The Washington herald., 1917-04-23
How the Editors Are Viewing
America and the World War

Of the newspapers OF the country which
is SO Essential to the intelligent and use
fm application Of the censorship itself
America will never submit to the sup
preston Of information to which the peo-
pie are plainly entitled, and the sooner
the authorities at Washington under
stand IL the better.
On Friday afternoon the news of the
arrival In this country of a distinguished
representative of one OF the great pow
ers was sent to the newspapers, but the
dispatch was instantly followed by notice
that its publication was forbidden by the
censor. In no conceivable circumstances
could the publication OF this arrival be
or aid or comfortto the enemy or inter
fere In the slightest degree with any mill
tary preparations by the United States
Bu. what makes this order OF the censor
more glaringly foolish. is the fact that
the coming OF this particular foreign
statesman had been heralded for more
than week, and the Secretary of State
had gone SO far as to suggest openly a
public reception in his honor. In the face
Of this, TO forbid mention OF the arrival
Is a blunder parallel with some of the
stupidities which British censors have
been guilty.
The newspapers Of the United States
are prepared to Join heartily with the
government In a wise discrimination as
to the wisdom and permissibility of pub
fishing news Of military Operations 5r
preparations. but neither they nor the
people win submit TO be bound hand and
foot or to be subjected TO the senseless
whim Of unknown, irresponsible and in
experienced officials charged with a duty
for which they are untitled.
Futile Deliberations.
New York Tfmesl
The opponents OF national defense who
gave testimony before the Senate's Mill
tary Committee previous to the return OF
the army bill to the Senate for debate.
included a member Of the Society OF
Friends. whose views Of military service
may fairly be set down as negligible, and
a labor leader who made this astounding
assertion:
Il warn you that II you institute the
conscription system among my men, the
men upon whom It will fall. you are 60
ing to be disappointed. What have nv
and no country. Why should they be
forced to shed their blood for the capi-
talists?'
The only answer to this preposterous
rtterance OF a representative of "un-
organized labor Is that every citizen
or prospective citizen Of the United
States has a country well worth fight
ing Tor. worth shedding his blood for
II need be, and thst the capitalist has
no larger Interest in the welfare of
the country and the preservation of free
government than the laboring man. But
kruse is not worth answering. Ii is a
pity that the Senators should feel II their
duty to listen to the objections to univer-
sal military service advanced by persons
who profess conscientious opposition to
warfare and by rank Socialists. Kruse.s
men will not volunteer. nor will the mem
bers of the Society of Friends. The ques-
ton Is not whether men are willing TO
fight, because some millions of men must
fight, willingly or not. but whether we
shall adhere to the discredited volunteer
system in raising an army or adopt the
truly democratic system OF universal
service.