The Washington herald., 1917-05-26
Mr.. Creel Forecasts what May Be Ex'
pected IL the Censorship BIZ
Goes Through.

New York Telegaph.l
II there was any possible question as
to the wisdom or unwisdom OF rlgto
press censorship, with plenary powers
delegated to an individual even in time
OF war, Mr.. George Creel has answered
that question in a manner that should
remove every lingering doubt. Mr.. Greer
is chairman of the Committee on Pubic
Information appointed by the PRESIDENT
and, while he has no way of legahy en-
forcing his DEGREES at present, he mas
the prestige which comes from sucn
designation. and can exert a powertnl
influence. When Mr.. Creel was appoint
ed we believed a wise selection had been
made. and we still hope that single IN
stance of over-zealousness will not de-
stroy his usefulness; but Mr.. Creel has
demonstrated that he is not inerrant'
that he fails at times to reveal a sense
of proportion.
The Washington Herald of "Wednesday
contained a sane and timely editorial.
commenting upon the fact that the shell
which killed two nurses on board the
Mongolia had been made seventeen years
ago, according to what appeared to De
well-authenticated and officially
ed statements. The Herald was clearly
within the proprieties, not to say its
rights, and II was speaking in the public
interest when 1t said: Bland confes sion
| from the navy ordnance experts that GER
| tain shells fabricated prior to 1900 are
defective will not satisfy the American
| public. The real facts must be disclosed
80 The navy had ample warning. On
| the first trip of the st. Louis as an arm
ed ship to Liverpool target practice was
| engaged in by the armed guard. Sew
| eral shells were almost 'decomposed,' one
prematurely exploded in the barrel oi
J the gun, putting II out of commission"
Following the publication of the edi'
! torial Mr.. Creel called up the editor OF
| the Herald by telephone-not even con.
| sidering It worth his while TO make per-
| sonal visit-and objected to the spirit ol
| the article without Contradicting the
| facts. which were based upon Admiral
| Earle's official report. If the press gag
act goes through Mr.. Creel will be the
| official censor" and 1t is pertinent tc
| ask II he will seek to control the edi-
| torial opinion of the country, as well
as to regulate the publication of news?
Neither the administration nor the mill.
| tary establishment of this country is
above criticism, nor will either branch Of
government ever be. A policy of sup
pressing comment upon what is happen
! ing hardly will be tolerated by those a;
home who have sent their sons to the
| front.
The world cannot be made safe for
| democracy by stranCling freedom oi
thought in a particular portion OF the
world.
The President has asked large, even
dictatorial powers, and there is a dis,
| position to give him what he asks, but
once clothed with such powers, he viii
| find himself mistaken II he thinks nc
must not answer to the country for the
| manner in which he exercises them The
country can be informed in no other way
unan through the newspapers
Meantime, we remind Mr.. Creel that
| the time OF the authorities will be more
! sanely spent in suppressing rotten am.
munition than In suppressing comment
upon shells exploding before their time
Exhibit A for the Press.
New York Tribune)
There is very little promise Of intelligent
or proper administration OF any press