MINK AND RED HERRING,

by A. J.Liebling '24. Doubleday Co., 1949. 251pp. $2.95.

A Russian philosopher who died in exile recently in Paris wrote at the end of his life: "There must be a place from which we may boldly testify to, and proclaim truth, love, and justice. No one today likes truth: utility and self-interest have long ago been substituted for truth "

Certainly the newspapers are no longer interested in truth according to Mr. Liebling. Not only do they keep the truth very often from the public but in the election year of 1948 they didn't even know what the truth was.

Since the war, he avers, newspapers cut down their foreign staffs as for a relatively small sum they could buy syndicated features of "space-filling, reassuring certitudes." This package might contain individually wrapped portions of pontification by an accredited pundit like Walter Lippmann, prognostication by Roper or Gallup, and a side order of Pegler if the publisher had "a taste for high flavors."

Newspapers, Mr. Liebling joyfully announces in a series of ear-jangling, and ribtickling articles, have become nothing more than advertising matter mixed with a harmless amount of bilge masquerading as news. The newspaper tells its readers only what they want them to believe. Note recently how they gave Paul Blanshard's courageous and fact-filled book American Freedom and Catholic Power the "silent treatment."

Mr. Liebling's book is very good fun to read, and much more.