Starring Lynn Fontaine in The Printer Was a Lady on the cavalcade of America, sponsored by DuFont, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. Of all the rights and privileges guaranteed to Americans by their bill of rights and their democracy, foremost is the freedom of speech and of the press. Our play tonight deals with this American tradition and with the career of a remarkable American woman named Ann Royal. To play the part of this remarkable woman, we have been fortunate in securing the talents of a remarkable actress, one who has been heard too seldom on the radio. In fact, tonight marks her first sponsored performance on the air. Her name is Lynn Fontaine. And so DuFont takes pleasure in presenting The Printer Was a Lady, starring Lynn Fontaine on the cavalcade of America. Music Penny Prince, Penny Prince, Ann Royal's latest broadside, just out the press, Penny Prince. Some people laughed at Ann Royal, some pretended not to hear, but everyone did hear all the same. It was even heard in the presidential mansion. And there on a day in early spring, Andrew Jackson, seventh president of the United States, is talking to his secretary of war, John Eaton. I still think you ought to see her, Mr. President. By the ton of John, since when has it been the function of the secretary of war to make appointments for any old busybody who runs a printing press? This isn't just any old busybody. This is Ann Roy. I don't care if it's the fellow who invented the printing press. I'm a busy man. But maybe she can help us. We've got the fight of our lives on our hands with this United States bank crowd. And as I said before... Their pen is mightier than their sword. Well, what are you doing as secretary of war, if that's what you think? You don't have to choose between them, you know. No. I was talking to Mrs. Eaton about this woman. Peggy says she's a real power in Washington. And she's no fool either. She knows what you're trying to do and she believes in you. Peggy say that? She did. And the least you can do is see her. You waste enough time seeing politicians who want offices. All right. Let her come in. Come in, Mrs. Roy. I thought you were the president that anyone could see any time. Mrs. Roy? Yes. Mind if I sit down? No, sit down, by all means. I'm as tired as a Mississippi mule tramping around these streets. I'll come in again later in the day, Mr. President. Yeah, all right, John. Well, Mrs. Roy, what can I do for you? What can you do for me? Did you ever hear of the power of the press? I know. The pen is mightier than the sword. Well, don't you believe it? Maybe I'm a little biased, ma'am. I'm a soldier. And I'm a printer, so we ought to get along famously. Now, General, you don't mind if I call you General, do you? Anything you wish me. I'm a printer, a sort of one-woman newspaper, you might say. I suppose you've seen some of the broadsides I put out. I have, ma'am. Yeah, I can see you don't think much of them. Neither do I. That's why I'm here. You forgive me, ma'am, if I fail to see the connection. It's just this. The other day I suddenly thought to myself, since Andrew Jackson moved into Washington, there are more important things happening here than courtships and scandals and all that kind of flapdoodle. And it's the duty of anyone who has anything to do with a printing press to find out about them and tell the people. And I thought the best place to find out was right here. Do you follow me? Yes, ma'am. Now, the big issue today is this United States bank business. What is it? Who's behind it? Why are you fighting it? What are you going to do if I tell you? Print the truth about it. How do you know I'll tell you the truth? I don't, but I'll find out. That sounds fair enough. All right, I'll tell you. It's a simple story and an old, familiar story, I'm afraid. The United States bank controls the finances and the credit of the United States. It can issue money and withdraw it. It can cause panic and it can cause booms. The United States Treasury has to keep the government's money there and pay for the privilege. And it's all owned by a few men in Philadelphia and New York. You mean the government and the people don't have any say in it at all? Now you say. Well, they ought to. That's what I say. That's why the fight begins. Why can't Congress do something about it? They could. In fact, they're the only ones who can. Well, then why don't they? Well, you see, lately the bank's gotten habit of loaning money to the congressmen. Do you mean to tell me they're a congressman who won't vote against the bank because they owe money to it? I can't prove that, but it wouldn't surprise me if it might have something to do with it. Well, of all the white-livered, thieving scoundrels, who are they? You know which ones are fighting me on this issue, don't you? Yes, I think I do. Look here, General, you haven't had much luck fighting these fellows with a sword, have you? The laws being what they are, no, ma'am. I have a feeling that when I get through, you will begin to agree with me about the power of the pen. It'll have to be a mighty sharp pen, ma'am. It is, General, it is. Extra printing! And one of Lady Panville! All about the bank scandal! Senator Williams all sells his boat! Big New York newspaper takes bribe! Extra printing! Penny print! Penny print! And these