Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1946-07-19
by
Clayton
Rusch
Chairman
of the

press. The right of free speech
has been fought for and de-
Tended in some very bitter and
severe struggles. There are
still some limitations on free
speech, and we will not have
a democracy until the legal
limitations on the right of free
speech are removed. All of
us should bend our efforts to
assure, and protect the right
of free speech for all.
When Voltaire, the great
18th century French play
right, humorist and social phil
osopher once said, 81 do not
agree with a word you say,
but I will fight to the death
for your right to say it," he
was voicing the true spirit of
democracy.
Yet, the right of free speech
carries with it certain definite
obligations. All real cham
pions of free speech recognize
that it is the obligation of all
writers and speakers to have
a decent regard for truth and
ethics. Writers and speakers
who SANDER, lie, and distort
the facts are abusing hard
won privilege.
Furthermore it should
be recognized that newspapers
and magazines owe their read
ers a definite obligation. They
have a responsibility to the
public. 1t is the public which
buys their publications. Also
the main source of a news
papers inome is advertizing.
1t is the public who buys the
products which are advertised
Furthermore, the majority of
the public are engaged, di-
rectly or indirectly, in making
the very products, without
which no advertising would be
possible.
When columnists retained
by newspapers carry on dis
torted and monotonous at
tacks upon the labor move
ment as a whole, and upon
public officials who work for
better social conditions, they
are offending and insulting
the majority of the newspap-
ers' customers.
During the lifetime of the
late president, Franklin D.
Roosevelt, those who chose to
attack him and his administra-
ton were attacking a man
who could adequately defend
himself. In appraising the
place that Franklin D. Roose-
Welt will fill in history the To-
ledo Blade once said editori-
ally "His death will silence his
critics, and he will be judged
by what he has achieved"
This is no doubt true. His
death has failed to stop the
diatribes of Westbrook Peg
ler, but judged by any stand
ards we might use, Mr.. Pegler
is no critic.
A real critic must analyze
both sides of any issue. Peg
Ter is not concerned with sub
standard wages, soaring prices,
the plight of the pensioners,
malnutrition, poor housing or
organizations to prom ote
world peace. He is uncon-
cerned with graft and corrup-
ton in banks and corpora
tions. He devotes his entire
talents" to smearing the late
president and slandering the
labor movement.
Mr.. Pegler has the right to
express his opinions. He also
has a right to express them in
poor taste and in a bad man
nered, i'll bred, insulting and
offensive way. He even has
the right to make himself COM
pletely obnoxious. w h ch
right he certainly exercises.
However, the newspapers
are under no obligation to pro-
vide the means of spreading
such revolving stuff as he
writes. His style is certainly
vulgar enough to preclude any
possibility of his column being
carried for it's Literary
merits.
1t is asking too much to ex-
pect the public to provide the
source of salary to q writer
who shows so little concern
for the welfare of those who
work.
The Toledo Blade has on
more than one occasion pub
licly expressed the desire to
promote greater harmony be-
tween management and labor
in our city. There is some
thing that the Blade could do
which would promote har-
mony in the city of Toledo,
avoid dissension, and bring
about purer and more
wholesome atmosphere. This
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