Gustav Adolf praises the press

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June 4, 1926

The Crown Prince of Sweden met today with a gathering of American editors and publishers at a luncheon given in his honor at the Century Club. Crown Prince Gustav Adolf was introduced as "the prince of good fellows," according to the news accounts.

He paid "his respects to the American press, and declared that Sweden was anxious" to establish better trade relations with the United States, "but also to get into closer contact with our outlook on life in general," reports the Chicago Daily Tribune.

He said: "In that respect the daily and the periodical press have a very important mission to fill.

I sincerely hope that it will be filled by men and women of the Swedish press and of the press in this country alike, to the benefit of both peoples.
"The importance and power of the pres really is considerable in these days. It not only gives us all the news but it also forms public opinion to a considerable extent.

"The ideas and the trend of thought of the masses are guided by it. This not infrequently is done with great skill, because the best brains of the country are often in the service of the press."

The Crown Prince added: "So far I have spent only a few days in the United States. I therefore still have some difficulty in collecting impressions of this country of yours. One does feel rather overwhelmed by the magnitude of everything here; by the size of your towns, by the height of your skyscrapers, by the never-ceasing traffic in your streets, by the number of your newspapers -- and reporters "being for the most part authors, editors or publishers, you all wield the pen, and in a certain sense you represent the American people, politically and intellectually. With us the press has for a long time been called the third biggest power in the country. I don't know what the adequate figure would in your case. Would the title 'second to none' be the right word?

"The importance and power of the press is very considerable in these days. It doesn't give us all the news, news of what has happened, will happen and also, possibly, never is going to happen; it also forms public opinion to a very considerable extent. The idea and the trend of thought of the vast masses being guided by it. This is not seldom done with great skill, because the best brains are often in the service of the press.

"There may be a danger in this, the danger that the readers stop thinking for themselves and let the well-written newspapers think for them. Fortunately, there exists a good safety valve to this danger; the press does not, as we all have found out, represent a unanimous opinion. Let me tell you that I devote myself a good deal of the time to the reading of newspapers of the most varied description and color. As a consequence I usually manage to keep my equilibrium tolerably well.

"The leaders of the press are shouldering a very heavy responsibility in the consequence of the power they are thus exercising. I am sure that this is often felt, for I believe that generally speaking your profession is seriously trying to enlighten and lead the people -- maybe along differing lines -- for the welfare of humanity."

Crown Prince Gustaf Adolf expressed his gratitude for the "splendid reception" that he and his wife have received from the "newspapers since their arrival last week."

After the luncheon, the Crown Prince and members of his party visited the New York Times and its press room. Leaving the newspaper's office, the Crown Prince "visited Grand Central Station and inspected the working of train operations on both levels of the station." He also had a chance to visit the Twentieth Century train, "which was taking on passengers." As they were about to leave the train, the Crown Prince asked if he could visit the train's kitchen in the dining car, as he was "keenly interested in the culinary arrangements."

Before the luncheon, the Crown Prince met with reporters from numerous American newspapers. One reporter asked how he had fared in his interviews.
"Very nicely," came the reply. "As to whether I should like to be a reporter, well that's a good idea. I'm sure I'd be hugely amused, but I fear I'd not be a very good one.

"Have I had cause to revise my advance views of America? Well, it has been rather much as I thought it would be, except that things are larger and the speed is greater than I anticipated."

One reporter, in jest, admitting to a secret ambition to call the Crown Prince, "just once, Mr. Bernadotte."

"I've never been called Mr. Bernadotte," he said, "plainly enjoying the remark."
"I'd like it. I'm very proud of the that name. Americans are all so delightfully frank -- I like that."

He admitted that his trip to the United States was to "gather first-hand information on social and economic subjects," but "amusement had not been considered in his itinerary."

"I must see a baseball game," he said, also nothing that he hoped to go the theatre as well.

He said he was "much impressed" with President Coolidge. "The President and Mrs. Coolidge received us in a very friendly spirit. We conversed on a number of things. The White House is very fine. It must be nice to live there. Thomas A. Edison, whom I also met, has a very wonderful spirit. It is remarkable how his mind goes from subject to subject. He is a wonderful man."

Crown Prince Gustav Adolf was also asked of his view of jazz. He said he found it "rather amusing to listen to," but he preferred classical music.

Crown Princess Louise was not present for the interview nor the luncheon at the Century Club.