Evening star., 1917-03-26
CENSORSHIP BALKS
GATHERING OF NEWS
Proves a Serious Stumbling
Block in Path of Hundreds
Of Correspondents.
DESIRE TOAD GOVERNMENT

Tentative regulations in regard to a
possible censorship by the government
of news In connection with the inter-
national situation, made public yester-
day in the form Of a statement at the
serious stumbling block in the path
Of hundreds Of Washington newspaper
men as they went about their daily
work, and are likely to greatly inter-
est the public whom the newspapers
serve.
Many correspondents, in accordance
with custom. called today at the White
House, the State, War and Navy de-
partments, the committee rooms of
Congress and at other sources of news
with the result that questions such as
why is Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood
transferred from command of the De-
partment of the East of the Army,
with which he is familiar, to a newly
created department. or. 'Is it true
that President Wilson may ask Con-
gress to create two new cabinet posi-
tions, one the department of transpor-
tation, with Daniel Willard at its head,
and another the department of muni-
tions. with Maj. Gen. Goethals at its
head?" were asked with extreme diff
dence.
officials Hesitate to Answer.
Questions such as these would ordinarily
be among the usual news routine of the
day: but today they were not only ask
ed with diffidence. but even admins
tration officials hesitated whether to
attempt to answer them. in view of the
proposed new regulations. One Of these
r a a mi har iv
has already achieved the widest pos
sible fame in Washington for. if the
spfFt 81 S IT the
tailed. This regulation is as follows:
reports, or rumors. attributing a policy
to the government in any international
situation, not authorized by the Presi-
published without first consulting the
Department Of State
Newspaper men argued today that
under this regulation if a senator or a
member of the House informs CORE
spondent that the administration has in
mind the doing of a certain thing
which might indicate policy, the
news of it could not be published un-
ment confirmed the report. The rela-
tlonS between some of the senator's
representatives in Congress and other
government officials with special Warh-
ington correspondents Of the home pa
pers of officials are very close. Many
important pieces of news become public
from time to time as the result of such
rela tions.
But if number six is literally
obeyed. all that will be changed. Many
senators and representatives personal
ly own newspapers throughout the
country. and one senator, who happened
to be a caller at the White House to-
day about the time Mr.. Tumulty, secre-
tary to the President, usually receives
the newspaper correspondents in con-
ference on the news of the day. was an
interested listener to the questions the
correspondents asked Mr.. Tumulty about
the proposed censorship regulations
Officials in public life who own newspa-
pers. it is believed, will find it even
more difficult than ordinary newspaper
correspondents in marking out their
course of conduct in regard to the pro-
posed censorship, and many of them
is said. to avoid printing news other
omc1ais might not want printed.
Writing About the Censor.
Some Of the Washington correspond.
ents today recalled the days when the
Atlantic fleet took possession of Vera
Cruz and the navy established a CEN
sorship there. They recalled a maxim
Of newspaper correspondents which is
probably as old as the newspaper bust
ness, namely, IF you are not allow ed
to write the news, write about the CEN
sorship or the censor" The result is
that dozens Of correspondents are to-
day leaving the handling of the news
to the press associations and are them
selves writing about the proposed CEN
SorShip.
But the Interpretation of governmental
policies or the construction the news
paper readers of the country might
place upon governmental activities is
giving the Washington correspondents
the most concern, as they attempt to
analyze and conform to the proposed
regulations, in spirit. in advance OF
their being made effective. 1t may
safely be stated, from the remarks OF
the great majority of them are anxious
to serve the government, in the most
patriotic and loyal way. In the present
crisis, for the sake of the general pub
lie interest.
They realize, however. from their in
formal conferences with public Off
cials, that the government must also
be served by means of extended pub
licity in the press of the country, to
stimulate the interest of the people
at large in the international situation,
so that the vast recruiting campaigns
of the government, the beginning of
which has been announced, so far as
the navy is concerned, may be quickly
successful. They realize, too, that the
news of the international situation is
interesting to business, generally: to
women engaged in humanitarian work
and preparations, and in many other
circles. So that on the whole the
Washington correspondent is about to
have a hard time Of 1t as he goes