Word: fritchey
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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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...
...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...