The mystery surrounding Charles E. Coughlin’s failure to speak on his regular Sunday radio program yesterday was as deep here today as it was in Detroit, the veil pierced only by surmisals that the action may have been due either to Church censorship or a plan to build up interest for some special announcement in next Sunday’s talk.
The Federal Communications Commission and National Association of Broadcast both denied having any information on Coughlin’s surprising action. The development was discussed in Capital corridors, and some members of Congress said privately they believed Church authorities had finally “cracked down” on the radio preset.
Meanwhile, with a Federal grand jury in Brooklyn considering indictments for 17 arrested Christian Front members on sedition charges and with the Justice Department avoedly seeking the identity of any who “aided” or “abetted” their alleged conspiracy, radio circles were discussing the possibility that stations broadcasting Coughlin’s talks might become involved if the Government took any action against Coughlin.
At the FCC office it was stated that radio stations are liable as individuals in civil and criminal suits involving programs which they broadcast.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
