Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-04-09
Fit Penalty
For Scandal
Journalists
Experience Of Mr., Ickes
Cited as Case in Point
BY wESTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
TUCSON. Ariz.. April "a
Il lawyer and law officer Of
these parts has been telling me
that l did very wrong In assert
ing in a recent essay that Har-
old Ickes should have killed the
editor of a paper, who. in the
course of some uncommonly
dirty editorial repartee with Mr..
Ickes, impugned the character
of Mrs. Ickes.
This lawyer and law officer
says such counsel might encour-
age impetuous citizens to go
around shooting other citizens
on trivial provocation, so wish
to withdraw the suggestion, but
will stand pat on my belief that
if Mr.. Ickes had done such, no
jury in the United States-even
though il were drawn exclusively
from the roster of the Pub
fishers Association - h aving
heard the vicious libel. would
have convicted Mr.. Ickes.
A colonel OF the regular estab-
lishment of the armed forces.
who was sitting by during the
discussion. knowing something
Of the personal character Of the
lawyer, must have indicated by
something in his expression that
he was troubled by some doubt.
for the attorney then said that
he was speaking as an officer
sworn to uphold the law. leaving
one to wonder what course he
would take as an individual.
were he ever placed in Mr..
Ickes' position,
He looked like the sort OF
man who would take very abrupt I
personal action were any one To \
take any such liberty with the
good name Of his wife and when
he had left the colonel puckered
I'D one side of his face in a wink
and said he would not like to
take any bets that any one 80
offending would live TO see an
other sun 60 down.
BUT THERE YOU ARE.
THE punishment for this kind
L of thing does not ne the
crime and. furthermore, the
punishment is seldom imposed.
-heeasse- public prosecutors orriis
narily pay no attention 10 crimi-
nal libel unless they are goaded
TO il by the victim, who then
has to 60 10 court and spread
the scandal further by repeating
the libel under conditions which
then permit and almost compel
everyone else to print IT.
Moreover. the victim may be
badgered and insulted by some
low shyster for the defense and
so thoroughly smeared with in
nuendoes that even though he
wins he loses.
OF course, anyone with shirt
tail full Of type can be pub
Usher and the paper IN the
Ickes case was not fairly repre-
sentative Of tho regular Ameri-
can press. but there is no sense
in pretending that the regular
press itself. avoids this sort Of
thing.
Almost any day you can read
in our papers clear across the
country items about married
couples which say slyly that
their friends are worrying or
that they are acting very fool
lShly which are other ways OF
saying that the people in ques-
tion are having family jam.
which il nobody's business but
their own.
IN ACTOR, for instance. was
~ accused in a great number
Of papers of attending Nazi
meeting in New York.
This was 2 harmful lie. for
the actor was on the stage sew
eral blocks away during this
meeting.
Another man was said 10
have separated from his wife
when tho truth WIS that she
was dangerously i'll and there
was not the faintest ground for
the report.
Another was said 10 have
gone into hiding after receiving
threats. when phone call 10
his home would have proved
that he was not at all con-
cerned.
The instances Of false state
ment harmful or AZ least hui
initiating 70 individuals who
have a decent right not to DO
so abused by newspaper pub
fishers are countless and the
majority Of them come from
tawdry. Taucous Stun known az
Broadway.
The day has passed when u
was necessary and customary
for the editor IN keep Colt
revolver in an open drawer Of
his desk, but may return to
those editors who do not real
i've that this immunity from
fatal personal reprisal is &C.
companied by personal and
professional obligation To shun
certain types of personal items
and reject informants whose
work. by fair test. has proved
to be habitually inaccurate or
dishonest. whether from motives
of blackmail or personal re-
venge.
Distributed by United Features synd.. Inc