18 MAY 1929, Page 13

THE " COMMERCIALIZED " AMERICAN PRESS.

Professor Andre Siegfried once aroused a storm of protest by his charge that American journalism was completely commercialized. An interesting side-light on the assumed commercialization of journalism is furnished by the will of Melville E. Stone, who was for many years the dominant force in the Associated Press. The fact that Mr. Stone left an estate of less than $2,000, is at least indicative of the disinterestedness in the presentation of news which animates even our alleged "commercialized " journalism. Meanwhile, the storm of condemnation of a certain power and public utility company for purchasing an interest in newspapers goes on with unabated vigour.