Truth No Defense?

Truth No Defense?

On the flat grass levels of Indiana squats a little mainstreet town, Muncie. Its citizens boast that they produce more glass than any other city in the U. S. The town also has a reputation of another color: it is a notorious stamping ground for the potent Hoosier-State K. K. K. The mighty Klan wallows over the settling like a roc in a dust bank. It smothers Muncie. There, about five years ago, George R. Dale started a newspaper, the Post-Democrat. He was convinced that the Republican organization was underlyingly rotten. Soon, three Klan men (allegedly) attacked him and he escaped kidnaping only after a fight. Then was let fly a volley of vitriolic attacks on the hidden monster. Some time later Editor Dale found himself arrested for possession of liquor. Immediately he cried . "Klan," and the indictments were quietly withdrawn. He had included the local judge in his tirade. The judge fined him $500 for contempt of court with 90 days in jail. Editor Dale pleaded permission to prove his allegations to the higher court to which he had appealed, but the Supreme Court of Indiana declined to hear it on the ground that "the truth is no defense." Now he has appealed once more--this time to the Supreme Court of the U. S. The question: has the right of free speech and freedom of the press been jeopardized by punishment for printing the truth? The New York World has thrust a $1,000 check into the hands of Editor Dale from sympathizers all over the nation, has promised more.