The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-10-19

the head of the celebrity. Father Coughlin, is no doubt, temporarily great man in the public life of America today, but when he knocked the glasses off the report CT in Boston recently, he was in the presence of a far greater man, for the reporter is the greatest man in the world. Without him the world would be a blind old world in- deed. In fact there is a saying in the newspaper world, that "politi- clans come and go but reporters last forever.
 Of course it must be agreed that Father Coughlin has much to con- tend with, as the Moses who is try ing to lead the blind masses out of the wilderness of oppression. and the critic who retorted that 1t was a case of the blind leading the blind was no doubt out of order. The figure of Father Coughlin was thrown suddenly upon the Amer icaY1 screen by the depression. In fact it may be said that the depres- sion made him what he is today, a: rich man whose wealth has not been estimated. His sudden jump to fame should be lesson to the socialist party of Waterbury which has for years been striving to elect president. Recently in Q report ed interview with 8 reporter in Seattle, the radio priest was asked what he thought of Hitler, and according to the newspaper that published the interview, Father Coughlin expressed admiration for the German dictator, and praised the radio for having helped to make him what he is today. Not that there is any similarity of ambitions of course between Hitler and Fath- CT Coughlin, but no one questions but that the eminent cleric is 8 firm believer in Nazi Fascisrn.
 That is why the reporters would like to have Father Coughlin alone with them for fifteen minutes when they could question him as to many matters that have the American people puzzled and suspicious | of his sincereity and self sacrifice.
 On March 10, 1884, for example, Father Coughlin is reported to have told Paul Weber of Hearst's Inter national News Service, in the De- troit Times, just a month before he launched the National Union for Social Justice, supposed to be against capitalism: T am devoted to capitalism" Was that 8 slip of the tongue in an ul1guarded mo- ment of the leader of the op- pressed?
 The New York Times of May 10, 1882 had the report of an inter- view by one of its reporters with Father Coughlin, in which inter- view the reporter wrote".
 s.Father Coughlin returned from a vacation in California was ac- companied by his father and moth- CT, MT. and Mrs. Thomas J. Cough lin. Tn California he stayed at the Beverly Hills home of George A. Richards, of Station WJR, Detroit, and at the ranch of William Ran- dolph Hearst. How many reporters would like to ask Father Coughlin all about what MT. Hearst had to say to his clerical guest? Also what are the entire figures of his per- sonal income, and how is it that he can afford to engage in stock speculations in Wall Street, or if 1t is true that he is receiving mil-- lions, or just tens of thousands from his activities for the forgot ten man? Can you blame the re- porter in the Boston encounter for wanting to ask Father Coughlin just, one burning question? If Faith CT Coughlin only would adopt a systematic interview with the re- porters at II @. m. every day like New York'S great police chief, old Bill Devery, who used to stand out side police headquarters on Mulber- ry street, every morning, clap his hands and call Come on you news hounds, now is the time to ask the. questions And if the reporters asked a leading question, the chief would say, Lift up your pens boys, SIl tell you the inside facts, but not for publication. Would Fatl1- CT Coughlin, who has been Hkened. to sThe man on the Flying Ira peze. do thats
 IRON QUILL.