Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1917-05-09
EXPRESSIONS
OF DEEP OPPOSITION

washington, May 9.-The autocratic
news gag proposed by Secretary Lam
sing to shut off discussion and criti-
cism Of this country's war policy met
with violent denunciation in all gov
ernment quarters today.
Congress has about reached the
breaking point on the censorship ques-
ton. The subject Is like a fire brand
In both house and senate chambers.
Today, while representatives aired their
views privately, senators took the floor
and ripped into so-called invisible
government" efforts to throttle the
freedom of the press and attempts to
bottle up news Of the governments 8
activities and keep the people in the
dark as to developments in the war;
After two days legislating behind
closed doors, during which time heated
demands were made by many senators
to end the executive session and get
out in the open, the senate today began
discussion Of the mails and censorship
sections Of the administration espion-
age bill.
kINDNNG THE FIRES.
Announcement by Secretary Lansing
that he is to be virtually the news
dictator of the foreign policy of the
government only famed the fires at
the capitol.
I'VE should not and will not tolerate
any proposition that restricts comment
or criticism during this war;" said Rep
resentative Campbell, Kansas.
Il am opposed to any plan by the
government which will not permit the
press to tell all that Is going on" said
Senator Vardaman, Mississippi.
I'VE have come to the point where
we must distinguish Immediately and
carefully between q prudent report
of affairs affecting foreign relations
and an abrtdgement of our highly
treasured freedom Of the press" SEN
ator Harding, Ohio. declared. Con
gress will insist on safeguarding the
press"
oAGoING FREE SPEECH.
Representative Mondell, Wyoming,
commenting on the new Lansing order,
said: Its fine for officials like Sec
retary Lansing to say that the gag
section in the spy bill Is not intended
to prevent or punish criticism Of the
government and then turn around and
show plainly that certain officials at
least don't expect to be bound by any
such limit
"Gagging free speech and honest
criticism means growth of grave
abuses which war and enormous ex-
penditures breed"
IT'S all right to guard the nation
against publication of Information that
might help the enemy, but we can't
and won't permit the clamping down
of censorship on defects, the remedy
ing of which Is of vital importance to
the country" Representative Farr,
Pennsylvania said.
I'VE cant crush an autocracy," SEN
ator johnson, California. said, III we
after"
LID MAY BE TILTED.
In the face of the overwhelming |
storm of criticism against the new
Lansing ruling there were evidences
of a slight relaxation in the order at
the state department today. 1t is now
admitted by Lansing the iron-clad lid
on news may be Tilted IL 1t doesn't |
prove a success.
The state department modified its
rules today to the extent of allowing |
men to see bureau chiefs,
provided the publicity bureav could
not answer queries and would give the
permission. This system, however, al
lows the department to keep absolute
tab on what the under -chieftain says
and hence there is no freedom of
speech in that.
The department defends its secret
diplomacy and general secretiveness
partly on the ground that 'if we prac-
tice OPEN door diplomacy, other nations
will stop giving confidential matter to
this government" Some complaints
have come from abroad in the past