The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1917-04-16
TO CONTROL
PUBLICITY
President Wilson Picks a
Committee Of Public
information
WILL GUARD
SECRETS OF VALUE
To Enemy and Keep Nation
Informed as Far as
Possible

Washington April l6.-Control of pub
lefty in connection with the govern
ment's war activities was placed by Pres.
ident Wilson Saturday in the hands of a
committee of public information, whose
task will be to safeguard secrets of value
to the enemy, and at the same time to
see that all affairs OF the nation are laid
before the people as fully and frankly
as possible. The committee named by
the president is made up of Secretaries
Lansing, Baker and Daniels, who recon-
mcnded the step, with George Creel, a
magazine writer, as civilian chairman.
Announcement Of its creation was made
in the following executive order made
public at the White House:
81 hereby create committee on public
information to be composed of the secTe-
tary of state, the secretary of war, the
secretary of the navy and civilian, who
shall be charged with the executive di-
rection of the committee
"As civilian chairman of the committee
: ! appoint Mr. George Creel.
"Tho secretary of state, the secretary
of war and the secretary of the navy are
authorized each to detail an officer or
officers to the work of the committee
Mr.. Creel, who was called to Washing
ton for conference several days ago.
has accepted his post The presidents
action was based on the following letter,
signed by the three cabinet officers
"Dear Mr.. President: Even though the
cooperation OF the press hassDecn gen
erous and patriotic, there Is steadily
developing need for some authoritative
agency to assure the publica ton of all
the vital facts of national defense. Pre-
mature or ill-advised announcements of
policies, plans and specific activities,
whether innocent or otherwise, would
constitute a source of danger.
''While there is much that is properly
secret in connection with the departments
of the government, the total is small
compared to the vast amount of informa-
ton that it is right and proper for the
people to have.
Americas great present needs are con
tidence, enthusiasm and service and these
needs will not be met completely unless
every citizen is given the feeling OF part
nership that comes with full, frank state
ments concerning the conduct of the pub
lie business.
ut is our opinion that the two func-
tions-censorship and publicity-can be
Joined in honesty and with profit, and we
recommend the creation of committee
on public information. The chairman
should be a civilian, preferably some
writer OF proved courage, ability and
vision, able to gain the understanding CO.
operation of the press and at the same
time rally the authors OF the country to
a work of service. Other members should
be the secretary of state, the secretary
OF war and the secretary of the navy, or
an officer or officers detailed to the work
by them. We believe you have the un-
doubted authority to create this commit
tee on public information without wait
ing for further legislation, and because
81 the Importance OF the task and its
pr'ssing necessity, we trust that you will
SEQ fit to do so.
The committee, upon appointment,
can proceed TO the framing of regula-
tons and the creation of machinery that
viii safeguard ali information of value
to an enemy and at the same time open
every department of government to the
of the people as far as pos
sible. Such regulations and such ma
chinei,Y will, of course, be submitted for
your approval before becoming effective