Evening star., 1949-11-11
Democratic Organ
Hits ; Papers Here
For Ad Censorship
BY the Assocto,ed Press

by the Associated Press
The Democratic National Com
mittee spoke out today against
what it called censorship involved
in the refusal of three Washing
ton newspapers to accept adver-
tisements giving the views Of
small businessmen on the anti
trust suit against the Great At
1antic & Pacific Tea Co.
The committee statement ap-
peared over the signature of
Chairman William M. Boyle in
the committees weekly publica-
ton, Capital Comment.
It said all four Washington pa
pers ran the advertisements in
which the AkP assailed the JUS
tice Department for enforcing the
antitrust laws" but only one of
the four accepted the small busi-
ness ad. It was offered by the
National Federation of Independ-
ent Business. The federation de-
scribes itself as a non-partisan
organization with a membership
of 10000 small, independent
business and professional men. It
says it interests itself in anti
trust legislation and enforcement.
Louisville Story Reprinted.
Capital Comment noted that it's
previous issue referred to the re-
fusal Of three Washington papers
to carry the ad and said only one
daily, the Louisville Ky.) Courier
Journal considered that news.
The previous issue did not name
the papers involved.
Today's Capital Comment re-
printed the Louisville papers
story. The story quoted George
j. Burger. vice president of the
small businessmen's group. as say
ing the Washington Daily News
was the only local paper to &C
cept his ad and those refusing 1t
were The Star, the Post and the
Times-Herald.
The story went on to say that
Mr.. Burger intended to seek space
for the reply to A. & P. in 500
newspapers, but chose the four
papers here and one each in Cali
fornia, Texas. Iowa and Massa-
chusetts for a test run" Mr..
Burger said the four papers out
side Washington ran his ad.
OF the situation in Washington.
Capital Comment said:
THAT the press in general thus
far has not seen any news value
In the fact that this censorship
situation exists seems to indicate
that the newspaper business is
not as vigilant policeman OF
its own affairs as it is Of the af-
fairs Of Others"
Wording Only Issue.
Crosby N. Boyd. business man
ager of The Star. said the word
ing of the advertisement rather
than It's substance. was the point
at issue.
There was never any question
as to the right Of the advertiser
to present his side of the case and
he was so informed and in con-
siderable detail" Mr.. Boyd said.
when the advertisement was
submitted for consideration the
advertiser was advised of the OBJ
jectionable wording, with the sug-
gestion that the phraseology be
changed. The changes were not
made and the advertisement was
not resubmitted."
Mr.. Boyd said the Governments
side Of the case had been carried
fully in. The Stars news columns
and that another advertisement,
"rebutting" the A6zP advertising,
had been approved by The Star
for acceptance but had not yet
been submitted. He did not say
who offered this ad.
Mr.. Boyd confirmed a letter
Mr.. Burger said had been written
to him october Is by Godfrey
W. Kaufman. The Star adver-
Using manager, saying.
''It is not our policy to permit
any advertiser to discredit the ad-
vertising of another, and. for that
reason, the copy as submitted Is
not acceptable.
Post Sees Possible Libel.
1.-The Star has no objection to
any individual or advertiser tax
ing a positive stand for or against
any issue, and we therefore would
have no objection to your organ
kation stating the reasons why 1t
supports the Justice Department
In this case. If you desire to re-
submit the copy setting forth the
Governments side of the current
issue, we should be pleased to ac-
cept it,"
Philip L. Graham, publisher Of
the Washington Post, said:
1.-THE Washington Post rejected
the advertisement because 1t
seemed possibly libelous. We give
the widest latitude to advertisers
In expression of opinion because
we consider this proper re-
sponsibility Of newspapers. Be-
cause of this responsibility. we
have in recent years printed ad-
vertisements ranging from Gerald
L. K. Smith to Paul Robson. We
do not think, however. that our re-
sponsibility requires the printing
of possibly 1ibelous matter. If the
advertisement is rewritten to cure
this recent defect, we shall be
glad to print it."
No Times Herald Comment.
Frank c. Waldrop, executive
editor Of the Washington Times
Herald, said his paper would have
no comment.
Matt Meyer. business manager
of the Daily News, said the Bur
ger ad was Offered to us, okayed
by our editor as far as the copy
was concerned. and we ran It,"
1.-THE fact that an ad is contro-
versial doesn't stop its publica-
ton in our paper" he added.