The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1919-02-14

newspapers, 'mdSdZkHcS, hdIlOHdi
weeklies, in fact all kinds Of publica-
tions since the armisice was signed,
have devoted thousands of columns
of their space to q discussion of the
problem. The intri-
cacies of foreign trade have been set
before the public, the possibilities Of
government activity looking to the
development of commerce have been
discussed, space has been given to
news items dealing with the question
of shipping, the labor problem and
thousand and one other phases of the
conditions that are daily forcing
themselves to the forefront of public
attention. Each of these issues is OF
importance. But to the publishers
of country newspapers the most i'm
portant of all the issues of reconstruc-
ton is the adoption of some definite
policy covering the relations between
the government and the country
press, and very little has been said
about that. AS fact the entire Pc
riodital press might we'll be taken in
to consideration.
Complaints Regarded as Disleyalty.
The demands made upon the coun-
try newspapers during the war have
been bewildering in volume and stag
gering in their effect. The publish
ers of country newspapers have been
ground betwed the neither rnillstone,
some of them ground so fine they
have been forced off the stage OF ac-
ton entirely. When the full story of
the profiteers of the war is written.
if il ever shall be written, it will be
found that more than one chapter will
he devoted to the manner in which
the patriotism of the country pub
fishers has been exploited.
Private firms and corporations that
ha1e waxed fat on government con-
tract, and laughed in their sleeves
while the great game of finance wenl
on. took advantage Of the fact that
while there was no censorship IN TIE
exact sense of he word, the :.ews-
uaper gag was nevertheless drawn
tighter and tighter day by day until 1t
became regarded almost as d'sloyal
to Whisper word that might cause
confusion in anything connerted with
the machinery of war
But Of more Importance than any
exploitation of the newspapers at the
hands of commercial freebooters Is
consideration of the manner in which
the newspapers, particularly the coar-
try newspapers, have been treated by
the government itself Indications are
that the same old method is to be con-
tinued at least for some time to come
unless the protest of the press be-
comes so forceful that charge OF
viewpoint is effected. +
1t would waste space-and paper
conservation is still thought to be the
mart of wisdom-to relate again what
has been asked of the newspapers IN
connection with the floating of the
several Liberty Loans, the Red Cross
drives. the Y. M. c. A. campaigns,
the campaigns for War Savings
Stamps. for Thrift Stamp sales, for
Smileage for recruiting, both OF sol
diers and of labor etc. 1t would be Il
waste to dwell further on what has
been asked of the press in the fur
therance Of shipbuilding, in food con-
servation while restaurants capitailz-
ed the government appeal and stuffed
themselves fat with the public money
under the SNUG assertion that they
were expressing their loyalty In CIV
ing less and charging more for what
they doled out to suffering people.
It would take pages Of this newspaper
to recount the activities of the thous-
ands of government press agents, or
to- publish even the titles of the my
Rad of special stories sent out for
free publication by the various gov
ernment bureaus, every one with a
request for patriotic free publications
some with requests, others with de-
mands, all urgent, all showered in on
country publishers without thought,
rhyme. reason or knowledge OF me-
chanical difficulties or other condi-
tions that spelled hardship to the sore
ly tried publisher.
The fact that the First Liberty