being plowed and mowed by the deadly missiles from the cannons of contending armies. But in West Virginia the situation was such that the American reading public was kept in profound ignorance of the startling happenings there because of a reign of terror which could not be braved by the dauntless representatives of the American Press associations.
This single fact alone will justify fully the most searching investigation.
I have discussed in Chapter XLII the mystery of why the
Associated Press dropped the case against the "Masses." I
always prefer to give both sides of a question, and it was my
hope that I might be able to give the Associated Press explanation
of this mystery. My hope was roused by Mr. Stone himself,
who entered into correspondence with me, and made the
flat-footed statement: "I am glad to give anyone information
respecting this organization." I, being a trusting person, took
Mr. Stone at his word, and wrote him a courteous letter, putting
to him four questions, as follows:
1. Was any investigation made of my wife's complaint to you
of the false report sent out by the Associated Press that she was
arrested on April 29, 1914, in New York City? And why was no
correction of this false report ever made, in spite of my wife's written
request? Every New York newspaper and every other press association
in America sent out a correct report of my arrest, only the
Associated Press reported that my wife was arrested.
2. What was the result of the investigation which you promised to make concerning my article published in the "Appeal to Reason" in the latter part of May, 1914, telling of the refusal of the Associated Press to send out a report of a deliberate lie told by Gov. Ammons of Colorado to President Wilson? Mr. John P. Gavit of the "New York Evening Post" showed me your letter, promising to investigate this matter.
3. What was the reason the Associated Press decided to drop the libel suit against the "Masses"?
4. What action, if any, did the Associated Press take concerning the charges published in "Pearson's Magazine" by Charles Edward Russell, dealing with its gross and systematic misrepresentation of the Calumet strikers?
I put these four questions politely, and in entire good faith,
and instantly my correspondence with Mr. Stone comes to an
end! I wait day by day; I wait with sorrow and yearning,
but no answer comes from Mr. Stone. I delay sending my
book to the printer for more than two months, hoping to get
a reply from Mr. Stone; but I get no reply!
I now publicly address to Mr. Stone one final communication. I implore him, for the sake of the honor of the great
