Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-06-30
Free Speech
Endangered
By Boycott
Union Attack on Paper
Brings Warning
By wESTBROOK PEGLER

-
~ the CIO council of Fort
Wayne, Ind, to muzzle the News
Sentinel OF that city by intimi-
dating the local advertisers, I
think IL should be pointed out
that those advertisers and all
other advertisers have as much
at stake in any such fight as the
proprietors OF the newspapers.
II they withdraw their bust
ness from our daily press under
threats Of boycott, the press will
go broke.
But it will not go out Of exist
ence.
1t will just cease 10 be free
press and will blossom forth as a
subsidized press Of which Ger
many and Italy provide many
alarming examples.
The subsidized press can be
very attractive for il doesn't
have to count costs but the truth
is not in il and. under a dicta-
torship, advertisers are not So
licited 10 buy space but ordered
10 do so and told how much they
must pay.
Not only that. however, but
the people are told what they
must believe and earnestly
suggest that il the rank and file
of the Go in Fort Wayne COM
ply with "A boycott order from
their council. thus forcing the
advertisers to STAY the news
papers, they will strike blow
against their own freedom of
belief and expression.
It seems unlikely that they
will comply but the threat is
there and il should be considered
in all its ugly implications.
THE wise American business
L man who spends money 10
advertise should always realize
that II is 10 his own interest
and the interest OF American
freedom that he refrain from
interfering with the editorial
policy OF the news judgment OF
papers in which he buys space.
The press should be as indie
pendent OF his Judgment or
prejudices in such matters as il
is independent OF pressure from
political parties or agencies OF
the government. and advertising
should be placed with an eye
only 10 advertising value.
And the people, in their turn,
i'll serve themselves il they pun
ish a business firm by withdraw
inc their trade because the firm
buys space in a paper whose
editorial and news judgment Of
tends the political beliefs or
personalities of men in control
Of their unions.
| can hear the Go council OF
Fort Wayne now saying that !
am pleading for my special in
terests as newspaper writer
operating under the freedom of
the press.
But my fundamental interest
is no greater than the interest
of any other American.
George Spelvin, American. the
rank and file machinist or tool
maker in a Go factory, has As
much 10 lose as l have and
should be wary just now because
the unions, combined. by the
exercise Of their power 10 tax
him, are in position 10 try 10
set up their own press every
where and compel the adver-
tisers TO play ball with them.
In return for advertising rev.
enue they surely would under
take 10 reverse the boycott
process initiated in Fort Wayne
and compel George Spelvin 10
trade only with approved stores.
meaning those which buy space
in the union press.
GONE OF them have done this
~ already.
II would be foolish 10 believe
that any such power over news
and opinion would be in innocent
hands.
Most OF our big and powerful
unioneers are dictatorial and in
tolerant and. by the exercise of
union discipline they would in
evitably try 10 control through
their press not only the whole
trade OF the business commu-
nifty but the news and opinion
too.
Charles r. Coughlin's paper
was supported by subsidy or
rakeoff from a large political
following.
We don't need 10 discuss its
character for we know il well.
Another example. paper
published largely for the per-
sonal and political glorification
Of Henry Van Arsdale, OF the
New York electricians union
purported 10 tell his 10000
members the whole story OF a
shooting case in which he was
convicted but finally released
from accusation entirely by re-
cantation OF the wounded men
But in telling the "whole
story 10 the members. his paper
thought IL unnecessary to tell
them that the wounded men had
been paid $4,000 out OF the
union treasury.