1950-02-24, [P ]

Friday, February 24, 1950 TOLEDO UNION JOURNAL Page Five Voice of America would endanger the princi “Freedom Of Press” ple of “a Free Press.” Now, the State Department asks admission Its your head the blase Autry Sets Schedule For. for reporters, not press agents. The Voice of Or Press Monopoly America is one of our weapons in the world IS TRYING TO CHOP OFF ON 1950 Columbia Pictures struggle between totalitarianism and our way of life. Its job is to give the world factual THE CHOPPING BLOCK I Gene Autry, who left Hollywood last week for Denver on the news reports of what goes on in America. Part first lap of his annual personal appearance tour with his Western Stake In Fight? of the picture is what goes on in Congress. The Variety Show, covering 67 cities, has set a March 27 starting date best way to get that is from the original for the first of his 1950 schedule of six pictures for Columbia. By Bradford V. Carter source—that is, from news coverage of the “Blazing Sup,” an original by Jack Townley, will begin on that For Labor Press Association doings of Congress. date, to be followed by “Indian-- ASHINGTON (LPA) — The commercial That in no way would endanger “freedom Territory,” Rlay 8; “Whirlwind,” W press has again raised the issue of “free- of the press.” Why, then, all the efforts to from a song by Stanley, Jones, True To Her |dom of the press” in lining up unanimously to convince the public otherwise? author of “Riders in the Sky,” pppose the request of the State Department One reason is a love for the status quo, for June 12; and “Gene Autry and Fashions for admission to the Congressional press gal leaving things as they are. It’s the same spirit the Mounties,” on July 17. The leries. Is this a case of high principle, or is that made the Standing Committee in the past remaining two pictures on the the cry a cloak for a selfish, monopolistic in reject applications from correspondents for year’s slate have yet to be se terest? radio, news magazines, the Negro press, and lected. All will be produced by Whenever there has been a movement, to last year the labor press, represented by Labor Armand Schaefer. At the annual decrease the government subsidy to the com Press Association. stockholders* meeting of Gene mercial press represented in the low postal The press gallery for generations has been Autry Productions, held prior to rates, the publishers have shrieked that “free a monopoly granted by the government origi Autry’s departure, the following dom of the press” was being attacked. The nally to the dailies. As each new competitor officers were reelected for 1950: same cry was raised to fight organization of came along, they tried to keep it out. They Armand Schaefer, president; newspaper employes; to fight safeguards on forced the radio and news magazine corre Mitchell J. Hamilburg, vice employment of minors. In fact, the frantic spondents to set up separate galleries. Finally HEY are trying to put your head on try to smear one of the organizations president and treasurer; Ina cry was raised to fight almost any legislation the Negro press and the labor press forced T the Paul Block chopping block. which have given wage earners a break. (Mrs. Gene) Autry, secretary. subjecting the newspapers to the laws of mod their way in—but the daily newspapers are They are trying to turn the blade in When we get too old to work and are The same three were also re- em civilization. still unhappy about it. electe dto the board of directors, Now the press drags out the same argu But deeper than that, the State Depart you with The Toledo Blade. still too young to die, will Paul Block Jun with Gene Autry again elected ment when the State Department wants its ment’s request challenges the immediate com Hired propaganda throwers have been ior share his three million dollar trust chairman of the board. At the Voice of America reporters admitted to the mercial monopoly enjoyed by the daily press. brought in from New York. fund with us? meeting, a report was given Congressional galleries, so they can have the The key to this monopoly is the press associa stockholders of the increased It has been reported that the compa-. No, of course not. When a guy has |Same status as representatives of the Soviet tions, particularly Associated Press and United three million dollars in the sock, you see success of the Gene Autry pic government in covering the news of Congress Press, serving and supported by and con nies have pooled together in an AREA tures and the many additional tt £ for the world. To admit the State Department trolled by the daily newspapers. These two PROPAGANDA PROGRAM. Each em he thinks he knows what’s best for a bookings which have been made reporters, say the publishers and their Wash news-gathering agencies have refused even to ployer, we hear, has put up $10 for each worker. for “Riders in the Sky” and ington correspondents, would pervert the pur sell their services to the State Department for worker on his payroll. And what’s best for us, he says, is the “Mule Train.” Hamilburg will poses of the press gallery; it would endanger the Voice of America. Their argument is that $25 a month Social Security Payment, or arrive in New York in three the freedom of the press. they will then cease to speak for a free press. And Paul Block Junior is heading up maybe to go on relief and try for the Old weeks to meet with Columbia The Standing Committee of Correspond However, both AP and UP sell their services the drive. home office executives and dis ents, which governs admissions to the press abroad. Can it be that what really bothers Age Pension that pays $25 a month in cuss future releases. galleries, has turned the State Department them is that selling to the Voice of America Now Paul Block Junior never had to Ohio. down. The Department has asked for a hear might interfere with their sale of news work for a living and never has. Paul Block Junior, the boy bom with ing, and the battle is on. Even that great elder abroad? And now they want to prevent the What he has he got on a silver platter a silver spoon, who never had to work and “All The King‘s Men statesman of the press, Arthur Krock of the State Department from competing with them New York Times, has thought the issue impor on even terms for the news. from his father. never will work, says relief is good Honored By Redbook tant enough to rate a full column in the Times. The press association member of the Stand What does he know of working in the enough for us. “All the King’s Men,” Robert The Standing Committee is hiding behind a ing Committee has voted consistently against plants for a lifetime? Naturally. He has a three million dol Rossen’s picturization of Robert technicality—a rule prohibiting- press gallery admission of the State Department to the What does he know of the terror of lar trust fund to take care of him. Penn Warren's Pulitzer prize membership to employes of this or other gov press gallery, and fought attempts by other ernments. The Committee waived this rule— members to change the rules so that Voice reaching 65 without security? But then we have something too. We novel, has been selected by Red- properly, we believe, in the interests of inter of America could enjoy the same privileges His daddy left a three million dollar have the UAW-CIO—and we are going to book Magazine as its “picture of national understanding—to permit member enjoyed by Tass. trust fund to take care of him, and his win area pensions — $100 a month for the month” for January and a ship to representatives of Tass, the Soviet If the American people want the AP and children and his wife. workers when they are too old to work cndidate for Redbook’s annual news agency. But to waive the rule for our the UP to continue to have this monopoly, Fine business for a snip off a million and too young to die. silver cup award. This is the own State Department would endanger free while Tass enjoys an advantage over our own fifth national magazine to date Loretta Young wean one of dom of the press, says the Committee, and its Voice of America in getting news out to the aire Block to use dirty, yellow journalism Yes sir, Save Toledo’s pensions from to honor the Columbia picture, the business-like, yet alluring defenders. If the State Department reporters world in the world-wide battle for the minds to try to chisel aged workers out of a pen the Paul Block Chopping Block. seventeen having also announc numbers from the wardrobe get in, so will the press agents from all the of men, OK. But let’s debate the issue in sion they are entitled to. Don’t let them twist that Blade in you. ed its selection for January, Es designed by Irene for the role government bureaus, runs the argument. Sen. terms of the facts, and not talk nonsense. Smart alecky to come to Toledo and Stand by your union—Pensions now. quire for February and Life and of the convention-going wom Harry Flood Byrd (D., Va.), the eminent ap- There is no reason for letting the AP and the Lok having featured it previous an mayor in M-G-M’s “Key le grower, machine politician, defender of UP have such a monopoly.

Load more