Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-16
HUNESTON ADDRESS
DEFENDED AT MEEf
Assert Oak Lane Preacher M
Misrepresented in News
papers

Two hundred residents OF Oak Lane Ap-
peared at the Free Public Library last nt9hl.
responding to the call Of circular when
had been sent through the suburb ssgned
by the Oak Lane Fourth of July consfAR-
tee. This circular read follows: 3
Attention. people OF Oak Lane. IndignR-
ton meeting will be held at Oak Lane Id
brary on Monday evening duly 15. 1913, at
o'clock. TO protest against the unwarranted
criticism of oration delivered on the morn
inE of July 4. All are invited and all who
heard the oration are especially urged to
attend. The best interest of cur commune
ity demands this" u
The reference was to a news article printed
In the Public Ledger Of July 5, giving =
report OF a speech delivered the day before
by the Rev. +. j. Humcston. who took the
newspapers to task because of what hS
called their inadequate reports Of the war.
The next day the EVENING PUBLIC LBDuHn
made editorial references to Mr. Humestcns
address in which the attitude of the loyal
American press toward the war was defined.
Ware Lieutenant Presides
william P. siegert. offceholder and
Ware adhereht OF the Ftorty-second Ward.
was the presiding officer at last evenings
meeting Several speeches were made deal
ing largely with the unquestioned patriotism
OF Oak Lane residents and indorsinE Mr.
Humestcn. many members of his congrsGa-
tion being present, but not touching upon
the point at issue. which was the loyalty
of the press as whole.
Finally Mr.. Dudley arose and attacked
the newspapers as autocracy run by the
advertisers Of the country Mr. Dudley felt
very strongly on the subject. and told the
gathering he had plan whereby the present
war could be ended within a short time. He
had endeavored. he said, to obtain suitable
publicity for his project in the newspapers
of this city and New York, and his attenspt
he said. had been fruitless.
In fact. he lamented the press was ali In
the hands of the advertisers and governed
by their interest and influence except one
little newspaper out in Kansas. which had
been independent to the point that 1t had
to fight the United States Government 10
mainain its independence
A letter from the editor of the EVENING
PUBLIC LEDGER. addressed to Mr. Humeston
was presented TO Chairman Siegert and read
to the meeting.
This letter inclosed a copy of a letter sent
by the editor to the minister on Sunday, read
ing as follows:
My attention has been called to cir
cular advertising that Indignation meet.
ing VIII be held at Oak Lane Library or
Monday evening. July Is, 1918. TO protest
against the unwarranted criticism OF ora
tion delivered on morning of July Fourth
Does this refer to the editorial article
published in the EVENING PUn1Lc LEDoER
when you called i last monde Monday = y You 0'ese ese
planned you did not mean what you said
about the newspaper press of the country
in these words:
Soldiers don't read the newspapers You (.
know the newspapers have to print
pahulum for the faint-hearted and the
timid." IS
You plainly regretted implying that the
newspapers were misleading or deceiving
the public about the war. You said further
that you realized you had been indiscreet
in the use of these terms
You will recall that told you we would
cheerfully publish letter Of yours to this
effect In order that you might make your
exact e.x meaning plain Your reply was,
7 - 1A<t,
any other communication from you. I pre-
sumo 1t Is your intention man Of honoT
and a Christian minister to make such :
correction and explanation publicly at thts =
meeting as you have done at my ONCE
VIII you let me know your Intention in q
this matter not later than p. m. tornor-
row tMonday) afternoon at my Office?
No answer was made to this letter and the
| Rev. Mr.. Humeston was present at the meet.
ing when it was read, but continued to remain
silent. 49,
Resolutions Are Adopted
Edwin NJ Abbott had come to the meeting
with a set of prepared resolutions, whicl
adopted by a rising The soiu-
tons were as follows:
Whereas, The Rev. L. ]. Humeston. altar
three months patrot.c service as ca.np
pastor at Fort Dodge. Iowa. was selected
by the Oak Lane Fourth of July commit
tee to deliver the ovation on lnUepe.,,.~:,-s
Whereas. The Grafton which he delivered
was most patriotic, instructive and in
spring: and
Whereas. This Grafton has been grossly
distorted and miscOnstrued in the reports
nubished in the PUBLIC LEDGER and the
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER in stating that
much anxiety was manifest in Oak Lane"
thereby: and
Whereas The uniform he so meritori-
ously wears has been DETAINED in an un-
warranted and prejudiced editorial in the
EVENING PUTTIC LEDGER; be II therefore
Resolved That we. the citizens of t>ak
Lane and vicinity, resent the injustice
that has been accorded t Mr.. Humeston
and his oraton by the PUBLIC LEDGER
and the EvENrNG PrRtTc LEDGER that we
deplore the unfair and improper criticism
Of his uniform. and request that the PuD-
LTC LEDGER and EvE''NT PUBLIC ! FnGHe
retract the articles which have falsely ex-
pressed the intent and purpose of the ora-
ton and the pride and satisfaction of the
community at its delivery.
What the Editorial Said
| The extract from the editorial in the
| EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER dealing with uni
| form worn by Mr.. Humeston as follows:
| Now and again you hear man say that
| the papers are unreliable This Is the most
! antique platitude in popular criticism. Now
| an Oak Lane clergyman has dramatised II
| oddly. The Rev. T. J. Humeston, dressed in
| a uniform resembling that of army chap
| lain-he served for three months a can
| tonment chaplain aad is privileged to wear
| the garb of a church military auxiliary
| said in a Fourth of July address that the
| press has not told the truth about the war"
|