The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-02-13
I'VE SKALL WIN SINGAPORE
DEFENDERS SHOUT AT hippo
*Z!s(ESt

Bing Crosby is mad at me.
So is Bing's dad. Bing' $
agent is annoyed. And nc
doubt some of Bing's friends
would like to touch me up
with a blow torch.
It's all because in this column
Jan. 20 I adversely and severely
criticized the entertainer over a
news story from Hollywood that
he had received a request from
General Macarthur TO direct q
broadcast to the generals be-
leagured army of Bataan.
/ said 1t was disgusting and
sin bad taste" to tie publicity for
Bing. his newest motion picture
and his radio program TO what
amounted TO a national tragedy.
In a letter to me, Bing. who
was born in Tacoma incident
ally, refers to the column as
"scurrilous" and IAN unmiti-
gated journalistic insult"
He declares the broadcast was
requested by Col. William J. wild
Bib Donovan, and that Mac
Arthur had specifically requested
Transmission of our show to the
Philippines
II made" writes Bing. "every
effort to play down the publicity"
Here is the last paragraph OF
his letter: mo one Is more APP
preciative of the plight of Mac
Arthur's men than ! am and. II
the show was disgusting to you,
must be corny, because / got a hell
of a kick out of it,"
Comes now Tacomas ener-
getic Doug Dyckman, a pal OF
Bing's and once his college
mate at Gonzaga university,
Spokane.
He displays a letter from II. L.
Crosby. sr.. Bings father. who
writes 10 Dyckman: I'm enclosing
herewith a copy of a letter Bing
wrote to the pin-headed editor Of
The Tacoma Times"
Now that's the kind of dad
any fellow can appreciate!
Also, | hear from Mr.. Jean
Bosquet, of Paramount's pub
Lefty department. Paramount
makes Bing's pictures, and
Bosquet is Bings publicity
mani.
He. too, insists Macarthur ask
ed for the entertainment. This Is
all to the point, since / had ex-
pressed doubt that Macarthur
really had time for such affairs.
things being as they were and
are
Bosquet says Bing wanted NO
publicity. He writes: Il want you
to meet Bing..if you haven't al
ready met him. Honest, Mel. he
hasn't got horns and a long tail.
and neither have l. You ought to
stretch your neck and have a
look"
Then. he says he thinks need
q change of scenery" and, in a
dsrned nice way. offers me a job.
For which offer, thank him sim
eerely.
Mr.. Crosby, sr., sends along
a copy of a telegram from
someone named hurry Bro
ply, special assistant to Col.
Donovan. coordinator of in
formation, executive office of
the president, Washington,
D. c.
The wire addressed to Bing)
Gays: Gen. Macarthur and Col
AIKEN over private circuit have
wired US specifically asking for
you 10 broadcast 10 the men IN
the Philippines at Batasn PENN
sula.
Which seems to make II all SUI
ficiently official. so. apologize
for expressing doubts a. to authen-
tioity Of the request.
In fact. | believe Bing and
his good old fighting dad are
sincere in their Indignation.
More power 10 EN-
Nevertheless. / cling To belief
that IL was not in good taste &c
publicize the affair in order 70
plus" a new picture OF a COM
mercial radio program. II appears
likely. however. that was done
against Bing's wishes.
And. I ask you. would I have
been offered a brand new JOB had
] complimented Bing. instead Of
rapping him. Such are the wages
Of notoriety.
An. me.