Build-Up

Listeners-in on the Rev. Charles Edward Coughlin's radio program last Sunday heard as pompous and ominous a whoop-de-do as ever came out of Royal Oak, Mich. The hour began, as usual, with soft religious music. Then, instead of the accustomed rabble-rousing baritone, came the voice of an announcer urging listeners to tell their friends to tune in. More music. Then the announcer, in almost a fall-of-Warsaw manner: "I am instructed to say: Father Coughlin will not address you today." Again music, followed by: "I am instructed to say: Pay no heed to idle rumors which will be circulated this week. . . . Probable events transpiring this week will enlighten you." Finally: "Ladies and gentlemen! Do not be alarmed. We confidently expect that Father Coughlin will return to the microphone next Sunday. By all means do your share to have his largest audience ready to hear his message."

What was cocky Charlie Coughlin up to now? Guarded statements to the press, by Detroit archdiocesan officials, revealed that Father Coughlin's speeches had long been passed upon by a special archdiocesan censorship committee. Possibly, said the Detroit archdiocesan chancellor, Father Coughlin had declined to alter last Sunday's speech in accordance with the censors' suggestions.

Since Catholic censors deal not with matters of fact but of faith and morals, the Detroit committee has had plenty of headaches over the slippery Coughlin discourses. Reputedly Father Coughlin several Sundays ago said something to which the censors had objected. Last Sunday's hocus-pocus suggested that the radio priest, expecting continued censor trouble, was building up a big issue to make the rabble roar again.

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