Potatoes & Seals

As governor of Louisiana, Huey P. Long liked to boast that he could buy & sell legislators "like sacks of potatoes." As far as the New Orleans Item (circ. 96,000) is concerned, things are not much different under Governor Earl Long, Huey's brother. Last week, when a legislative committee voted one way on a tax bill, then flip-flopped when the order came down from Governor Long, the Item sourly commented: "The large majority of our distinguished Senators and Representatives have about as much independence as trained seals. When their trainer barks, they jump."

This time the legislators also jumped on the Item. Invoking a constitutional clause that not even the Kingfish himself had ever used, the Senate by a vote of 31 to 4 moved to cite Editor Clayton Fritchey of the Item for "disrespectful, disorderly or contemptuous" conduct toward the legislature. Maximum penalty: ten days in jail.

Editor Fritchey promptly reprinted the editorial on Page One, along with an editorial signed by Publisher David ("Tommy") Stern, and headlined: THE ISSUE--FREEDOM OF THE PRESS. Wrote Stern: "If this newspaper believes the State Senate ... is not acting in the best interest of the public, it is not only our right but our duty to say so." Then Fritchey and Stern, responding to a summons from a sergeant-at-arms, appeared before a Senate committee to answer for the Item's outspoken words.

For an hour and 15 minutes, as 800 spectators cheered, applauded and booed, the two newsmen boldly stood up for the rights of a free press. They refused to retreat one whit. In the face of the Item's firm stand, plus editorials in other newspapers unanimously rebuking the legislators for their attitude, the committee backed down, voted to forget about prosecution of Editor Fritchey and Publisher Stern. The most disappointed man in the committee room was undoubtedly Senator A. O. Rappelet. Legislative Clown Rappelet had brought along a huge balloon, a ball and four plastic fish, but the chairman never gave him the floor or the chance to put on his trained-seal act.

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