The Washington herald., 1917-05-24
President Tries to Coerce the
Senate Conferees Into Muz-
zling Press, but Congress,
Unquestionably, Will Rebel.

President Wilson's desire to force a
newspaper censorship into the espionage
bill appears doomed. Indica tions are
that both the Senate and the House II
reject his proposal.
In his anxiety to carry out his plan,
the President yesterday summoned to
the White House, Senators Overman,
Fletcher and Nelson, the Senate con-
ferees upon the espionage bill But al
though he repeated TO them the sub
stance Of his letter OF Tuesday to Chair
man Webb. Of the House Judiciary, the
Senators were in no way optimistic to-
ward the success Of censorship
In fact although Senator Overmsn.
who manages the espionage bill. pre-
pared last night to offer a modified cen
sorship today. he expected the most de-
termined opposition. = His amendment
will be an embodiment OF The Thomas
Enmmins censorship provision. which
was once in the bill and was later struck
out by a vote Of 4s to 81. II was the
combined effort OF the two authors to
soften the drastic stipulauons Of the
original bill sent down by the admins
tration and prepared by the Department
Of Justice. The amendment TO be put iE
today reads:
Text of Amendment.
In time Of war. the President Is hereby
authorized to prescribe and promulgate
rules and regulations for the purpose of
preventing the disclosure to the public
and thereby to the enemy OF information
with respect to the movement. numbers,
description. and disposition OF any OF the
armed forces OF the United States in
naval or military operations with re-
spect to any works intended for the for
tihcation Of any place: and whoever, in
lime of war shall wilfully violate any
such ruI, or regulation shall b. punished
BY fine OF not more than Sl0.OO0 .uIn or
by Imprisonment for not more than nve
years. or by both such fine and imprI-
sonment. Provided. that nothing in this
section shall he construed to limit or
restrict. nor shall any regulation herein
provided for limit or restrict any dis
cussion. comment, or criticism Of the
acts or policies Of the government or its
representatives. or the publication Of the
same"
President Wilson. il was said. praised
the patriotism Of the American news
papers. but insisted that some sort Of
censorship was necessary in order to pre-
vent publication II troop movements He
Instance the coming PershinE eNpcdi-
ton to France. and said that it would be
ments Of ships He begged that some
immediat" action be taken to put through
a censorship.
Fail 10 Agree.
The Senators returned 10 the confer
enCe with the House members But the
COnferces were absolutely unable to ar
rive at any com -romise. Senator Over
mans amendment will have to be offered
from the Senate Judiciary Committee
Senate conferees have instructions not
to accent any censorship provisions. The
Senate has twice rejected the censorship.
Tn" conferees will meet again tomorrow,
having by that time sounded out scnti-
ment in both houses.
House conferces yesterday insisted upon
the Gard amendment. but II is said the
majority Of House members do not favor
even this The Republican caucus Of
Tuesday decided TO oppose all censorship.
1t had been supposed the matter OF
papers have been working under seIf-im-
tain administration officials have said
the papers were leaning backward" in
their anxiety to play the "a. q fair"
Few representatives or senators have
even thought Of censorship lately.
Until the President wrote to Mr.. Webb.
the impression prevailed that censorship
was dead.
The temper. of Senators opposing cen
sorship may be gained from the laconic
expression yesterday of Senator Hiram
johnson, who said:
There will be a contest"