The Wyandotte news-herald. (Wyandotte, Mich.) 1943-1963, 1945-03-12
.r..... by
strauss
santz
Making Democracy
Live

IN A TYPICAL American home
on a typical American street
in Old Homestead, U.S.A. :.
a group of men gathered Friday
night to make a decision that
has re-affirmed cherished Amer
lean right the Freedom OF
Speech.
While they dealt with but a 10
cal matter perhaps not OF
great Importance in this troubled
world nevertheless, by their
noble action they have told their
neighbors that this is great coun-
try protected by great Con-
stitution that is unshakable.
They have re-affirmed a doctrine
that gives an American right to
express an opinion whether
he be right or wrong.
A group Of men . the Board
of Control of the Wyandotte Ex-
change Club. met in the home OF
Zig Sitkins, their secretary to
discuss a problem that had arisen
after an opinion of guest speakers
remarks had been published in the
News-Herald.
The speaker was Mr.. Leo Cana
Ian, Municipal Service Commission
member. The subject was the pro-
posed Charter change. The reporter
was e. Raymond Sage who Is
also an Exchangeite.
Mr.. Sage's published criticism
of the address drew immediate
response. There were some who felt
the speech should not have been
reviewed publicly that 1t was
meant only for the benefit Of the
listening audience. There were also
some who strongly disagreed with
Mr.. Sage's comment. They felt his
remarks were overly harsh and not
In good taste.
The Wyandotte Exchange club is
not o political organization and
they make every effort to steer
clear of political entanglements
as it should be. Their men,
bership is drawn from business and
professional men in all walks of life
and OF wide variance in pol
itical opinions. This is also as 1t
should be. Unfortunately, however,
the address was covered by re-
porter because a director OF the
organization requested that 1t
should be since the subject was Of
civic Importance. The chief execu-
tive Of the city the Mayor
also requested that it be given
publicity and for the same
reason. This was not to be politics
but civic instruction.
Mr.. Catalan was scheduled to
give an unbiased discussion Of the
proposed charter change as 1t al
fects TIE operation of the Munich
pal Service Commission.
This writer was not there and
Is not In a position to review the
address. Mr.. Sage was there :.
and from his article one gathers
that although Mr.. Catalan did say
in his opening remarks that he was
not taking sides one way or another
he did prove himself to have
definite leaningS on the subject.
We can also turn to the pub
lished quoted remarks Of listener
and from those remarks we gather
the inference that Mr.. Catalan did
not come to speak as Messiah
who was completely neutral in his
feelings toward the Charter change.
I refer to Mr.. John G. Kreger's
question asking Mr.. Catalan, Il
have known you for a long time
and cannot understand your saying
that you're not taking sides in this
issue. You have always been very
definite in regards to affairs OF the
commission prior to this. So where
do you stand now?"
And to this I am told Mr.. Caha-
Ian made the admission that he
did believe in the charter changes
and he would vote for them.
Be that as it may, Mr.. Catalan
and others did object to Mr.. Sages
story. They felt that he did remain
on the fence and the reporter
was beyond his rights in printing
otherwise.
II all sounds like a small matter
. yet it has its important side
Has q reporter right to call shot
as he sees it? Has he a right to
believe that a speaker has devlated
from his scheduled course and
print that surmise? Has he a right
to say what he thinks whether
or not in the opinion of others ne
Is wrong? Has a reporter right to
investigate beyond the spoken word
and draw his conclusions from
that knowledge? Has a reporter a
right to criticize even though
his criticism be judged wrong by
some7
That was the problem that faced
a handful of American citizens who
gathered in the home of their club
secretary Friday night.
Men OF lesser calibre might have
demanded a public apology or re-
traction.
Continued on Page 81