Evening star., 1917-05-23
PRESIDENT RENEWSP PLEA
FOR PRESS CENSORSHIP
Calls In Senate Conferees and Argues
That Some Form of Authority
Is Necessary.

President Wilson today renewed his
efforts to put an enforced newspaper
censorship section into the espionage
bill.
Senators Overman, Fletcher and Nell
son, the Senate's conferees on the bill,
were called to the White House and
urged by the President to agree to a
censorship section which the Senate once
has rejected. They were asked to learn
whether it is possible to allay the Sem
ate's objections, and if possible bring
out new and so-called modified censor
ship clause.
President Wilson said to the Senate
conferees. as he did yesterday in his
letter to Chairman Webb Of the House
judiciary committee. that he deems au-
thority to invoke censorship of some
sort absolutely essential sTha President
vision, but felt he should have Iegisla-
tion giving him some degree of power
to impose newspaper censorship, The
President said he had complete reliance
papers as whole. but felt censorship
authority was necessary to deal with
isolated cases which might be detri-
mental to the national interest.
The Senates opposition to any form
of censorship was made plain to the
President by the conferees, who ex-
pressed doubt that the Senate would
consent to any censorship whatsoever.
But all agreed, under the Presidents 8
earnest request, to sound out sentiment
and see if it is possible to pass modi-
fed section.
Senator Overman thought that the
most that could be done would be a
modified compromise. He believed the
shall decide whether violations of cen
sorship regulations gave information
to the enemy would be rejected. If the
new censorship provision can be agreed
upon Senator Overman thought 1t prob
ably would not go further than one by
later stricken out by the Senate. which
authorized reasonable" censorship
when in the interest of public safety"
it was deemed necessary only for pub
lie welfare"
Until the President projected the weight
of his influence anew into the situation. it
was supposed that Congress itself had
given up all idea of an enforced censor
ship. Those who fought censorship on the
floors of both houses pointed out that the
administration still had opportunity to ex-
ert pressure on the conferees.
President Surprised.
"I have been very much surprised"
wrote the President to Mr.. Webb ito find
several of the public prints stating that
position which It SO distinctly took. and
still holds, that authority to exercise GEN.
sorship over the press to the extent that
that censorship is embodied in the re-
cent action Of the House of Representa-
tives Is absolutely necessary to the public
safety. 1t, of course. has not been aban-
doned, because the reasons still exist why
such authority is necessary for the pro-
lection of the nation.
II have every confidence that the great
majority of the newspapers Of the country
will observe a patriotic reticence about
everything whose publication could be of
injury. but in every country there are
some persons In a position to do mischief
in this field who cannot be relied upon
and whose interests or desires will lead
to actions on their part highly dangerous
to the nation in the midst Of a war. 1
want to say again that it seems to me i'm
perative that powers Of this sort should
be granted"