AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 April 1926, Page 3

AMERICAN CABLE NEWS.

[Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.] PRESS' CONGRESS. WASHINGTON, April 3. With President Coolidge as tho principal speaker, tho first pan-Amei icun Congress of Journalists embarked on Thursday upon a study oi various problems confronting t'ho press. Twenty-one republics are represented. The study is made with a- view of working for a better understanding among tlieir nations.' For that end. tho earners ton© was laid lor a home to ho erected here for a. National Press Club.

The President referred to the country’s press as “ one of the corner stones of liberty.”

Discussing the League of Nations, President Coolidge said that the United States refused to adhere to that organisation because the States wished to “ refrain from interfering in itho political affairs of others. It will he of great benefit if the people can he informed that while wo take a part in the administering of intei national justice because it affects us, we do not thereby become involved in the political controversies of other countries, because they are none of our affairs.”

Referring to tlio recent adhering (with reservation) by the United States to the World Court, President Coolidge said: “Our Government has taken this step because it believes that it .was the most practical method by which it could exercise its gieat influence in establishing the principle of international law under which disputes and differences would he adjudged not by force, hut by reason.

SECOND OIL FIELD ABLAZE. NE AVYOBTC, April 8. A Los Angeles telegram states that two seven hundred and fifty barrel reservoirs in the area of the Union Oil Company, whose tanks are at San Luis Bispo, were still ablaze late on Thursday. They were struck hv lightning and became the scene of a second gignntie conflagration. At San Luis Bispo there is a spreading lake of tire, which is now half a mile square. The loss on the two fields will Total over Jhirten million dollars. PUSSYFOOT’S PAST. NEW YORK, April.B. The United Press, by permission, publishes extracts from "Pussyfoot” Johnson’s story appearing in the International Cosmopolitan Magazine. Johnson, describing his part in the campaign lending up to prohibition, said: “I told enough lies for the cans" to make Ananias ashamed of himself.” 110 declared that he once bribed -Russian officials to give him informn■on to aid his work. He said: “I [drank gallons in the campaign against ’liquor.” He denies the stories that he even took human lives during his campaign. He gave the source of such stories. He said" “I like the taste of liquor, but X have never drunk it except for the reason indicated. I have not had a drink for a dozen years, but I would take a drink right now, if I thought it would advance the prohibitioh cause. Johnson declared that men’s own personal habits regarding drink liad not prevented men from aiding the cause. There, were many drinking men among the supporters of prohibition.