The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-05-17

If he had to choose for
the country a government without
freedom of the press. or freedom Of
the press without a government, he
would unhesitatingly choose the lat
ter.
EVEN IN 1868 FREEDOM OF PRESS
Prevailed
Never yet has America suspended
the freedom of the press. even in
direct distress of war, not even in
1868, when the nations life was hang
ing upon military operation. Let us
be true to democracy at home as we
draw the sword to fight for democ-
racy abroad.
The recent change of policy in Brit
ish censorship only after America had
declared war shows clearly that the
controlling authorities of the allies
distrusted the American people as
they distrusted their own people.
Evidently these authorities feared
America might decline to enter the
war if the people of America knew
the truth as to the military situation.
So for months before our declara-
ton of war have been RECALLED with
stories of the overthrow Of the auto
cracy of Russia, meaning a strength
ening of Russias military power and
an increase of its value to the allies,
while the authorities knew perfect
ly well that only decentralization had
followed with the probable elimination
of Russia as a serious factor.
They described the U-boat operation
as failing when they knew it was
gaining and already menaced Eng
lands control of the sea and endang-
cred the cause of the allies.
They portrayed the advances of
the allied armies of unbroken vic
tories, giving in detail the German
losses without a word as to their own
losses and producing an impression
among the American people that the
end of the war was near.
Americans Deceived by Censored War
News.
Even after the arrival of the COM
missions a high authority gave out
the statement that what the allies
chiefly desired of America was money
- supplies and shipping.
When it was discovered by the SLOW
}. enlistments and the threatened defea
f of universal service by congress tina
- the deception of the American peopl
Y had produced lethargy and endanger
It ed the war plans, then and only thel
g was the censorship raised and tn
American people were suddenly in
i formed that we must not only bear tn
IS main financial burden but also in tn
end the brunt of the fighting.
d 1t will have to be confessed tina
o the American people have been il
s the hands of the British censor fror
l. the beginning of the war about a
o much as the British people themselves
don't doubt that at various time
a real facts were disclosed confiden
y TALLY to our government, but in sue
,e a way that our government could no
disclose them to the people.
&c 1 don't doubt that recently the ser
iousness of the U-boat menace and G
" the critical situation of the allies ger
ID orally was made known to the Presi
s. dent and cause him to take immediat
IS action in advance of any new over
&c act to hasten Americas entry into tn
a. war.
NNhnFbo,. I,o T,.ff fc1,
" decided definitely to change their Ger
sorship policy toward the British pee
m pie or not, now that America has er
SIS tered the war, we have a right to d'
ID mand that they relinquish control owe
Of the news to America.
8 We are not entering the war in o.
no der to dictate the peace ourselves. bI
n we are entering the war so that &c
an many may not dictate the peace. "
nj recognize in the war the mighty strul
n gle between autocacy built upon mil
ut tarism and democracy built upon il
IN dustrialism.
al We are perfectly willing to allo
Y the outcome between autocracy al
an uelnocIdcy 10 De setlleu Dy organ
he forces in peaceful competition carrie
on under the simple principles of jul
.at tice as embodied in our Monroe Do
n trine and open door policy, namel
no respect for the rights of the we;
al nations, and equal opportunities, al
% no favor for any nation in seeking Il
ne worlds wealth and commerce.
.ra As we enter the war let German
70 and the whole world understand tn
the war takes on a new phase, tn
IN. we do not ask to take part in d
tating peace terms to Germany n