Evening star., 1942-04-20
Father CougIin Says
He Alone Controls
Social Justice Policy
Assumes Responsibility
For Magazine Contents
In Public Statement
Ix III, Associat Prrss

By tht Associated Press
ROYAL OAK. Mich. April 90
The Rev. Charles z. Coughlin. ROYAL
Oak priest, in public statement to-
day assumed personal responsibility
for control of the magazine Social
Justice. its policies and its contents,
"If Social Justice, as Attorney Gen.
eral Biddle is reported to have de-
clared in his press conference, is
clearly seditious.
Mr.. Biddle announced Friday at
Washington that a special District
Of Columbia grand jury would in
vestigate all phases of the publica-
ton Of Social Justice, a magazine
which Father Coughlin founded in
1884, but with which the priest has
disavowed any connection since
1910.
The Attorney Generals action
followed an order from the Post
master General barring the Pc
riodical from the mails for alleged
seditious statements,
Parents Named rs Owners.
Father Coughlin has stated that
Social Justice is owned by his par
ents, Thomas J. and Amelia Cough
lin of Royal Oak. Z. Perrin
Schwartz is its editor.
The priests statement assuming
responsibility for the magazines
pronouncementS was issued in a
press conference this morning at
the rectory of the Shrine of the
Little Flower here.
The statement follows:
According to press reports, Attor-
ney General Biddle. in an investiga-
ton expected to take several months
will place before the Federal grand
Jury in the District of Columbia
evidence the object of which will be
indictments under what is known
as the sedition law Of "all those re-
sponsible" for the magazine Social
Justice
TT is not necessary for the Federal
grand jury in the District OF Co.
Mmbia to take several months, or
even several days, for determining
all those responsible for Social
Justice.
Controls Policies.
Time and again I have said, and
here repeat, that I am neither the
editor, publisher, nor owner of So
cial Justice magazine. However, I
do here and now publicly state,
that I, Father Charles E. Coughlin,
pastor of the Shrine of the Little
Flower, alone am responsible for
and do control the magazine, its
policies and contents. This sole re-
sponsibility and control over the
policymakins and content of the
magazine I have exercised person
ally and officially by my effective
moral and spiritual influence and
direction over the editors, publish
ers and owners of Social Justice.
IF Social Justice. as Attorney
General Biddle is reported to have
declared In his press conference, is
clearly seditious,' the responsibility
Is mine alone. ,-+-.-
This is the information the At
torney General states he desires to
obtain through an investigation ex-
pected to take several months. I
submit it voluntarily"
Plans to Continue.
Along with Father Coughlin's per-
sonal statement a page proof of
the April 81 issue of Social Justice
was distributed to newsmen by one
Of the priests office staff. 1t stated
the magazines intent to continue
publication and added:
"If Social Justice Publishing Co.
by lawful authority is required to
suspend publication or is forbidden
to distribute its publication 1t goes
without saying that it will comply.
1t will observe literally and faith
fully the DEGREES of any lawfully
constituted authority.
Until and unless the publication
and distribution of Social Justice
are forbidden by lawful authority
Social Justice Publishing Co. will,
in accordance with its constitu-
tional rights, continue to issue and,
within the limited spheres available
to it, distribute the publication"
Attorney General Biddle said at
Washington Friday that the Gov
ernment would take all necessary
steps to prevent distribution of the
magazine outside of the mails. such
as by express shipments. Express
company officials at Detroit have
said they would refuse to accept
material which has been barred
from the mails.