Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-04-13
the PROPOSED PRESS CENSORSHIP.

The New York Times, which has
bee ma leader in the demand Tor war
| with Germany and a defender OF adj
| ministration war policies Is certainly
not to be classed with those who
would "embarrass the government
but the Times is strongly opposed to
that section of the espionage bill as 1t
stands giving the administration power
of censorship over the press. The
Times says that as II stands in the
bill this section makes it possible for
the government to assume complete
control over all the newspapers of the
country, to abolish and suppress the
freedom of the press guaranteed by
the constitution. In the guise of safe
guards against giving information OF
value to the enemy 1t puts it in the
power of the government to prevent
absolutely the publication of news re-
lating to war.
Continuing with its analysis of the
censorship section the Times says;
1t would appear that this section
has been drawn as bill to punish
the crimes OF theft. arson, or murder
would be drawn. with the plain intent
to confer the broadcast possible powers
Yet it is sufficiently obvious that under
our constitution an emergency censor
ship act in time OF war should i'll its
scope be strictly limited to the I'M
mediate purpose OF preventing the
publication of news prejudicial to the
success of military operations. II
would be monstrous abuse of legisla-
tive authority TO attempt to put into
the hands of the government the power
to interfere with the legitimate bust
ness OF the newspapers.
1t is quite beside the mark TO argue
that this power would not be exercised
1T should be conferred. The line of
distinction between justified censor
ship and understandable encroachment
upon the freedom of the press is plain
If any senator's or members of the
house believe that it would be 10 the
advantage Of the government 10 de-
prive the people of the means of know
ing what is going on. or the govern
ment of the daily opportunity TO know
the thoughts and feelings of the people.
a candid retrospective consideration OF
the manner in which the newspapers
of the United States during the past
six months have served the cause or
democracy. human rights, and Amer
can honor, by bringing home TO con
gress and the administration the vii!
and desires Of the people, would re-
move that delusion. The newspapers
Of the country will faithfully comply
with any reasonable request or resu-
lations OF the government. Il is not
even encessary that the requests
should have the special authority Of
statute. The press IS as patriotic as
the congress.
The Times is right in its estimate
Of the patriotism and helpfulness OF
the press as Il is right in its criticism
OF the censorship section OF the
espionage bill. The common people, the
democracy Of this country is to fight
this war and 10 pay for this war. 1t
follows that those who fight it and pay
for II have the right 10 know all the
news Of the struggle except such as
would prejudice success Of military
operations. Over such news a most
rigid censorship should obtain and be
most Thoroughly enforced-and the
press Of the United States Will be
practically unit in demanding and
observing such a censorship.