The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-01-19
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1945, by King Features Syndicat,

Copyright, 1945, by King Features Syndicate.)
CHICAGO,-The most conscientious men in
radio admit that it is potentially dangerous
as medium of propaganda. The emotional
appeal of hysterical voice shrilling hate is
much more effective than even the largest
type.
The act of listening to radio, if such an
effortless process can be called an act at ALL
requires no concentration and the least intel
igent persons who would not bother to spell
out text and try to understand the printed
word may be easily inflamed by exhorte-s of
the air. And second because radio is new and
just grew it has no agreed code of ethics
comparable to that OF journalism.
It has no prevailing sense of editorial re-
sponsibility and Columbia has been harshly
criticized by elements of the clamorous left
wing for attempting to observe moderation in
the more or less editorial comment by which
radio undertakes to interpret the news.
Paul White of Columbia, newspaper writer
and copy editor for years before he went into
radio, speaks hesitantly when he tries to ex-
plain his attitude. He abhors censorship of
opinion and yet realizes that wild and excit-
ing appeals to ignorance and hatred uttered
as opinion might cause disastrous actions for
which radio as an institution surely would
have important responsibility.
Best Safeguard
The best safeguard would be the presence
in command of radio of men similar to the
publishers of most of our newspapers and
magazines who have inherited tradition of
moderation, fairness and responsibility and
weigh their actions accordingly. That does not
mean that newspapers cannot crusade for
causes. The history of the American press
contains many stories of reforms initiated by
public-spirited publishers often by the exercise
of great personal and economic courage and
put through in spite of the early handicap
of public apathy.
The defeat of Tammany in New York was
less an achievement of Judge Seabur5 than
of courageous journalism and many other
cities have been cleaned up temporarily at
least by similar crusades. The expose of the
modern Ku Klux Khan was another patriotic
service in which some editors particularly in
southern cities, risked injury or death and
financial ruin
For years the enemies of William Randolph
Hearst accused him of fomenting the Spanish
American war, granting which for the sake
of argument one might then ask how many
more American lives might have been lost in
the present war if the Fascist Spain of Gen
eral Franco satellite of Nazi Germany, had
held Cuba and Porto Rico and had made
available to Adolf Hitler naval and air bases
so close to the United States? That our press,
being a human institution and commercial,
has been guilty OF sporadic activities in which
no true member of the craft takes pride any
sensible newspaper man will admit. But on
the whole the record is much more good
than bad and the future will judge whether
the fight against creeping statism under the
Roosevelt presidency has been for or against
the peoples interest.
Already however some of the intelligent la
Dor leaders beginning to admit that the
Wagner act, which they thoughtlessly hailed
as labor's Magma Charta, is not charter OF
freedom for unionsm but an assumption by
the government of functions which unions in
a state of freedom must perform for them
selves. Newspapers long ago and in the face
Of public prejudice created by new deal prop
uganda and at the cost of long and expensive
harrassment by government and the unions
first pointed out man-traps in this act which
studious union men now belatedly recognize
consequently even in unionism there is rising
demand for revision of the Wagner act. Radio
has no crusade, no comparable reform to It's
credit for all its freedom of expression.
On the contrary, it has lent it's dangerous
facilities to malevolent propagandists and in
some conspicuous cases has deliberately re-
tanned on the air broadcasters known to be
and3scurrlous, merely because their
exciting delivery of false or distorted material
in the guise of news and comment attracted
large audiences to whom radio advertisers, |
paying heavily for their time wanted to sell
their goods.
At best, radio suffers from problems that
never have beset the press and in these per-
plexities it deserves sympathy and willing
ness to understand. Unlike the press 1t be-
longs to the people themselves. Therefore any
pressure group may set up a demand Tor
time in which to foment hate and howl for
its freedom Of expression over a means OF
expression whose owners are the American
public. And because straight advertising copy
is too dull for even the most ignorant minds
radio advertisers appeal for notice and favor
mostly by entertainment and sensational mar
rangueS.
But how much liberty or license should an
advertiser be allowed to promote his sales IN
return for his money paid at the box office?
Some years ago crowds picketed station
which had refused to permit clergyman to
broadcast unless he first submitted his copy
for approval The pickets were ugly and many
of them obviously were Jew-balters and pro-
Nazis.
The clergyman's following were protesting
in the cause of freedom OF expression out
they forgot that not long before members OF
this exhorter's own faith had driven off the
air at this same station a hate-preacher who
had abused all members of his cloth and
faith Conscience and intelligence, courage and
a respect for truth are too rare among the
executives of radio.
It is depressing to hear the chief of a ma
tional chain say with spiritless resignation