The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-07-12
A Tribute to The Press

When we were plunged into the war,
there was an anxiety in regard to the
American press. In certain quarters it
was believed the press would have to
be curbed by law-and bill having
that for its purpose was nctually in
troduccd in Congress. People who do
not understand the nature. of newspapers
nor the character of the people operat-
| ing them were dubious; they were
afraid, it seemed, that the press
wouldn't do just the right thing at the
right time.
But all of that has passed. The
American press today stands indicated
of even the suspicion of thoughtless
persons 1t has shown it's patriotism,
| its loyalty, its unselfishness in a great
crisis. 1t has not printed that which
should not have been printed, although
| it had the information, and it has con-
tributed lavishly to the success of every
thing proposed by the government up
| to this time.
1t was due to the American press
that an increased acreage of food crops
was planted. 1t was due to the work
of the press that economy was instltu-
ted in millions of homes as. regards the
consumption of foods. 1t was due to
the press that the registration was a
success, for without the tremendous
amount of favorable publicity upon the
subject if would not have been a sue
cess. These thousands of volunteers
for the army and navy have entered
the service largely through the efforts
of the newspapers to induce them to
do so.
And now the success of the Liberty
Loan may be written down as a news
paper triumph. Millions of columns of
space have been donated by the papers
to make it success. Able men have
written about the merits Of the loan,
and printed their remarks in the papers
This nation has never seen such a
united drive upon the part of the press
as it has witnessed these past few
weeks. It would require large part
of the Liberty Loan to compensate the
papers for what they have done in its
behalf.
The papers have been aware of the
movements of troops and ships. without
giving the details. They have known
of the activities of the various COM
missions that have visited this country,
ana OF our COMMISSIONS dDEOau-y0C 0CU
ode word about those commissions has
been printed that should not have been
printed. We have sent hospital units
and aviators and soldiers TO Europe,
and their departure was not mentioned
by the press, when the press knew the
particulars. Contracts have been en-
tered into by the government, munition
plants have been started and operated,
important industrial undertakings have
been promoted, with never line in the
papers about them simply because the
paper used their own discretion in the
matter. 1t was not because they did
not have the facts, or were afraid to
print them.
But tribute to the American press
could be continued indefinitely. It is
cooperating with the government as
the man in the street little understands. |
1t is showing its true character aid |
ing, assisting, promoting, urging the |
cause of the government and of the !
people, and doing so with never hope |
of reward save that which comes to an |
institution or an individual who is cons
cious of having performed an unselfsh
service for the good of an.---Baton
Rouge State Times.