The Freeman: Deceased in Infancy

Unsigned News Story

[Reprinted from Time Magazine, 4 February, 1924]

It was announced that The Freeman, a radical journal of opinion, resident in Manhattan, would cease publication with its issue of March 5, approximately on its fourth birthday anniversary. The 'decease was described at the office of The Freeman as "the successful conclusion of an experiment."

The experiment was opened four years ago by the former Helen Swift, daughter of the packer. In 1890 she married Edward Morris, President of Morris & Co., also packers. He died in 1913, leaving her some millions. In 1917 she was married again, to Francis Neilson, who is one of the editors of The Freeman, When the publication was started she guaranteed its expenses for three years, to give it a start, although her name was not publicly attached to the paper. At the end of three years it had not gained a sufficient circulation to be self-supporting. So she extended her guarantee of expenses for another year. Recently The Freeman made a considerable drive for circulation, which apparently was not sufficiently successful to warrant continuance.

The Freeman described its purpose as "the promotion of civilization." Paid up subscriptions will be refunded in proportion to the unexpired portion of each subscription's term.

The Freeman Changes Hands

The Freeman, fortnightly opinion journal of the far right, has been going downhill ever since its founders fell out more than a year ago (TIME, Jan. 26, 1953). After hitting a peak of almost 22,000, circulation slipped, and a few weeks ago the Freeman was about ready to fold. Last week it had some fresh help. It was taken over by the Foundation for Economic Education, a nonprofit organization, which has turned it into a monthly. The magazine also had a new editor: Frank Chodorov, 67, director from 1936 to 1941 of the Henry George School of Social Science and author of The Income Tax: Root of All Evil.