gentlemen sit silently by while the bank impoverish and bankrupts the very voters who sent them to the halls of Congress. Whatever such a case as this in the annals of corruption which history records, where thieves and moneylenders unite to line their pockets while they beggar their own countrymen and bankrupt their own constituents. Mr. Speaker, I demand an immediate public investigation of the affairs of the United States Bank. We have lately heard charges against this institution in the public prints, which if true indicate a threat to our freedom as great as any since the war for independence. This issue can no longer be called the political trial! How many copies you want this time, Miss Roy? How many have printed so far? About fifteen hundred. Better run off another five hundred or so if you're not too tired. We never seem to have enough nowadays. Anne, you ought to get some sleep. I'm all right, Sally. But Anne, you can't go on like this, can you? Oh, yes I can. Listen, who's that on the stairs? Sounds like visitors. Probably some idiot that got kicked by a horse and wants to be sure I printed it in the paper. Well, don't you knock when you enter a house or do you always break in? Good evening, Mistress Royall. Who are you? What do you want? We've come to discuss a matter of business, Mistress Royall. Certain friends of ours are anxious to go into the printing business. Why don't they if they have the wits to? They're particularly anxious to acquire this property of yours, this press and so on. Well, they can't have it. Good night. They're willing to pay very handsomely, provided that you remain here as, shall we say, manager? And consult with them, of course, on the nature of your future publication? I thought as much. What makes you think you can bribe me? Who do you think I am, one of your thieving politicians? Go back and tell your friends I wouldn't touch such a filthy proposition if I was starving in the gut. And now get out, all of you. Get out! You refuse, then? Refuse? I not only refuse, but I intend that the people of Washington shall know tomorrow morning why I've refused and what I've refused. Now clear out! All right, boys. Now smash up that press. What are you doing? Set fire to the paper there. Just a minute, just a minute. Look, she's got pistols. Indeed, I've got pistols and I didn't grow up on the frontier without learning how to use them. Go ahead, I'll handle this. One more step. Very well. Hey! Now, that's one through your hat. The next one will be through your gizzard. Now get out. Maybe we'd better. All right. Come on, boys. But I warn you, Ann Royall, that we're going to smash you and we have to buy the whole city of Washington to do it. The next time you call on me, watch out for scum traps. You are listening to The Printer Was a Lady, starring Lynne Pontan on the cavalcade of America, sponsored by DuPont, maker of better things for better living through chemistry. As our play continues, Ann Royall in her print shop is listening to strange sounds which have assailed her ears of late from the floor below. Sally, how can a woman get out of a newspaper with that going on all day and half the night? Now, Ann, I'm sure Mr. Sims and his folks mean all right. Why, in the name of all this frightful, do they have to set up shop right under me? Now, worse things could happen. Nothing worse could happen. Ann! Listen! What? They're coming up here. They are. They are. Why, what nurse do you idiots think you're doing? Mr. Royall, we have come to save your soul. Save my soul? You'd better get out of here while you can still save your skins. Oh, Ann! Sister, I see that we have come, now, too soon. We have heard grievous reports of late of your unbridled tongue. Listen, mister, I'm a hard-working, God-fearing woman who's trying to run a newspaper and serve her country as best she knows how, and I can stand only just so much. Ann, please! Down on your knees, sister. What? Down on your knees! Here, let go of me! You must, sister! Here, where's my umbrella? No, you pumpkin-headed, loud-brained simpleton! Here, you hypocritical old- You're a witness today! You filthy stink, collection-stealer! Get out of here before I wrap this umbrella around your turkey neck! You've broken the law, Mr. Royall. Do you hear me? You've broken the law. You're a witness, brother. Get out of here before I break your neck! So, you've had your turn all these months, Mrs. Royall. Now, it's ours. Well, what do you suppose he meant by that? You've had your turn, now it's ours. Ann, you shouldn't have done it. There's something very queer about all this. Those people moving in below, so suddenly, then coming up here like this. Oh, why did you have to do your- Oh, because I'm a fool, I guess. I had a nasty feeling, Sally. I have a nasty feeling, Sally, that I've taken the bait. Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye. A warrant is hereby issued for the appearance before this court of one Ann Royall. In the case of the United States versus Ann Royall, the accused being charged with the offense of being a common school. Well, come in, come in, Mrs. Royall. Thank you, General Jackson. Well, fine pickling you've got yourself in you now. Yeah, isn't it? And I walked right into the trap and slammed the door behind me. You think the bank crowd put this fellow Sims up to it, do you? I know it for a fact, because I can't prove it. I had no idea something like this was due to happen. You know, between us, we got that bank worried. The trouble is, right now, they've got me worried. Oh, it's an old trumped-up charge, common scold, something they dug up out of the Salem witch trials, but it's still on the books. You know what the legal penalty is if I'm convicted? No. The ducking stool. They're building one right now, down at the Navy Yard. By the tunnel. Well, that's one thing I can do something about. I may not have much control over the United States bank yet, but I sure do control the United States Navy. Oh, they're not going to use it. They just did that to scare me. But there are things they can do. Mrs. Royall, you know that I'll do anything I can to help you. Now, what can I do? Well, that's what I came to talk to you about, General. Oh, not because of any help I may have been to you in the fight against the bank. I'm in that fight because it's the plain duty of any honest journalist. Why I did come to you is this. They're going to try and shut down my press, and that makes it different. Can they do it? With fines, bonds to keep the peace, injunctions. Yes, they can. And that makes it an attack not on me, but on the Constitution of the United States that guarantees a free press in this country. That's why I've come to you. By the tunnel. Why, I'll go down to that courtroom and I'll tell those scoundrel AC lawyers... No, no, no. You're going down there would do more harm than good. But maybe you could just let the court know somehow that, well, you know Anne Royall and that you know she's an honest, truthful woman. You can depend on that. I've got a little ammunition of me own, but it's you I'll count on most. I don't know how I'll do it, ma'am, but one thing you can be sure of, I will do it. Hear ye, hear ye, hear ye, the federal court of the District of Columbia is now in session. Oh, Anne, I'm scared. Don't feel too cheap on myself. Look at that jury. Every one of them is hooked up with the bank somewhere. The clerk will call the first case. The case of the United States versus Anne Royall. The defendant is charged by the people of the United States with being a common disturber of the peace, a common brawler, and a common scold. How does the defendant plead? What do you think I plead to such nonsense? Not guilty. Please, Mr. Swinness. Order, order in the court. The prosecutor will call the first witness. Mr. Alexander Simm is to the stand. Raise your right hand. You swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth will help you God? I do. Mr. Simm, you are a minister of the gospel, are you not? I am. He's no more a minister than I am. Order. Mistress Royall, I must caution you against such outbursts in this court. Proceed, Mr. Swan. And on the day the warrant charges, you visited Mistress Royall with certain others at the place of her business, did you not? I did. And was it at that time that you used the vile and abusive language of which you complained? Indeed it was, sir. What did you say? Well, I... Go on, go on, tell them. They'll see that much is true anyway. Mistress Royall. Well, she said I was a large-brained simpleton and a hypocritical old butter. A pumpkin-headed penny-filching collection stealer. Please, Mistress Royall. The defendant must not interrupt the testimony. That will be all, Mr. Simm. Does the defense wish to cross-examine? Go on, go on. Ask him what I told you to. But, Mistress Royall, it's not admissible as evidence. Then I'll ask him. Acting as me own attorney, your honor, I'd like to ask the witness just one question. Proceed, Mr. Royall. Mr. Simm, did you or didn't you recently acquire five shares of stock in the United States Bank? Why, yes. I object. The question is completely irrelevant to the indictment. Objection sustained. Irrelevant is it? I suppose it's irrelevant that you, Judge Crunch, were loaned $10,000 by the United States Bank the day before this trial opened. Mistress Royall, one more such outburst and I shall hold you in contempt of court. But it's true, and you may hold me in contempt of court if you like. But I have the most complete contempt for this court and everything it stands for. Mr. Prosecuting Attorney, have you any further witnesses to call against Ann Royall? No, your honor, I haven't. The prosecution rest. The defense may call its first witness. Your honor, I... Sit down, sit down, I'll handle this. There's just one witness I should like to call in my own defense at his present, and that's Mr. John Eaton, the Secretary of War. Mistress Royall, I must remind you again that a court of law has no place for idle presentries. This is no presentry, your honor. Sally, where is he? I don't know, Ann. Is Mr. John Eaton here? If you will proceed with your defense, Mistress Royall. One moment, your honor. Mr. Secretary, do I understand that you are here to testify on behalf of this defendant? I am. We are honored, I assure you, Mr. Secretary. Will you take the stand, please? Certainly. Raise your right hand, you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God? I do. Proceed, Mr. Eaton. Your honor, what I have to say will not take long. I come here to speak on behalf of the defendant, Ann Royall, as her friend, and at the request of the President of the