Montana labor news., 1945-05-10
IPUT The FINGER
NPOISON
PEN PECLER
BY JOYCE TURNER
Reporter for The Dispatcher for
Federated Press

4
Federated Press
SAN FRANCISCO, r (FP) II just
slapped a subpoena on a rat. This town
was crowded with some 1000 out-of-
town newspaper people here for the
United Nations Conference, but my as
signment was to find one particular poi
son -Westbrook Pegler-wlthout LETT
ting him know I was looking for him.
Why l. hard-working reporter for
the uWU Dispatcher, was picked for
the Job 1 dont know. But agreed to
do what our union lawyers termed a
service to humanity" I said 1 would
give Pegler a copy of the brief ON why
he IS being sued by the international
Longshoremen's 6 Ware h ou m S
Union (CIO) for 100000 for irespon-
sible journalism. Pinned to the fat
brief was the crux Of the matter-a
court summons.
First I studied the only available pic
ture of the surly- y-browed, unhappy look
ing Hearst columnist and memorized the
details of that sour face. Then I set
out for the press room at the Veterans
Memorial Bldg. where the working re-
porters turn out their stories on the
conference. asked a radio commenta-
tor if he had seen Pegler. who's he?"
was the answer. He doesn't come
around here" New York columnist
added. He just sits in his little room
and makes up those columns"
I rekked from box to box in the press
tier at the Opera House while delegates
spoke their greetings in French, Spanish
and English. I asked James Cagney if
he had seen Pegler, asked Vincent
Sheean, I asked Walter Winchell. Their
combined answers accentuated the mega
tive.
Back at the Palace hotel, press head
quarters for the conference, I thought
I spotted my man. He was beetle
browed, freckled and sandy-haired. It
was worth a try. Clutching the subpoena,
I approached Are you Westbrook
pegler?" 1 asked. Thank God, no" he
growIed.
It was a long day. without success
thai wednesday, May O. Nobody had
seen Pegler and everybody agreed they
didn't have much desire to see him any
way. New tactics were needed. I could
20 on forever looking for an unfamiliar
face among 1000 faces Besides tickets
to plenary sessions at the conference
are hard to get. Anyway, they ran out
Of plenary sessions as well as tickets on
wednesday.
From press headquarters 1 acquired
Pegler's san Francisco address, no phone
number. Next morning Travelled Out
to 1926 Cough ST., Apt. 7, dressed in my
best and with my good old fur coat OF
NV shivering back On Apt rs Doorstep
the 0-foot, athletic butler informed me
that Mrs, Coblentz, wife of the pub.
Usher of San Francisco's Hearst-owneC
all-Bulletin, was home and awake
House guest Pegler was still asleep.
The butler and I chatted A maiC
appeared and disappeared to find Mrs
Cobentz. Then 1 asked: which il
Mr. Pegler's room?" There were l.
rooms in the sumptuous apartment. Il
the 18th, away to the back and then Il
the right, lay Pegler. I fingered tn
subpoena and then said to the butler
Excuse me" ran down the hall
through an adjoining bath and into
room with twin beds. Pegler was il
one of them.
1 leaned over and shook him. "Sorr
to wake you up Mr.. Pegler, but hav
summons for you"
Pegler rolled over and snapped: "Pu
it down over there, you high school Com
munist." put it down on the nigh
table and said: Sorry to have disturbe
YOU" Pegler looked even unhappie
than his picture. AS I started to leave
dowager-ish Mrs. Coblentz came int
the room and pounced on me. Their
was one hand on my best sheared beave
and one clutching at my throat. Your
going to stay here locked up until tn
police arrive" she said, pushing me int
the adjoining room. The door close
omniously. 1t didn't open when triet
I think the butler was hOldin it tight.
I was scared so I used the phone i
the room to call our lawyers and the
reasSuued me it was legal for anyon
over l8 to serve a summons and that
had legal entry to the house. They said
You can just leave" SO 1 yanked ope
the door, pushed past the butler an
grappled with Mrs. Coblentz, who hel
me strong arm fashion while 1 helplessl
proclaimed my immediate wish to leay
any my constitutional right to do So
You're handling this the wrong way
yelled Pegler, by this time thorough
awake and clothed in a bathrobe. "She
Just one Of those Communists who war
publicity"
As a matter Of fact I was just
newspaper reported who served a sun
mons and wanted to get out. I tail'
it for home, and that is the story Of IL
toughest assignment Of my brief b
otherwise happy editorial years.