Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-02

Chicago: 225 Fifth Ave.. New YORK
City: 500 Victor Bldg. Kansas CITY
Mo-
FACT AND FICTION.
II ia important, just now, that the
American people retain the sense OF
hmmor which is one of their distin.
cushing characteristics. They neeo
it, and they will need 1t more anu anu
more. in all probability, before 'ae
war is concluded. 1t stands tnem ~
good stead when Impotence ana 3us'
resentment against lop-sided o1ncla,-
dom would break out in anger were :.
not for an ability to laugh even d.
such critical time as this.
The American public is not accus,
TONED to the autocratic methods OIL
such a censor as George Creel, draw
ing his authority from such depart.
ment heads as Secretaries Baker ana
Daniels. Americans are accustomed
to obtaining their facts from their
newspapers. They gossip and exas-
rerate. spread rumors and multiply,
them by imagination-until they READ
their newspapers. And then the Cos
sin and the rumors are quoted, LOT
thew have grown accustomed to trust
their newspapers for facts and details.
they have tested each publication ana
classified them ALL They know whlch
naners can be believed and which ones
must be read with allowances Tor yell
Iovness and habits to over-state or 10
state carelessly.
THAT is the result of the understand
ing which has grown up through years
~ association between the American
newspapers and their readers, and Gus
IONS so old do not lend themselves
readily to sudden suspension without
good and sufficient reason.
For a week and more the widest
.ort OF rumors and conjectures have
been abroad in Ottumwa. They have
gathered force and new details with
eyery .re-telling. They have caused
endless anxiety among the relatives OF
Ottumva's soldiers and have blanket
ed the community with nameless
md groundless dread. They have
clothed in mystery and uncertainty
story which might easily be told in a
Few straightforward words and would
be told in just that way II men with
Judgment and practical acquaintance
with the public's desires and good
faith were at the disposal OF the COM
mittee on public information.
But in the rush and confusion which
~ necessity descended on Washington
when war was declared, 1t was impos-
sible for President Wilson to handle
In person each of the million details
which devolved upon him. He had TO
delegate many, and some OF these IN
turn were delegated and re-delegated
down the various lines OF officialdom
until they reached inefficient or selhsh
underlings, many of whom were un-
able to distinguish partisan from pa
triotic obligations.
The result is found here and there
N mismanagement which arouses i'm
patience first but, fortunately, impa-
thence gives way to amusement IN
many instances. The censorship OF
the press is case in point.
Writing in Golfers Weekly regard
ing the departure Of feet Of trans
ports from an Atlantic port Harris
Dickson, assigned as correspondent
with the troops, tells Interestingly of
the preparations for sailing, which
went on in full view Of a great city,
with all the little steps. which no one
could mistake after having seen sim
gle ship put to sea. He tells. too, of
the elaborate and futile precautions
which were taken for preventing the
plans from becoming known and final
ly, how the transport lifted anchor and
''gumShoed away from the docks, I'M
observed by any human eye, except
perhaps half million"
Such a scene has taken place often
since the first transport left for
France. If there is any agent Of the
enemy government in America who
would be interested in knowing all
o1out each sailing. there is no human
possibility of depriving him of the in
formation. But the wild and disquiet-
ing rumors. which can serve no pur-
pose but the enemy's, could be
silenced by permitting newspaper cor
respondents OF demonstrated judg-
ment to make public the unvarnished
facts.
The American public is patriotic. 1t
does not want damaging information
to get abroad. But it does need facts
with which to controvert the damag.
ing stories that are circulated so as
siduously by pro-Germans and ire
sponsible gossip mongers.
Dozens Of letters which have
reached Ottumwa and other Iowa CT
ties within the past few days have
started hundred dozen tongues TO
wagging, and every repetition of every
.tory changes some of the essentials.
Meanwhile every loyal newspaper is
prohibited from publishing the facts
which would disprove the alarming
tales and set the public mind at rest.
The Courier is endsavoring Loyalty to
comply with the rules Of Mr.. Creel's
so-called department of information.
knowing all the while that the very
arbitrariness Of those rules makes
them ridiculous. We have been per-
mitted to print the fact that our sol
diers are safe. There our latitude
stops.
This is in no slightest measure a
criticism Of the president nor of the
nations war policy. Mr.. Wilson is &C
complishing wonders, and his prog
yess is the more remarkable in view