Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-05-12
Proposede
On Criticism
Of u. S. Hit
Democracy Threatened
by Bill, MaIIon Says
By PAUL MALLON

~
w Representative Pierce of
Oregon. author of bills 10 pro-
hibit public opinion polls. has
asked the House 10 give thought
10 restrictions on newspaper coll
umns and radio.
Pierce said the Congress must
decide how far we are going
10 allow newspaper columnists
10 GO in criticism and how far
those who talk over the radio
arc going 70 be able 10 criticize"
Dear Mr.. Pierce:
You arc going 10 go Just as
far in allowing criticism AS you
want the people 10 have conf
dence in the government OF
which YOU are part. You will
60 Just as far in permitting
open discussion as YOU want 10
show that the principles of
democracy-for which we are
fighting this warfare going TO
he sincerely maintained.
INtE government must neClOe
i whether il is so weak il can
not stand criticism. or whether
il still has the confidence in the
righteousness of its policies to
plant its feet firmly in the
ground Of reasonable Justice.
where il has always stood and
let what criticism fly that may.
Hitler's government was not
strong enough TO do that. 1t
could not answer criticism with
the devastating force Of reason
ing and explanation. 1t had to
suppress its critics arbitrarily.
II could stand as govern
ment in no other way. It's action
was confession Of weakness,
both as to the Justice of its
cause and the support among its
people for that cause. BY this
action, il conceded it was
minority movement.
DUT in our democracy we have
- been proud to do things
differently. Our government,
every time il acts. says in effect
TO its critics:
do your damnedest. We defy
you because we know we are
right. We have confidence In
the sound judgment Of the people
as n whole, for that II the basis
upon which democracy works."
You will remember that many
actions were taken during the
last World War. in the suppress
sion of criticism. of which we
were not proud when the war
was over and a calmer judgment
prevailed.
We laughed at some OF the
vicious and bitter things we did
against people who did not agree
with us. There has been less Of
that in this war.
A ATTORNEY GENERAL BID
"A DIE has embarked only
recently upon a policy OF pun
ishing in the courts the most
sensational critics of war policy.
He hesitated a long time before
acting, no doubt because he be-
lieves so strongly in civil lib
critics.
Criticism will stand or fall on
its own power which lies in
truth. accuracy, fairness and
Justice. Unjust criticism never
needs an answer. Criticism
which lies in truth cannot be
answered.
You can keep il out Of the
newspapers and off the radio
any kind OF criticism, good. bad
or indiferent--but | wonder II
you can stop people from
thinking.
WILL there not always be
w criticism? Will you not
Just chase II underground and
thereby make il more danger
Gus if you bar it from its nor
nal channels of expression
To make the course you advo-
cate effective. will you not have
10 stand with bayonet over
each critic and say;
You think my way, or else"
But, all right, say YOU are
right Let the government de-
eide. As a matter Of fact |
think the government already
has decided the point YOU raise.
! have been writing my coll
umn since December just
about The same as before. some
times critical. sometimes approx
ing, perhaps more critical than
approving. and no one has come
around 10 tell me criticism has
been barred
4 DON'T think CONGRESS will