Milford chronicle., 1958-05-09
TAXING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

TAXING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
The Bureau of Internal Revenue has pro-
posed that money spent by the electric utili-
ties for institutional advertising be taxed,
and not be considered as legitimate busi-
ness expense. The advertising in question
presents the private enterprise side of the
public-vs.- private power controversy-a
naturally enough, the Bureaus action was
spurred by socialist-minded people in and
out of public life.
This unprecedented proposal resulted in
a unanimous resolution at the recent meeting
of the National Editorial Association in New
Orleans The Association represents several
thousand daily and weekly newspapers. The
resolution, which was framed in formal
terms, pointed out that there exists differ
ence of opinion between our citizens as to
competition between private enterprise and
government; that the people have the con-
stitutional rights to study every viewpoint,
whether or not any such viewpoint be popu-
lar with public servants; and that the Bu-
reaus proposal g. is an obvious effort to
employ tax penalty to circumvent the free
dom of speech and of the press guaranteed
in the Constitution of the United States, by
taxing the expression of opinion 1t added
that g. democracy is dead when citizens
may only be exposed to opinions with which
administrative officials of the government
are in agreement" and called upon everyone
who believes in freedom to do all in their
power to annual the Bureaus ruling and to
defeat proposed legislation which would i'm
plement it.
This matter goes far beyond the public
power fight If the tax penalty can be used
to prevent one group of citizens and enter
pr1SeS from expressing their views, 1t can
be used to prevent any and all other groups
from doing So 1t could make hollow mock
cry of the Constitutional guarantees of free
dom of speech, press and expression 1t falls
int thn ootn of hxy 1ta-
tators to curb dissent.
WE CAN COUNT ON THE WEEKLIES
The American Press states that: ..
the continuation of country weekles is one
of the few things we can count upon in this
troubled world" Here are some of the rea-
sons why:
People who read metropolitan dailies do
so as a matter of duty in order to get the
'big news. But, if they live in suburban
town or rural area, they read their country
weekly because they want to. 1t gives the
local stories that mean something in their
lives.
Respected weeklies have survived every
crisis which ever hit this country because
merchants in small towns viii continue to
advertise in their local weekly come depres-
sion or prosperity. 1t is sure way of bring
ing in customers.
Circulation of weeklies is going up be-
cause there are more people living in the
suburbs and in the country. Big city papers
are doing well to keep even.
More and more weekies are being pub
lished successfully right in the heart of
metropolitan cities to fill the Unsuitable de-
mand of people for local and neighborhood
news and advertisements of neighborhood
stores.
The nations thousands of hometown
newspapers are heading for their biggest
of nj
bility. They are champions of the idea that
the individual must own property and get
ahead according to his ability in free econ
omy to retain the priceless right of political
self determination under Representative
form OF government. The free press is our,
best defense against tyranny
TAKE 1T EASY-LEARN TO RELAX
Modern life has its complications. 1t pro-
ceeds at very rapid pace. With the air.
plane and the automobile annhilating dis
tance, the radio and teevision bringing in
Simultaneous reports on events, and other
characteristics of our present-day living, the
human body and mind is called upon to ad-
just itself to faster tempo than ever before.
Bewilderment, as problems loom up for
solution, worry and anxiety over success or
failure of this or that project the steady
straining and grind of business in an effort
to acquire more and have every available
eomfort-all these things add to the nervous
strain of the human being.
Most of us should cultivate the philosophy
of taking things easy. The high tension of
routine is taking terrific toll of our profes-
sional men.
Probably the best antidote for the strain
of life is a good sense of humor. There are
many humorous things in life, and you can
laugh whether you win or lose, succeed or
fail. To do so means longer life and bet
ter chance to reverse your errors.