The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-07
SENATORS OPPOSE
PRESS CENSORSHIP
Object tn Supervision Of Copy by Crecl
and His Assistants.

anu Ills lSS~tStaHtr.
Washington. Dec s.--~A cable dis
patch from Paris to the effect that all
z press dispatches on the coming peace
conference arc-ia ha passed upon by
George CreeI before they are allowed
to so over the cables aroused mem
bers OF the senate to bitter resentment
today.
Several of the senators who par
ticipated In tho debate declared that
the information justified the warning
they expressed at the time the cables
were taken over-namely. that the
purpose OF the cable seizure was to
! institute n form of censorship over
all the happenings OF the peace con-
ference.
Senator Johnson. of California, read
the newspaper dispatch to the senate
in which II was stated that Creers
function would he to pass upon the
news and ration" ii TO the cables.
The Senator protested vigorously
against this sort OF system and invited
other senators to join him in formal
protest against n ''Creel rationed news
/ from Paris or any censored informa-
, ton faat shall come from the peace
conference"
Before reading the dispatch. Sena-
tor Johnston said:
Must BE Open.
we have heard very much about
the mode of communication between
Paris and this, country of the peace
conference proceedings and we have
been told that there Is no restriction
on the news which would come to VS.
respecting that proceeding. / am very
glad, indeed. that we have been told
| this. and l take 1t to be a fact But
in order that the senate may be in
formed. for perhaps some have not
read this particular dispatch, / wish
TO read what appeared in a newspaper
this morning on the subject"
Il am not concerned about tho
/ legal aspects of the presidents trip"
Senator Johnson continued after
reading the dispatch. The president
determined to take Ii, and we must
make the best of his determination.
( But I am concerned with what may
! come to America after the proceed
/ ings OF the peace conference and
am concerned whether the news that
comes TO us shall be .rationed and
/ censored"
Watson Joins Protest.
Senator Watson. of Indiana, joined
| in the protest by reading extrac rs
/ from the address delivered by Presi-
dent Wilson last Monday and from a
recent announcement by Postmaster
! Burleson on the seizure of the cables
lie said that the announcement from
Paris was inconsistent with the de-
/ clared attitude OF the administration
regarding restrictions on any of the
news from the peace conference.
II want 10 warn the American peo-
| pie, Senator Watson~ said, that If
George Crcel is to censor the words
sent here. and II nothing IL to be put
on the wire except the things OF which
he approves. they should make great
allowances as to its truthfulness and
authenticity"
Senator Walsh. of Montana 'sug-
Eesfed that on account of the crowded
condition OF the cables It might be
necessary to ration the news so that
all the press representatives could get
a chance.
Il am not complaining SO much
about the system of rationing as am
/ ABOUT the man who is to do the
ratoning,' retorted Senator Watson.
My contention all along was that
George Creel was to be taken over to
France in order that he might send
4 forth all OF the news that came to
this country regarding the delibera
tons OF the peace council. That is
exactly what / believed then. and i,
is precisely what ! believe now"
Congress to Blame.
senator sherman, of Illinois. sur-
Gested that congress was to blame
Tor having delegated so much power.
lie reminded the senate that he warn
ed 1t what to look for when the cables
were taken over.
Senator New! of Indiana. inquired
j whether congress will, be. acalsasa ,tssaap
Tito maintain the expense OF the Paris
mansion in which Creel and his AS
sistants are to be housed He also
called attention to the fact tina,
twelve new automobiles were part OF
the cargo on the George Washington
on which the presidents party is
travelling. and asked whether the gov.
eminent has to pay for these.
No Senatorial Junkct.
| The Cummings resolution providing
Tor the appointment of a committe 90
or eight senator's to attend the peace
conference was adversely reported tc
the senate today by the foreign rela
tons committee. The committee was
unanimous In agreeing that nothing
should be done In the matter of send.
ing delegation to France, but Sena.
tor Cummings asked that the resol,.
uon be sent to the senate rather than
smothered in the committee, and this
was done.