Banged Banks

If the New York Times were to attack New York Edison Co. and print scorching editorials against the big banks, it would certainly cause a good deal of excitement. It might even start a run on one of the banks. But it certainly would not bring all Manhattan business to a standstill. No metropolitan newspaper, however influential, dominates its entire community nowadays.

Smalltown journalism is different. In a small community with only one or two newspapers, the editorial tail can wag the financial dog. Thus last week, all on account of the little Huntington, Ind. News (circulation 4,120), the three banks of Huntington were closed, business was crippled, a succession of legal holidays had to be declared by the Mayor.

Editor Bangs, 42, onetime president of Huntington College (United Brethren), acquired the News last year. Last October he had a row with the banks, flayed them editorially, charged them with alienating his advertisers, threatening his newsboys. Also he attacked the rates of Northern Indiana Power Co.

Last fortnight Editor Bangs was jailed on charges of criminal libel against the banks. Out on bail he found that electricity, gas, steam had been shut off from his plant. Then Editor Bangs's readers did for him what New York Times readers probably would not do for Adolph Ochs. Women's organizations hurried to the News plant with lanterns. Farmers drove in with gasoline pressure lamps. Friends rigged a gasoline melting pot for linotype metal. Willing, brawny arms hauled an old automobile into the plant, hitched its engine to the News press. Crowds milled around the doors to watch the first edition come out only an hour and a half late with the streamer headline: N. I. P. ADMITS PART IN CONSPIRACY TO CRUSH NEWS.

Tartly observed the lawyers for Huntington's banks & power company: "The only conspiracy here is to collect some of Bangs's manifold debts. . . ."

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