Evening star., 1947-02-11
Stern 1estifies
He Sold Record
|AtHeavyLoss
Publisher Sees Guild
As Menace, Charges
Distortion of News
By J. A. o'Leory

American Newspaper Guild its
first contract in 1894, told the
House Labor Committee today he
sold his three newspapers in the
Philadelphia area at "heavy
personal loss" to warn the coun-
try against the Guild, which he
described as a threat to a free
press.
The charge made yesterday by
Sam B. Eubanks, executive vice
president of the ANG, that Mr.. Stern
provoked the Guild strike to provide
an excuse for the sale, was described
by the publisher as "a childish,
absurd and obvious lie that I feel
demeaned by answering"
Mr.. Stern, telling of his difficulties
as publisher, said there were
instances where news was dis
torted," but under his contract I'VE
could not fire" the offender.
Mr.. Stern's testimony completed
the hearing which grew out of this
publishers announcement on jan
uary 81 that he had suspended pub
lication of the Philadelphia Record
and the Camden IN. j. Courier and
Post and sold their assets to the
Philadelphia Bulletin along with
Radio Station WCAU.
Tells of "Poor Relationship"
Under questioning from committee
members, he said his "poor relation
ship" with the union began in 1887
and that he had begun editorials
attacking Communism the year be-
fore-but he had mo proof of any
connection.
When Representative Mcconnell,
Republican, of Pennsylvania asked
whether it was Mr.. Sterns feeling
there were some connection" Mr..
Stern replied:
"I am not expressing my feelings.
I am here to testify-under oath on
matters of fact. I have no proof
of connection"
Representative Schwabe, Repub-
lican, of Missouri asked whether
the guild had welded any influence
on Mr.. Stern's editorial polfcy, or
attempted to do so.
Il would say no." Mr.. Stern re-
piled. Later he said there had
been instances where, news was
distorted and the man who did it
would have been fired but under
contract we could not fire HIM"
"But you were free to run your
own newspaper"
''Yes."
Executives Get Out Papers.
Mr.. Stern declared that in "a
years as publisher OF seven papers
he never had strike until truck
ing dispute occurred last year. He
also testified that when the guild
struck in November the other unions
on his paper remained on the job
and never worked so hard.
Mr.. Stern described how "1oyal
executives" continued to get out the
papers for three months and said
he did not give up hope or consider
Isuspending until guild election in
mid January.
when I learned that the same
uncompromising group was still in
control 1 realized that if anything
were to be salvaged had to suspend
publication and arrange for the sale
of whatever remained"
Still pursuing "forlorn hope" he
said he met twice more with negoti-
ators but found no change in their
attitude.
Recognizes Grave Mistake"
After describing how he helped the
guild to get started, he said:
II now publicly admit that made
IA grave mistake in recognizing the
guild. In defense of my original
error, the guild was originally a
craft union for writer's, pilotogra-
Iphers and artists. When T signed
the first guild contract, called the
members into my Office and said I
hoped this first contract would start
them off to raising journalism to the
same standard as medicine and law:
that it might take generation, but
that they had the opportunity.
Il offered to pay for all education
courses and lectures which the guild
might institute. I was naive enough
to trust that they would exercise
the power I had placed in their
hands with moderation, restraint
and idealism. A few years later I
was shocked to find the guild had
turned itself into an industrial
union, including clerks, stenogra-
pliers and telephone solicitors.
"All my aims nave turned to dust.
have done more to harm the
position of the working newspaper
man than to benefit him. I have
put him in the straitjacket of q
sinister pressure group"
Mr.. Stern closed with a recon-
mendation to the committee which
is considering new labor laws,
that no editor or creator of opinion