Evening star., 1933-10-03

Editorial opinion indorses statements
made in the annual report of Dean Carl
w. Ackerman of the School of Journal
ism at Columbia University that wisdom
was shown by the press in maintaining
its constitutional right to free express
sion when the newspaper code was
framed. 1t is freely stated that the
newspaper has quality of public serv-
ice in this respect that is entirely alb
sent from the activities of the radio and
the motion pictures.
Dean Ackerman rightly states" ac-
cording to the Chicago Daily News
that the newspapers have exercised an
invaluable stabilizing influence on pub
lie opinion in time Of great anxiety
and that their attitude has been con-
structive" The Daily News point out
that "the radio is subject to license by
the Government, while the press, under
the Constitution, cannot be so con-
trolled," and concludes:
1T is in periods of national emer-
gency that constitutional guarantees are
most needed and most in danger. II
such rights as freedom of the press are
not safeguarded. they may disappear
before the people are aware. Dean
Ackerman has performed useful public
service in pointing out the dangers OF
the present trend Of opinion. The press
on its part would be unworthy of its
high mission if it did not continue to
perform its duty. regardless OF any
momentary hysteria or pressure gener-
ated by interested parties for abroga-
ton of its independence"
THE newspapers offer the only re-
naming forum of free public discus
sion," declares the Philadelphia Public
Ledger. with the statement that the
printed word permits kind of consid-
Grafton which cannot be given to the
unanswerable voice Of the loud-speaker
or the quick flash Of the motion-picture
screen" The Ledger agrees that mot
even in a time of national emergency
can these rights and privileges be safely
sacrificed to expediency or subordinateo
to political authority"
Referring to the fact that "in Italy
and Germany the one-party system
prevails" and that citizens are mem
bers of the party in control or they
are, to all intents and purposes, out
lawed," the Yakima Daily Republic
offers recognition Of difference IN thu
spirit of the United States, and the
expressed conviction: 1T Is impossible
for everybody to be right on any ques'
ton, but II those who are wrong arr
! to be prohibited from expressing theil
fallacious views, then 1t is but shor,
stop to thraldom. There are few wht
will charge the administration witt
any serious intention to take from
citizens the divine heritage Of being
wrong and of giving expression in theil
own way to whatever errors they may
harbor in their minds"
The provision of the Constitution on
which the newspapers took their stand
quoted by the Rutland Herald, Is II
these words: Congress shall make nj
law respecting an establishment Of re-
ligicn, or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof; or abridging the freedom o.
speech, or Of the press; or the right o.
the people peaceably to assemble, ane
to petition the Government for a re-
dress of grievances" The Herald ad'
vises the public as to what might hap
pen at some future time II this right
| were now abridged: Without such free
dom, Government could oppress thu
States; States could Cypress cities; cit!
governments could Cypress the people