United States, who is also her friend. I have known Mrs. Royall for many years. Whatever her faults, I know her to have one virtue which far overbalances any fault. I know that when Ann Royall speaks, she speaks the truth, openly and fearlessly. It is my sincere hope, gentlemen, that this fact may not be without influence in your judgment of this case. Oh, Ann, wasn't it wonderful? Oh, Sally, I don't care now if they send me to jail for life. They can't convict you. Oh, yes, they can. It's not what they hear, but what they get that influences these gentlemen. Does the defense have anything additional to add? Just a word to the jury, your honor, if I may. Proceed. Gentlemen of the jury, I know what you think of me. I know it's useless to appeal to your chivalry or any of that nonsense. But one thing I must say to you, this is a trumped-up charge. It was brought to close my newspaper. Remember that when you render your verdict. And one thing else, remember, there is a document called the Constitution of the United States. The first amendment to that document guarantees as the foremost privilege of Americans the freedom of speech and of the press. Remember that, gentlemen of the jury. If you're pondering what vengeance you will wreak upon Anne Royall, ponder also. If you attack your Constitution, what vengeance posterity may wreak upon you? Gentlemen of the jury, have you reached the verdict? We have. I'll find you the defendant, Anne Royall, guilty or not guilty. And you must try to sleep. Haven't I been asleep? No, dear. You've got a little fever. And excitement of the trial and all. What time is it? Oh, it's late. It's almost midnight. I suppose in the morning they'll come and take the press away. Take the furniture too, most likely. Oh, what are we going to do? I don't know. We'll get along somehow. Or we'll have. I don't see how they could have done it to you. And after what Mr. Eden said. He did his best. It was money that did it. Money to buy the judges and juries. But to fine you so much when they knew you didn't have it. That's what they got me in for, to shut me up. Looks like they've just about done it too. Tomorrow they'll take the press. Anne, there's someone on the stairs. Oh, you don't suppose they've come for it tonight, do you? Open the door, Sally. Oh, Anne. It's the press. Evening, Mrs. Royall. Why, General. I'm sorry, it's too late. There was a cabinet meeting. I came as soon as I could. General, Mr. President. You didn't have to come to me. Well, I heard what happened. I just wanted to tell you that your fine was paid. Some folks that were grateful for what you've done. They got up the money. You don't owe me that, General. Thought you'd want to know that now they can't attach any of your property. Take your press or anything. Thank you. By the way, you know, I think we finally got that bank crowd licked. Have you? Yes. Talking to some of the boys, you see. It's going to take time, of course, but we've got them. I'm glad. I thought you would be. You know, General, I've been kind of sassy to you sometimes. Considering that you're President of the United States. I don't recollect it, ma'am. I have, though. But you know it's just my way. I know. But General, now that you've found me in a weak moment, I just want you to know that old Ang Royall thinks you're a really great man. Folks will remember you, General, for a long time. Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Mr. Royall. I think folks will remember you, too. Thank you, Lin Fontaine. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. It had been my intention at this point on the broadcast tonight to say something about the work of the American theater wing. However, at the request of our government, and with a woman's privilege to change her mind, I'm going to speak of something that I'm sure Anne Royall would be printing columns about where she's alive today. It's the need for salvage. Our government has asked us to mention it on our program tonight, and to urge you to do your part in collecting such things as waste paper, scrap iron, old rubber, and other discarded material so vitally needed today. The need for this salvage is vital, so that industry can supply our armed forces and allies with what it takes to win a war. Please collect what you can, start tomorrow. And when you have gathered it, do one of three things. Take it to a junkyard, call Boy Scout headquarters to collect it, or send it to the local salvage center. Industry needs these things to help win the war. Please contribute what you can now. Thank you. Thank you, Miss Fontaine. And now news about next week's program. Our star will be Raymond Massey. Our play, A Tooth for Paul Revere, one of Steven Vincent Benet's famous short stories, adapted for radio by Mr. Benet, especially for Cavalcade. Don't forget, next Monday, Cavalcade star will be Raymond Massey in A Tooth for Paul Revere by Steven Vincent Benet. Our play tonight was written especially for Miss Fontaine by Robert Richards. Appearing with Miss Fontaine was John McIntyre as Andrew Jackson. The orchestra and original musical score were under the personal direction of Don Bure. On the Cavalcade of America, your announcer is Clayton Collier, sending best wishes from DuPont. This program came to you from New York. This is the National Broadcasting Company.
