The Fort Peck press., 1936-01-30
Frank Knox Is
Fighting Editor
With Pen and Fists He
Upholds Editorial
independence.
Parents Blamed
Fear Is at the bottom of many cases
of difficult INFRINGING Of children

Not many years ago 1t was custom
airy, and sometimes a necessity, for
every newspaper office to have ore
member of its staff who bore the title
of fighting editor" Most OF the lead
ers of American journalism grew up
In that school, including Frank Knox,
he Chicago publisher, who is the ia
vorite son" Of Illinois Republicans for
the presidential nomination this year.
Knox got into the newspaper busi-
ness by accident. AS a trooper In the
Rough Riders In the Spanish war he
wrote letters home to his anguished
mother and proud father. The latter
had them printed in the "home town.
newspapers. When Knox returned
from the war, both papers in Grand
Rapids, Mich, offered him a job. He
joined the staff Of the Grand Rapids
Herald and quickly discovered that not
all the fighting was done in a war.
One day an irate citizen who object
ed to a crusade the paper was carry
ing on rushed into the shop to "clean
up the editor" Knox launched him
self into the fray and, with the aid
of another reporter, succeeded In pro-
polling the intruder down the stairs.
Thereupon, the fighting editor" who
had armed himself with q fifteen
pound copy of Webster's dictionary,
heaved 1t after him. 1t happened TO
strike the angry citizen %sQuarely on
the head and Knocked him out COM
.pletely.
a few years later Knox, with John
A. Muehling, bought the Sault Ste
Marie, Mich, News. At that time
the $500" section was one of the
toughest in the country. 1t was a dull
day when there was not an ARRAY of
some kind. Knox began a cleanup
crusade, fearlessly Investigating, print
ing the facts and naming names. Final
ly he forced withdrawal Of the license !
Of the "big shot" of the town.
The "big shot" himself broke the
news by announcing his intention to
Finish that red-headed editor" Knox
got his first intimation of trouble In
the composing room when a reporter
"tubed" a warning to him that the
racketeer was on his way upstairs in
spite Of all they could do. Recall
ing that a surprise attack Is often the
best means of defense, Knox raced to
head of the stairs, met his adver-
sary just as he reached the top, and
anticipated his assault with an upper
cut to the chin which toppled him
down stairs again. A passing police
nan took the la to the hospital.
There was nothing funny whatever
about Knox's next conflict with the
underworld Of the $500" Somebody
on the sidewalk across the street
rom his office and plunked a bullet
through the window near his desk.
The bullet hole was still there when
lnox sold the paper in 1912 and moved
0 New Hampshire.
On another occasion a drunk, armed
With q carving knife, called to .carve
the editor" Knox was in a nearby
ubby-hole office, cut off from all
he man with a demand that he drop
knife and get out" At the same
Ime Knox was ready to leap the
.ounter, sprint or fight, if necessary
D uphold his personal objection to be-
1g carved up by anybody. To his as :
,nishment, however, the man peck
his knife and walked out With
ut another word. s..
Present day editors rarely ever have !
lch experiences. There has been a
lange, not only on the part of the
public but in the newspapers d.
lemselves. Without fear or favor,
litors of the fighting type of Knox
NV carry on their crusades through
Ie publication of facts and fair inter-
citations, knowing that those who
with them nevertheless rec
,2ize their sincerity Of purpose in the
rviee Of the public. His battle to
eserve a free press under MIRA is well