Statewide protest by religious, civic and political leaders against the distribution throughout the state of the anti-Semitic . publication "Common Sense" was reported here today by attorney William Cohen of Lewiston, state chairman of the Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith." Sharp counter-action to the appearance of the anti-Semitic publication in Portland, Bangor, Augusta and Lewiston resulted almost immediately after the extent of the circulation was made known by the ADL. Protestant religious leaders in Portland issued a statement saying:

"We are concerned about the dangerous divisive character of this paper. Jews and Gentiles in Maine have always had a fine relationship and the attempt to set group against group and brother against brother is against the best interests of America and religion.

"In making this statement, we join with other organizations such as the Rhode Island Legislature, the Massachusetts Legislature, the Knights' of Columbus and the American Legion Committee on Americanism in Maine who have on other occasions vigorously opposed the tactics of Conde McGinley of New Jersey, who publishes this paper."

Throughout the State of Maine, Protestant ministers exposed McGinley and "Common Sense" in Sunday sermons. Bernard Hanninger, president of the Council of Churches of Greater Portland, was a leader in stimulating this activity as a means of enlightening the public as to the source of this publication.

At Portland, Postmaster J. Leo Cook conferred with Superintendent of the Mails, Howard C. Mayo, on an investigation by postal authorities of reports that copies of "Common Sense" had been stuffed in household mail boxes. Use of mail boxes for unmailed circulars, Cook said, is against the law and carriers were under instruction to remove such circulars., Circulars stuffed into Mail boxes are subject to postage, he said.

The complaint to postal authorities was made by Isadore Zack of the New England Regional Office of the ADL, who was in Maine to assist B'nai B'rith lay leaders in investigation and counter-action of this problem.