Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1941-10-03
The Press On Parade

ne TreSS IN Parade
AS you may have noticed, the week of October 1S is
National Newspaper Week. The metropolitan press is en-
gagged in all out effort to convince that the
dtons of free speech and free press safely
its editorial BOSOM AS spokesman for the cooperative
ment in Greenbet feel that few observations on the
subject of free press appropriate
Freedom of the press, with very few exceptions has
come to mean the freedom Of big publications to dsort
and suppress information in accordance with the wishes
OF big advertisers fed pages of fake
advertising which endangers their pOckebooks we'll
their health These readers bssuly ignorant of
thousands of fraud orders issued by the Federal
Commission and other agencies supported by
money paid in the form of taxes because gov
eminent orders against fake advertising
reports of useless and sometimes harmful patent medicines
and food get publicity Consumers organizations which
test foods and other vital materials publish their
ngs refused advertising space leading publications.
Skyrocketng of prices has been and is going
checked An effective protest against unwarrant
ed high prices would result legislation curb proteer
ing The free has done its part in the conspiracy to
sfe the sentiment against profits in present
defense efforts Testimony in favor of legislation to curb
profits and prices reported ALL presented in such
to rdicue the proponents of such regulatory
action which would hit at the profits of big advertisers
Public sentiment polls which supposed to illustrate
the temper of the population carefully avoid questioning
the public such forbidden subjects prices profits and
taxation Instead the man on the street asked leading
questions labor and unions and the results deber
atey tabuated to infer that the of Americans
dstrust trade unions and sereney confident in the
management of big corporations.
Very recently treated to another illustration
of perfectly harmonzed and successful conspiracy to
rob the famous the street. when congressional
representatives, adeptly aided by the valiant press put
the tax bill under which taxable incomes begin at
$780, less than SIS week. Americans finding it hardest
to exist in the face of the increasing cost of living will
literally be robbed of food and clothing of which they
already suffering insufficiency Here again, free
performed in great style with its beatngs of "demo
cratic taxation Editorials declared that the people
camoring for the privilege Of paying higher taxes
AS for the record of your local paper, not
of faings We confess to tendency to
emphasize local squables which, matter who is right
only weaken the cooperative movement in town.
We recognize that strong cohesive cooperative
would provide the most effective to protect
against proteerng and the high cost of living We
also realize that cooperative worthy Of the
must organization of information to counteract
the suppressons and distortions of press controlled by
interest opposed to decent break for the
If that ought to function sort
of ghtgver subjects affecting the should
like to hear you say in letters and by personal visit We
need help well suggestions The of real
cooperative venture, newspaper otherwise depends
the efforts OF those people who benefit from its existence
If you want cold facts affecting your pocketbook they
yours for the asking.
The successful man often who does much today