The Washington herald., 1917-02-08
ESCAPES
GAG OF CENSOR
Daniels Prevents Exclusion of
Newspaper Men From
U. S. Buildings.

Just by the matter of hairs breadth
mas the newspaper body of Washington
escaped an iron. Prussian-like type of
censorship which would strike a vital
blow at means Of gathering information
for the public which they have enjoyed
since the founding of the nation.
Certain brilliant minds of the State De-
partment, which have become infaned
over the 'perndy" of subordinates In
providing leaks" for the press, decided
mat the easiest way out was to punish,
not the OFFENDING subordinates, but the
newspaper men. and came to the con-
clusion that. since military rule now prac-
ucaily prevails In the State, War and
Navy Building. It would be a wise and
easy thing to keep such useless ap-
pendages as newspaper representatives
out of the building except for a brief
period In the morning and an equally
brief period in the afternoon
One man of common sense and clear
view blocked the "plot'-Secretary OF
the Navy Daniels, who has never forgot
ten that he once was a newspaper man
himself. Secretary Of War Baker drew
up paper which Mr.. Daniels was asked
to sign. The paper threw the entire con.
troll OF the press corps into the hands OF
the State Department. The significance
Of the plan being apparent. Mr.. Daniel,
declined to sign. and declared that SO far
as he was concerned, the newspaper men
could stay In the Navy Department and
maintain their headquarters there.
Plot May Lie Dormant.
1t is not known whether the plot will
be revived in another form. 1t Is be.
lieved II will lie dormant for the time
being.
The whole machinery of the govern
ment has been concentrated upon a sin
gle objective-the speedy, thorough and
complete preparation of the army and
navy Of the United States for any emer-
gency which may arise out of present in
ternational complications. Like a great
Corliss engine. the mechanism OF the
War and Navy Departments has beer
speeded up double time, triple time, full
speed ahead, but with a silence on the
part Of every Federal official from the
War and Navy ministers down to most
obscure messengers and clerks.
Congress, also under high pressure
yesterday strode ahead with the national
defense program. The most important
bit OF projected legislation was the
amendment to the shipping law intro
duced in the House by Chairman Alexan-
der, of the Committee on Merchant Ma
rine, and in the Senate by Senator
Fletcher, of the Commerce Committee
which gives to the President complete
control over every ship flying the Stars
and Stripes in the mercantile navy of the
United States. The amendment was
drafted at conference in the Treasury
Department on Tuesday night, in which
Secretary McAdoo, Mr.. Denman, of the
Shipping Board, Senator Fletcher. anc
other members of the Senate Committed
on Commerce participated.
Under the terms of the amendment, tho
President may take over the shipyards
and plants, either in whole or in part
in case of war or the imminence Of war
Provision for drafting agents and en-
ployes of civil establishments into the
service of the United States was elirni'
mated from the amendment as introduced
on Tuesday at the request of Secretary
Daniels, who explained that he did moi
wish to antagonizs organized labor bu
this was done with the understanding
that the draft provision could be quickly
enacted IL need arises. The amendment
authorized the suspension of the eight
hour limitation on the days work. both
in government plants and in plants work
ing on government contracts.