Evening star., 1938-05-17
~LANDON ATTACKS
M|NTON MEASURE
Sees Attitude of New Deal
Liberals as Threat to
the Press.
NJ Aha Associated Press.

0y WIG AsSuSluNCu ASco'
CHICAGO, May 17-Alf M. Lam
don, Republican presidential candi-
date in 1886, asserted in a prepared
speech today that none OF us, OF this
generation, has seen a group so in
tolerant Of the views and beliefs OF
others as are the so-called New Deal
LIBERALS"
"Only q few weeks ago." he told the
Inland Daily Press Association, Sen
ator Minton, Democrat, of Indiana
introduced a measure which is a dire
threat to the press. Mr.. Minton. 1t
seems, would set up a censorship OF
newspapers and other publications. A
, great many people are apt to be mis-
led by the apparent fairness OF the
proposal The Senator has pointed his
bill at those who knowingly publish
as fact anything which they know to
be false. 1t would, nevertheless, pro-
vide a censorship.
"A press, operating under such a
law, would cease to be free. Ger
tainly, it could not fairly give both
sides of a question if one side hap
pened to represent the views of the
Federal Government or Government
officials"
Reflects New Deal Attitude.
II cannot believe" he averred,
that Congress will even take the
Minton bill seriously. The dangerous
thing about the measure is that II
reflects an attitude now prevalent.
Apparently it reflects the New Deal
latitude toward the press OF the coun-
try, and I'm afraid it may reflect
the Presidents attitude. The Presl-
dents views have, no doubt, encour-
aged Senator Minton and Others
Newspapers. the former Kansas
Governor said, had always played a
vital part in championing traditions
of freedom and democracy, but there
are those who would destroy or i'm
pair" their usefulness. He continued
when Norman Thomas was forcibly
evicted from Jersey City and two mem
bers of the United States House o.
Representatives were not permitted tt
speak there recently We were glVer
evidence enough that America Is moi
immune to tide which is slowly de-
|. stroying freedom In other parts OF tht
world.
Treated With Respect.
"As a Kansan I've often smartee
under the ridicule heaped upon thu
Middle West by some Of the so-callee
hlghbrows of some Of the older sec
. tions, At least We treated Norman
Thomas with respect and tolerance
when he came to Kansas to speak. II
fact. I introduced him"
The real test of our belief in free
dom of speech" Landon said, come!
when we listen to some one who ex'
presses views we abhor. When We ART
willing to make the fight to permit
the expression or such views We art
safe"
we must not make the mistake" ht
declared, "of meeting undesirable ism!
and intolerance with repression
That's not the answer.
Journalistic ideals, particularly with
respect to public questions never wert
higher than they are today" Gov. Lam
don said. I'm political campaigns ano
In dealing with controversial questions
of a public nature, the American press
has no equal in its fairness and i'm
partiality."
Gov. Landon said that President
Roosevelt by his attitude in the Jersey
City situation, Endorses this violation
of the spirit of the bill of rights and
betrays the faith of the liberals in
him.
It is impossible, the speaker con-
: tinued, to escape the significance OF
Mr.. Roosevelts position. He is In
favor of free speech for his side Of the
case only.
IF the President continues to wash
his hands of this dangerous precedent
in Jersey City, will he also stand by
while Senator Minton Frank Hague's'
the American press?'