 John Randolph (Warren Hull), an idealistic young newspaper owner who uses his paper as an instrument for the public good, uses a campaign against crime to successfully run grafting politicians out of town. District Attorney William Burnette (Wallis Clark), father of Barbara Burnette (Marsha Hunt) who John loves, learns that John s father (unknown to John) is a criminal they are seeking. He refuses to prosecute him and John, not knowing the real reason, turns against Burnette and tries to run him out of office.