New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-25
Chautauqua Meetings Are
Planned to Educate
People to Issues
- .,
Tightens Official
Control Of News
No Criticism of Administra-
ton Expected Under
New Scheme
By c. w. Gilbert


sive publicity campaign to interest the
people of the country in the war and
make them understand its issues. On
or about July 1 the President will ap-
point board or committee for this
purpose, to hold Office during the war,
probably after the model of the Com
mittee on Public Information. com
posed Of two or three Cabinet members,
with a chairman from the newspaper,
magazine or educational world.
At first it was proposed that the
Creel committee should undertake this
work, but the objection was raised that
Mr.. Creel. being a censor, might not
enjoy the favor with the press that the
chairman Of the new committee must
needs have, and so it was decided to
create new organization.
With this publicity committee the
National Security League is going to
cooperate. The league had planned a
campaign TO educate the public in re-
gard to the war. but it was found that
the expenses Of conducting it on the
scale thought necessary would be too
great so the league will work in con-
junction with the official publicity or
canization and thus be aided financial
ly. The campaign will be conducted
in the Chautauqua circuits. A Chau-
tauaua will be held in New York City
early in July to train campaigners.
Closing Avenues of News
The creation of this new organiza-
tion will be another step, and ~7r-
important one. in officializing all ave-
nues of information about the govern
ment. This process has gone on to
large extent since war was declared,
and it shows dangerous tendencies.
First. there is the Creel organization,
with its big corps Of reporters for the
official collection and presentation OF
the news. This is something new in
democracy. Public opinion IN this
country has depended in the past upon
the press for an Independent account
of what is going on here, collected from
original sources by newspaper repre-
sentatives. uncolored, except in some
cases and 10 a steadily decreasing ex-
tent, by political considerations. The
tendency now is to close more and more
all avenues Of approach TO the news
paper5 and pass all news through an
oficif filter before 1t reaches the pub
lie.
The new committee on publicity VIII
tend to superimpose upon this system
Of tainted news" what may become,
unless il is operated by men who have
the permanent interests OF democracy
constantly at heart, vast machine Tor
Administration propaganda. And so
inevitably do government undertakings
attract TO themselves weaker private
enterprises that what should have been
an independent presentation Of the war,
the Security League campaign, VIII be-
come semi-public one. No criticism
can come from body which is work
ing in cooperation with and receiving
support from the Administration press
agent.
News Officially Colored
We hear much from the Administra-
ton about "pitiless publicity" but pub
licity here is steadily becoming more
and more considerate. Much is said
about democracy. The free access OF
the people TO information about the ac-
tivites OF public administration IS the
very breath Of life of democracy. And
that access is no longer free. II is be-
coming official. The Administration
has seized upon the pretext Of the war
to get as Tany sources Of news into
its own hands as possible.
II was the perception Of this ten
6encv more than anything else that de-
fea.ed the censorship section OF the
espionage act. There was truth N the
assertion Of men like Senator Lodge
that A sight Of Mr.. CreePs bulletin had
converted them into opponents OF the
censorship. Even members Of Mr. Will
sons own party were unwilling TO vote
into his hands more power than he now
has TO color the impression which the
nation gets Of the Administrations
work.
This process Of steadily decreasing
freedom of access TO news began before
the war. A contrast will illustrate the
change. Mr. Taft, when he was Presl-
| dent, had TO ask newspaper correspond
/ ents not to wait on the front steps o.
/ the White House and intercept his call
/ ers in search Of news. He thereby
stopped a cheerful little village custom
that had its roots in our simple past.
What he did vas. Of course. teason-
able. Under Mr. Wilson. who believes
ir "pitiless publicity" and "a world
safe for democracy" the newspaper
correspondents never even see the
/ President.
Take Cue from White House
And the little men down the line, be
ginning with Mr. Lansing. who think,
Of himself in terms of European chan
cellories, take their cue from the White
House as far as they can.
Into this situation came Mr.. Cree
with his official reporters. ! scGuit Mr.
Crcel Of any wish TO manipulate ths