An American Town And Its Way of Life: Its editor is August L. Loeb, seen handing copy to his linotype operator, Joseph A. Luty. Editor Loeb is following an American tradition of freedom of the press, a tradition established in 1735 when John Peter Zenger, another weekly editor, was acquitted of a charge of libel for having criticized Governor Cosby of New York State. January 20, 1949.