New-York tribune., 1918-06-28
Defence of Hearst
Anglers Citizens at
Montclair Meeting
Remarks by Editors Agent
Starts Near-Riot in
City Council
Cspecaa Dispatch to The Tribune)

MONTCLA1R, N. j., June PA
Hearst representatives defence of
Hearst newspapers caused near-riot
in the council chamber here tonight
The council chamber was packed with
citizens who came to hear the council
pass proposed ordinance which would
make the sale of a Hearst paper in this
! city misdemeanor punishable by a
fine. Many Of the citizens were men,
bers of the Montclair Militia Reserve
Battalion. who marched. in uniform,
on the City Hall in body.
1t was not the fact that the Hearst
agent, who is citizen of Montclair.
attempted to defend Hearst newspapers
that enraged the citizens. They lis
tened to him patiently, courteously, at
first. 1t was the nature of the latter
part of his defence that infuriated the
citizens, particularly the men in uni
form.
1t was when the Hearst agent insinu
ated that IN fighting Hearst papers the
citizens OF Montclair were opposing the
government that the big explosion in
the audience came.
Threaten Hearst's Agent
Several militiamen leaned to their
feet and started toward the Hearst rep
resentative. Others shook their fists
at him as they shouted:
"Sit down."
"Get out of here!"
Move out of town if you are citi-
zen!"
Mayor Louis F. Dodd had difficulty
In restoring order.
When the question Of the anti-Hearst
| ordinance came up before the council
Mayor Dodd invited comment by citi
zens, Felix A. jenkins, spokesman of
the Mon+clair battalion, then read the
resolution passed by the battalion on
Memorial Day, in which the 400 militia
men pettioned President Wilson to
stop the publication of all Hearst pa
pers in the United States and peti-
toned the Montclair Council to take
legal steps to keep these papers out
Of the city.
"The battalion members feel that
Hearst papers are seditious and danger
ous." added Mr.. jenkins.
1--WE would like to keep them out of
every town in the country. We can't
do that We've asked the President to
deny them the mails, but we do hope
to keep them out of our own town.
That's why we are here tonight"
The Hearst agent then took the floor
He was William r. Hotchkin, an ad-
/ vertising expert in Hearst's employ.
he began by declaring that Hearst
papers had been greatly misjudged. He
cited recent Hearst Red Cross and Lib
erty Loan editorials to prove it. He
asserted that for the last six months
Hearst had been consistently and abso-
!
audience first indicated displeasure at
his arguments.
Specific Charges Made
MIR. Hotchkin defed any one to dis
prove his assertion, and asked for
specific charges against Hearst papers. RS
Mr.. jenkins reminded him of Hearst's
abuse of England. specifically the
Hearst Liberty Loan editorial, which,
ne said, urged Americans to buy Lib
erty bonds if they wanted to help
Great Britain.
The Hearst man said that was an
unfair quotation from an editorial
which also urged citizens to buy bonds
II they wanted to send our men abroad
70 help bleeding France and fight
Kaisersm.
"Yes," shot back Mr.. jenkins. "but
even after the selective service law
had been passed, Hearsts papers had
insisted that only volunteers should
be sent abroad. Hearst urged America
to keep her men and munitions at home
at her natural base. And then, dur
Ing a Liberty Loan campaign, Hearst
comes out and says in effect If you
want to send the soldier across, buy
Liberty bonds | call that djsloval.
shouted Mr. Jenkins.
Here one of the militaGen called te
the Hearst agent: Explain the mutila
tion of the Presidents Memorial Da,
proclamation"
"I'm glad of the opportunity" re
piled Mr.. Fotchkin. He proceeded tt
read afidavits from "New York Ameri
can" editors and assistants. He wount
ur by saying it was all a Typographical
error, that q printer had dropped ou'
four lines of type.
Calls Explanation Silly
Charles Henry Kinney, editor of the
Montclair Herald" was on his feet +,
a minute. He fatty contradicted the
Hearst agent.
Being an editor, know something
about printing!" exclaimed Mr.. Kinney
"The mutilation of the President't
Memorial Day proclamation was not q
typographical error III leave it ts
any printer in the country if it coule
have been. If four lines of type were
accidentally dropped by the printer, il
it was typographical error, how die
those asterisks get in there. Silly ant
impossible. No editor in America car
swallow that"
The Hearst man here changed hi.
tactics.
even granting that Hearst papers
have been disloyal in the past-which
do not grant--why not give them an
other chance ?" he pleaded.
He argued that if Hearst papers ha,
misled their readers in the past, which
he denied, why not give them an op,
portunity of leading them along tic
right path in the future.
"Hearst papers oyer the country have
FIVE million readers" !" he said with EN-.
phasis.
Mayor Dodd interrupting, inquired
"Are there five million pro Germans in
the country?"
IF Hearst papers are guilty of any.
thing the government would take &C
tion," proceeded the Hearst agent
A man in uniform spoke up: "The
government is not doing anything;
that's why we are trying to-
$50 and the Hearst agent turned
so as to look the battalion members
souarety in the face $50 you men are
opposing the government, are you."
Then it WAS when there came near
being a riot.
Another Montclair citizen. Harold NJ.
Cole, arose to oppose the proposed or
4Fp0 n A~..