Evening star., 1949-12-06

journalism.
suggest that Mr. stann might redeem
himself somewhat II he apologies not only
to Galif1a and the Military Academy, but
to the Naval Academy. too. I'm sure the
midshipmen resent the obvious implication
that zastrow likewise is q pro-
WALTER ]. WELLS.
Argues That Ghost Writers
Have Their Usefulness to the Public
TO the Editor Of The star
It probably is natural for a person to
defend his occupation or profession when
he finds 1t under fire. shall resist that
impulse, for flnd great deal OF merit in
the views Of Justice jackson and The Star
on the subject Of ghost writing.
I quite agree with the justice that:
"Ghost-writin has debased the intellectual
currency in circulation here and is a type
Of counterfeiting which invites no defense"
shall 90 along with The Star in classify
ing ghost writing as practiced In Washing
ton as q public nuisance"
great deal depends, however, on the
motives which impel our public figures to
employ ghost-writers. As director Of q long
established speech-writing flrm, I have al
ways made It 4 matter Of policy to refuse
all assignments from persons who intend to
use the material for educational credit per-
that Justice Jackson is correct In treating
phantom authorship as legal fraud and q
deception. Altogether too many public fig
ures attempt to cash in on temporary pres
tige or popularity by lending their names to
articles or books which they had little or
no hand in writing. The ethics Of such
practice certainly is open to serious question
and for one shall not defend it.
But when The Star complains about pub
MIN fN
speeches, quite another issue is involved.
The majority Of the speeches made by mem
bers Of Congress and Government officials
are made at the behest Of some organization
Of taxpayers. Few Of our public servants
are endowed with spontaneous brilliance In
all fields. When the National Association
for the Improvement Of the Strain Of Kerry
Blue Terriers asks such an oficial to ad-
dress its convention. 1t rarely considers the
fact that the man has other duties which
prevent him from spending time and energy
in research. II he doesn't accept. he Is a
snob and an migrate. If he does accept and
fails to prepare a scholarly and documented
address. he is q boob who has no business in
public Office Who can seriously object,
therefore, II he tends to his official duties
and hires someone else to prepare his
speech?
II it is "the taxpayers who unwittingly
hire the ghost-writers." as you say. 1t also
is the taxpayers who demand that their
II our myriad national organizations were
more considerate Of the time Of public ON
cials. and more temperate in their requests
for speeches, there would not be as much
resort to ghost-writers.
II 4 member of Congress, for example,
were to accept every invitation to make a
public speech, his days and nights would be
occupied almost entirely in research and
composition. It is in the nature of his Office
that he must be responsive to reasonable
requests whenever possible But even occa-
sienal acceptances entail more time than he
has to spare. am sure many public oficials
would be glad to be "enjoined from speak
ing" for they would thus be relieved Of
unrewarding and unproductive labor and
expense.
AS for the matter Of cost to the tax
payers. happen to know that the Con-
gressmen and Government officials who en-
ploy my Arm pay for the service out Of their
own pockets. And that is more than I can
say for business executives. from whom pay
ment for purely personal speeches is almost
invariably by company voucher-an expense
passed on to the consumer
When the motive is financial gain, hiring
q ghost-writer is indefensible deception.
But when public official employs ghost
writer TO enable MIN TO I'LL speaking as
signment which he otherwise would be COM
PEELED to refuse. he hardly merits much
censure.
Perhaps the solution is for people who hire
ghost-writers to emulate Sir Roger de Cow
erley's good cleric. who. at the Knights
request, never read his own sermons, but
contented himselt and delighted his patron
BY reading from books the sermons Of more
gifted theologians. am afraid, however,
that such intellectual forthrightness would
not be appreciated-n even by those who
clamor the loudest for it.
STUART J. BARNES,
Manager, Speakers Library.
Would Prefer Bridge Between d. G.
And Rosslyn, Va, to Freeway
TO the Editor Of The Star:
Il Referring to the freeway over K street
NV extending to and from Key Bridge to
Washington Circle. it appears to me that
the money expended for this project has
proven an engineers nightmare and the
public's disappointment What should have
been built was, bridge over the Potomac
River between < street NV. and the Me-
mortal Bridge. from D. C.. to Roosevelt
YsIasnA fhas,ea IN RnesIvt, Va with feederG