The Sun and the New York herald., 1920-09-02

Republican and Democratic parties.
against the publication OF even the most
official and conventional utterances OF
other political groups and parties upon
the issues before the people, ! make
this statement not alone In behalf OF
the Farmer-Labor party. but In behalf
OF all the minority groups. II Is i'm
possible, with the means at the dis
posal of these parties, to break the wall
OF newspaper silence separating them
from the people OF the country, and
II is at the same time Impossible for me
to believe that such a condition can
long obtain In a democracy without
finally bringing disaster. Consequently
am impelled. not TO attack the press,
but to endcavor to find means py
which the wall Of exclusion from the
press may be penetrated peacefully, and
tho minoritles given an opportunity
equal with the mRJorities for the ex-
preston and dissemination OF their
Views and attitudes, and should ike
TO suggest TO you one method by which
this very desirable end might be
achieved.
"As the daily press 10 the most etti-
Client and virtually the only channel for
the dissemination Of fact and opinion to
the mass OF the people, the only sure
way by which all parties can be guar
anteed fair popular hearing is through
the purchase by the Government OF
space In the press OF the country, ana
its allotment equally, to the various
parties engaged in each national cam
paign.
Under present circumstances,
think II Is an absolute duty OF govern
ment to protect minorities In some such
manner, not for the sake OF minorities
alone, but to tho end Of wider public in
terest in and understanding OF the prob
lens OF our political social and economic
life. therefore suggest that you con-
slider and recommend TO Congress the
Justice and feasibility OF legislation en-
bracing In general way the follow
Ing provisions:
Congregational Control of Press.
IL The establishment by act OF Con-
Press OF commission on political In
telligence one of the duties Of which
commission would be the classification
Of the press of the country according to
circulation figures, circulation territory
and advertising rates.
'2. The appropriation by Congress
every four years OF sum sufficient
on the basis Of the estimate of the COM
mission on political intelligence, TO pay
fon column of space per day per po-
litical party in the morning and evening
papers of the largest bonafide circula
ton in each Of the important cities in
each Of the states of the United States.
3. The enactment OF statutory obliga-
ton upon the commission on political
intelligence to contract at the lowest
possible rates for said space in said
newspapers for a period Of two months
Immediately preceding each presidential
election, and to apportlon said space
equally to each Of the political parties
engaged in the campaign for the publ
cation Of such facts, views or statc-
ments as each Of the parties furnish
for publication within the limit OF space
accorded.
II bring this suggestion to you. wish
to repeat, not as the representative Of a
single party particularly but as an
American with a belief In american
love of fair play and a faith in Ameri-
can ability eventually to know the truth
when 1t Is presented and 10 be guided
by the truth when it is known"