Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-24

uation as the policy Of mystery al
Washington has brought about. q
rumor. once born, thrives and grows
with every repetition. The man who
heard II from woman, who got IL
from manicure who did the finger
nails OF the wife OF naval officer,
who was hurIying to n hospital, adds
that the newspapers have been for
bidden by the government to make
any mention OF the disaster. The next
carrier assures his hearers that he had
II from the editor OF n newspaper that
he was forced to destroy his whole
edition because II contain ed "A list OF
| the casualties.
Government Should Be Frank.
Let the government adopt a policy
or frankness. let II be known that
except for actual military plans and
movements of our army and navy, the
people are entitled to and are going to
be given every shred OF information
about the war and no false rumor will
last overnight.
Instead OF trying to crowd thru con-
gress censorship bill despite two
verdicts In congress refusing to gag
the press and blind the people, the
government should make an effort TO
see how much. instead OF how little.
the conduct oil the war permits II to
disclose.
Secretary Daniels. with more intel
ligence and more appreciation of the
spirit of the country than some other
members OF the administration have
displayed. made fine beginning In
this direction when he said:
mo such engagement has taken
place. The American fleet has not
been In action. No ship has been lost.
There are no wounded sailors or ma
rines In any hospital.
THE declared policy OF the navy
department In one OF absolute open
ness. II disaster comes no effor, will
be made to minimize IT,
That has the right ring. but II Is
rather difficult to reconcile this brave
and sensible announcement with the
order to the officers OF the navy to
speak no word on any subject con-
nected with the war. The enforced
silence of the officers would he taken
as confirming even so wild a story as
that which provoked Mr.. Daniels
complaint.
II Secretary Daniels would take
steps to let the people be informed. as
far as is consistent with military ne
cessity. he would do more toward abat-
Ing Idle rumors than he can hope to
do by endeavoring to shut off all
sources Of public information.
Censorship Encourages Mysteries.
Indeed, one of the most potent ar
guments against censorship is that the !
more II Is extended the more suspi- |
.ious the more hysterical the public |
becomes, so that censorship in the end |
aefeats Its own objects.
A military censorship, limited to |
mch information as would be OF value !
10 the enemy or would interfere with |
the success Of our own military plans, |
Is. OF course, necessary-regardless OF |
what anxieties the suppression OF such |
news as the presence in n particular |
place OF a particular martial unit may
no censorship should ex-
tend beyond these simple military pre-
least OF all In our country,
where the people are so intelligent. so I
patriotic, so capable of understanding
and accurately estimating any truth
'ul news.
The anxieties and forebodings Of
war, even In It's early stages. are bad
enough. The mothers and wives of
America must not be tortured by false
'eports that are only believed because
If the administration effort to follow
he English policy OF suppression in
stead OF the American system OF
prompt truth-telling. - New York
american.