Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-20

WAS a news blaekont
Industrial birmingham has a
population OF some $50 600 Ia the
city and double that. metropolitan
In this large labor town approx
mately 40 per cent Of the people
are Negroes For all these zoo 600
persons know there may be a bus
boycott or there may not be bus
boycott
The Negro papers both local
and national are reporting that a
boycott is 10 ttll progress United
Press International reported the
first day OF the boycott stating
the boycott was on, but elammed
up after the first day The Az
soeiated Press said there was no
STORY because there Is or was, no
boycott
wHRC nv reported that the boy
colt was on, but was getting Off
TO slow start As an observer !
can SAY that some 81 the Negroes
are boyrotting the buses but most
OF them stili are riding
What's behlnd this story, or
lack Of storyT
Several radio. teievision wire
service and newspaper editors got
together with someone IN higher
circles and decided that II the boy
colt were moi mentioned Il would
10 away or no news ia good news
Right now the Negro leaders are
amused because the news biackout
is giving them chance 10 get the
boycott Off on it's slow start "
the news was out that the boycott
wasn't working all would 30 back
20 riding the buses
The news Is being controlled 10
please person, or group % per
sons This II the worst form 81
edltonniiginR the worst form o.
controlling public opinion, II IA
nothing new IN Birmingham or
most other cities nv leaving cor
tain stories out the newspapers,
now monopolira IN many cities, can
make an advertiser or other pet
son ~ power happy
When worked ON a birining.
ham paper. before going into tele.
vision. I saw censorship rear "a
ugly head several times heard
manager Of teieviaion station
tell one ~ his stations reporters
not 10 cover the RIOTS NJ the Univ.
ersity OF Alabama The riots were
inspired by tho entrance ~ Negro
coed. Authcrinc Lacy The report
er. Who was al the scene 20 cover
a basketball game was told 70
ignore tho story because coyefnge
would only stir ~ trouble The
story WAS covered hy the networks,
.Ap and every one elae
Somebody always ..ts wind
81 the big siorea. 81 the zen
sorship jus, made the local sta
ton look bad. ita own network
reported the story ~ the paper
the Same story was played down
We also were told not Ia men
ton The M Illus KlsH beoausc
publicity would only help th"
movement. A. n result, the hkh
ia growing slowly In Alabama,
without a night from Iis opposi
ton. b.eaBse they don't know
the movement Is underway
~ the paper We also sycro told
70 Civ. little or no play 70 the ~
ventures ~ Asa fkcel Garter a
scgregAiionist leader AMI crowd
swaylng speaker Aiao. Cariers
name was not b appear N head.
lines Garter. a fiery and c0niroyer-
aiaI character had thrsaiens1 70
impssch the governor. and also ~
form bands ~ "hinutsmen 90
protect white vunen
r'hsso stories got little ~ no play
IN he local papers Then Garter
waa arrested The story broke
when a triple. shooting occurred
during a super secret ~ KluS
Rlan meeting which was complete
with sabsrs ard burping tapers
a. sinister pyops An argument,
over XXX funds ended N1ih thfse
men shot ace Garter Nas charged
vlth assault - murder ard made
heaenlnsa by blaak bid head.
uuss They hsd 10 break ~ rules
fov such q siDry
Ths aRzalli gi't intfut-tO nyr.