Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-12-25
Charlie Mike
Bids Writer'S
Sour Good-by
Democratic Press Agent
Says News Is Colored
By WESTBRoOK PEGLER

~ a Washington political cor
respondent for many years and
lately resigned from the job OF
press agent for the Democratic
National Committee. bids a sour
farewell to journalism. In an
article in Editor and Publisher
he says that practically every
important exclusive news story
enanating from Washington
stems from a breach of faith,
perhaps the violation of an oath
of office. and he says Washing
ton newspapermen, though re-
gretfuiiy. color their stories TO
suit their bosses.
These be pious thoughts from
one who, in the same piece, COM
pares himself, in his own news
paper career, to a receiver OF
stolen goods and who, in recent
years, saw no improperly in ac-
cepting $4,000 a year from a
big radio corporation having
dealings with the political agency
known as the FEC while he re-
tanned his Job with the New
Deal party and his latch key
to the White House.
But. To consider his allega-
tons, il is necessarily true that
most, by far, of the breaches Of
faith or violations of the oath
of office during the last 10 years
are chargeable 10 members OF
the party which he served and
always with partisan bias.
They were in the majority, az
times overwhelmingly so, IN
Congress. and they nenePelized
the executive and administrative
posts from which the leaks oc-
Cured, including the White
House which. he says. is the
leakiest establishment in the
government
INDEED, one memorable leak,
i timed 10 occur when the VIC
tim of the story was away on
the other side of the world. was
a matter Of deep, personal con.
fidence between the victim and
the President himself, fact
which tends 10 confirm Charlie
Mikes remark about the falll-
biIity of confidence IN the eX-
ecutive mansion.
In another case. a cabinet
member traded little exclusive
news tips for friendly publicity
but that one. II happens. was
not dealing with a newspaper
reporter. He was trading favors
with a radio outlet.
In another instance. J. Edgar
Hoover. in Miami. held up news
Of public importance 10 which
the public was entitled when II
matured. beyond the hour when
the Miami papers had gone 10
press. in order 10 give II eX-
clusively 10 a hroadCaSter who
had slavered him over with per-
sonal ballyhoo.
Hoover's explanation was that
he was paying a debt 10 one who
had conducted propaganda 10
compel Congress 10 increase his
appreciation.
II is Mr.. Michelson's conten-
ton that anti-New Deal editors
have been the sole offenders in
the matter of coloring Washing
ton news. Chapter and verse
would serve better than gen
eralitieS and il is impossible for
the decent American press 10
reply in the absence Of bill of
particulars.
DUT. aside from the Chicago
ID Tribune. which frank Y
angles the news out Of Washing
ton no other case comes 10 mind
among the press which is
frankly anti-New Deal in its
editorial policy.
On the other hand, the Tri-
bune's political emphasis in news
dispatches is temperate and dig
nified by comparison with the
brutal blackguardism Of several
conspicuous New Deal papers.
whose correspondents. al least
two Of whom have reasons not
10 use their true names. he
would seem 10 regard AS sincere
and ethical journalists
For il is a fact that those who
love the President most. express
that affection, not by praise Of
him and his policies. but by
vilification Of his opponents in
such feroCiOus terms that any
critic of the administration.
whether in Congress, in print or
on the air, knows in advance
that he will he personally abused
by lies and innuendoes which he
can never hope 10 catch up with.
This critic Of tho American
press is one who was complacent
in the political company Of the
Hague machine. the raScals Of
the Long regime after the Sec
ond Louisiana purchase, the COR
ruptioneers Of Albany, Kansas
City and Boston. the rioting
Communists Of Michigan and the
subtler MuscoviteS spotted in
the New Deal bureaus.
News and discussion Of these
elements Of the party which he
served for price was indeed
unfavorable 10 the party which
actively colluded with them. but
fka Eloe xt.iiI chou fkat Dr1r,