The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1946-01-18
Fair Enough
By wEsTBROOK PEGLER

Copyright, 1916, by King Features Syndicate)
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE question has
been raised. and much too late, OF freedom
OF the PRESS for Army publications in which
the buck private has been encouraged to be-
heve that he has right to talk back to his
superiors. By what theory it ever was de-
clded that such papers had any legitimate
place IN disciplined military forces we never
nave been told, the reason for this reticence
being that such impudnece cannot be
reconclled with our military system and our
laws governing the conduct Of both officers and
enlisted or drafted men,
The old, original Stars and Stripes was an
experiment that turned out WELL thanks to
the happy coincidence of some young and
nnschlevous men who displayed an opportune
Knack for lampooning themselves, their boss
es and war in a genial and patriotic way.
When this war came along, however, the
colurnnlsts and the pinkS first promoted a
great expansion of such journalism and then
contrlved to plant themselves in the publ
cations, as data in Army intelligence has posi-
lively noted. Failing that, they got jobs in
press relations and various headquarters and
the communists were diligent to be good
soldiers in the sense of not counting charges.
Their purpose was to sit out the war without
being killed or hurt and to acquire all the
information and influence they could for use
in the future. The present time is of that
future.
All this doubtless will be developed in some
phase OF m ing investigations and
scandals. 1t was nasty conspiracy and cyni-
cal almost beyond belief.
However, the dangers presented by Army
journalism, under privilege, are worse than
most of us, and that term includes high staff
officers, have realized.
Under freedom of the PRESS this journal
icy,, hoc riohf to icio
OF the guttersnipe gossips as correspondent"
and "columnits,' with a right to express
their opinions and publish the filthiest and
most descriptive runors about all superiors.
from corporals to the Secretary of War. I'm
der such franchise, these vermin are not only
protected in their violations of the common
est military laws but protected as well, in
their non-conbat editorial assignments. For,
the more extensively they violate the regu-
lations and the articles of war by holding
their superiors and the whole command up
to ridicule and contempt, the more angrily
their supporters may protest that any rebuke,
such as a demotion or transfer to dangerous
duties, was arranged by the offended
''brass-hats' as a means of silencing criticism.
1t is new application OF the old, familiar
system that plant managers in civilian indus
try encountered long ago. the martyr method
which invoked the Wagner Act to prevent an
employer from firing saboteur and disrupter
on the ground that he was being prosecuted
for union activity Any Stacker, turned CT
journalist, might cry that the captain or the
general was sending him to his death be-
cause he was telling the Truth.
Unless this so-called ''GI journalism is
abolished, the principle will have been es-
tablshed, to the irreparable damage Of the
Army and the nation, that any man, even a
colonel with grudge against general or a
second lieutenant, has privilege under free
dom Of the press to inspire vicious COM
ments against that person in print and that
the writer of the item, under journalitic
privilege may refuse to reveal his source.
Bribery and corruption are thus invited. Any
private, saluting punctiliously, may neverthe
less have the right to deliver the most insult
ing public affronts to any officer under his
own name as Contributor" and get away
with it.
In an Army, respect for rank Is required
and it cannot be compromised by an appeal
to journalism" which leaves the subordinate
free to ridicule and lie about his superiors
with no fear Of punishment or responsibility
for SANDER. Such papers, Of course, are inn
mune to civil suits for damages in libel.
Our civil, conventional, daily journalism
has been grievously infected by this poison
and the evil flowed straight into the blood
stream of the service publications as soon as
these low things were forced into uniform.
There is no room for freedom OF the press
or journalistic privilege in the American
armed services and all such papers should
be suppressed permanently.
If "brass-hats'' have abused their power to
prosecute the ranks, then the great and
honored corps of correspondents for the CT
william press would seem to have been almost
criminally remiss in their reporting of the
truth. Why haven't they told us about these
impositions and why haven't they mentioned
the names of the bad colonies and generals
and given us times and places?
OHOTATIONG |