On the front page of the Iowa State Daily (10/14/96) was an AP piece originating in Charles City. One paragraph stated: “The charge that Catt was racist is in dispute, but Catt did argue – unsuccessfully – for ratification in two southern states by saying the right to vote would not extend to blacks.”

I was told by one of the editors that the piece had come from the Des Moines Sunday Register and I should check with the individual under whose byline the story ran. I checked with that individual only to be told that HIS story was not printed either in the Register or the Daily as he had written it. He said it had been “pumped up” by an individual working in the office in the AP office in Des Moines.

It took another day before I was able to get in contact with THAT individual. I asked for proof of this statement since my research showed it to be false. The individual said he seemed to remember that there was something like that in the files, but moments later said, “Oooops! I am in error. How are things going there on campus?”

I told him that I would be writing this letter to the Daily to tell it and its readers that the statement had no validity.

Jane Cox

Associate Professor

Theatre