Born To Be a Newspaper Man

by Martin J. McGowan Jr.

Freedom of the Press

There was an interesting sidelight to the Forsberg incident. It came at the following meeting of the Appleton Association. The president of the organization attempted to bar me from future meetings.

First, a bit of background. I was being noticed among the editorial fraternity by winning awards. Gary Hiebert, who wrote the Oliver Towne column in the St. Paul papers, came to Appleton to do some research and interviews for the column. He visited with me, took my picture in front of the Press office and also interviewed other people in town.

One of them was Paul Waldon, who ran a large mercantile business serving the area. He was known as a major Republican. He also was president of the Appleton Association, the local Chamber of Commerce, at the time of this incident.

Thus I wasn't surprised to see when the Oliver Towne column was published that Mr. Waldon said he didn't think much of my editorial policy He did admit, however, that I put out an attractive paper.

I was surprised, however, when the business portion of the meeting began to hear Mr. Waldon proclaim that as a result of what had been published in the Press about Mr. Forsberg's statements on a public rest room that the press-apparently meaning all media--should be barred from future meetings. Mr. Waldon said this was bad for business and such statements should not be published. He said the farm trade could be alienated if the impression was given that all businessmen in Appleton felt like Mr. Forsberg.

I stood up to defend my position. I noted that I was a dues-paying member of the Association and as long as they accepted my membership I planned to attend meetings and cover them for the Press.

I didn't expect any support from other members since they did not want to make speeches and enter into a controversy. They also did not want to tangle with Mr. Waldon. However, to my amazement, former Gov. Elmer Benson, who could hold his own and more in any discussion or debate, said the discussion was foolish and the Association should not think of closing the meetings and barring press coverage of a public meeting.

There was no rebuttal. Nobody wanted to argue with the former fiery governor and the matter ended. I have been eternally grateful for Gov. Benson's intervention.

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