
PoyYoond T1oproor NHaY1ooTio q I