Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-25
ASK PRESIDENT TO FORM
AGENCY OF PUBLICITY
business Men Want Authoritative In
formation Impaired on Matters
Relating TO War.

WASHINGTON. June c4-President
Wilson and his advisers are being
urged by business men to create an
authoritative agency of publicity, to
inform the people thoroughly in regard
to the war and to awaken them TO n
realization Of it's dangers for the United
States.
The agency proposed would be en-
tireiy distinct from the recently cre-
ated committee on public inform alton.
OF which George Greet is chairman, and
would have nothing to do with such
matters as censorship.
Tho aid OF Colonel William 4. House,
Vance Mccormick, chairman OF the
Democratic National Committees: Jo-
scph Il. Tumulty. secretary to the Pres
idcnt. and others is being sought in
the movement
Colonel House and Mr.. Mccormick
were reported last night by persons in
Washington not in any way connected
with the government 20 have laid he
fore the President the proposal that he
create such a publicity agency. and the
President is reported to have been ia
rorahly impressed This could not be
confirmed last night through any Off
cial course.
II is known that the executive com
mittce of the Chamber OF Commerce of
the United States has recently adopted
resolutions urging the need for the
creation OF some such special agency.
and X. @. Rhett. president of the or
Ranization. is said TO he receiving At
the riggs Building headquarters of the
chamber hundreds OF kilograms in
dorsing the idea. although It is not
understood that the chamber, or it's
executive committee or its membership
III general asks that any certain man
or men bo appointed II the agency
should be created
LACK Of INFORMATION
EXISTS THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
u is announced by the United States
Chamber Of Commerce that President
Rhett intends Ito make known to the
proper authorities in the government"
the answers being received by tele-
Sraph from Chambers of Commerce,
boards of trade and other commercial
organizations in the national chamber
In the proposal that the proposed new
agency shall be created. Men who are
! leaders of the chamber believe that
there exists to-day throughout the
| country lamentahlc lack OF intorrna-
ton and understanding" as TO 1.-THE
actual situation Of the war. and the
part that each citizen must play in
cooperation with the government"
Inc proposed publicity campaign. ac-
cordinc 10 members OF the cnamper,
should be considered AS absolutely
apart from routine press publicity mat
ter and the ordinary output from vari-
Gus departments OF the government
meant for publication in newspapers
and periodcuiS.''
According TO the view Of the execu-
tive committee OF the national cham
bef Inc proposed new publicity agency
should be definite branch OF the gov
crnmcnt under the direction Of tho
President. with a man at its head or
/ broad practical experience in the use
Of the means Of national education.
with capacity for organization and
possessing both energy and magma
ton
How quickly or how slowly tic pco.
pie OF the United States moe, their
obligations is said 10 be giving tbc
business men OF the country the deep
est concern. II Russia should collapse:
II the German fleet should come out
from, its base and the British Meet
should be overcome: if the food situa-
ton should bring the allies TO their
knees: il great reversals should be met
on the western front; or IL the sub
marine menace he not checked the
United States might have TO bear the
hrunt OF the fighting on its own shores
II is TO awaken the people OF the
country TO these possibilities that bust
ness men are urging the creation OF
a new publicity agency. 1t is pointed
out that the impossible has figured SO
often in this war that the people OF
! the United States ought to be aroused
forthwith. The Germans should have
gone through at the Marne and cap
tured Paris and Calais. The English
fleet should have annihilated the Ger
| man fleet at Jutland. The Central pow
| crs should have been starved before
the last harvest. But these things did
not happen, and business mon OF tho
United States are deeply anxious that
| the people shall be awakened TO the
fact that other things expected to hap
| pen may not happen.