Evening star., 1933-11-16
NEWSPAPER CODE
DECLARED ILLEGAL
Col. Robert R. Mccormick
Questions ConStitutionality
and Intent of N. r. A.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, November 16.-Col.
Robert r. Mccormick, editor of the
Chicago Tribune, last night expressed
the opinion that the regimentatioa of
American newspapers under a National
Recovery code was not permitted by
the United States Constitution.
Col. Mccormick, who reviewed the
history of the long fight to establish
the freedom of the press, spoke at the
165th anniversary banquet of the New
York State Chamber of Commerce.
1T must be very plain" he said. that
method that will permit costs TO be
put upon newspapers which they can
not bear will be more universally sue
cessful in suppressing them than any
method-other than of licensing"
Sees Curb on Freedom.
He said whatever may be the ad-
vantage of code control of industry,
'it is obvious that II the newspapers
of the country are regimented together
and placed as class under a govern
ment authority, they will not enjoy the
unlimited freedom that had been their
lot since the expiration of the sedition
laws"
IL OllCC tilC PkCSo Id ccSlCBdICQ lOl
regulation" he asserted, "it may be
destroyed as was the press of England
under the special tax laws
Col. Mccormick said he had believed
from the first that the press could not
be compelled to accept special Govern
ment control" but that other directors
of the American Newspaper Publishers
Association felt that under the existing
circumstances it was unwiSe to insist
| upon Constitutional rights"
He said all agreed to code, but to
incorporate in 1t declaration insuring
the freedom of the press.
THE subject has received much con-
sideration and discussion in press meet
ingS and in editorial columns with al
most, but not complete, unanimity for
retention" he added.
He said the result has been that it
! has aroused the antagonism of the
code authorities.
Questions Intent.
Col Mccormick said he had no
desire to impugn the motives of the
N. r. A. officials, but asked how their
disclaimers Of intent to Interfere with
the press could be reconciled to three
specific instances, which he cited.
There were, he said, the threat to
prosecute the editor of the Tallahassee
(Ala.) Tribune if he continued to pub
lish editorials Objectionable to a De-
partment of Labor official; the with
drawal of the Blue Eagle from a Lynn
(Mass) tailor for advertising objec-
tionable to the local N r. A. board, and
withdrawal of press privileges from
James True by Gen. johnson because
of dispatches he wrote.
Men who are given dictatorial pow
ers," he declared, Invariably become
tyrants, with the tyrannical convic-
ton that they are heaven-sent, that
what they do is divinely inspired and
that dissent is treason"
The trainers of the newspaper code,
who insist that the freedom of the press
be not reserved in the code, have thrice
violated the freedom of the press
while claiming to respect 1t.
The freedom of the press is the
freedom of the American people. Cir
, cumstances have imposed upon the
publishers Of America the important
duty and responsibility of preserving
that freedom and handing 1t down to
posterity. I believe that they VIII prove
worthy of It,"