Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-27
GOVERNMENT AND
PROPAGANDA

EGllOr ana l'uDllSneT, tUeTc is Il tdDle
much like a free lunch counter. On it
are displayed every day the mimeo-
graphed copies of the hand-out arti-
Giles, official and unofficial, that the
press agents hope will prove bait for
the correspondents. With paste
pot and a little rewriting a brave
show of covering the Capitol can be
made. If that were all it would not
much matter. The conscientious and
ertcrprising correspondent would
show the difference between news
and propaganda. But unfortunately
the persons for whom the press
agents work have learned that, if
they stand on propaganda statements
alone. and make no other the news
papers will take them; and so they
have shut the door on the independ-
ent investigator"
The above is from an article en-
titled THE Menace to Journalism"
written for The North American Re-
view of November by Roscoe C. Z.
Brown. He urges that newspaper
publishers unite in an effort to insist
on getting news in place of propa-
ganda. that only by such concerted
effort can the remedy be secured. He
makes a strong argument throughout,
and his presentation of it emphasizes
some of the difficulties with which
publishers must contend. 1t may be
that he doesn't give full measure of
credit to the excellent work done by
some Of the publicity experts in bring
ing to notice features that might 9TH
erwise be overlooked and in enlisting
public interest in meritorious enter
prise which otherwise might be neg
lected. He does, however, leave no
room to question the need of a clear
distinction between what is presented
by the propagandists and what is
presented by the news gatherers. I'm
less this is done the reading public
will be subject to imposition, a men,
ace Of very serious import in these
days when so much depends on ac-
curate information of what is going
on all over the world.
Those who give due measure of
consideration to the trend Of events
are aware Of tendency to central
ization, in this country, in the way Of.
federated control. The Presidents
words on several occasions show that
he is apprehensive of this and his ad-
vice to have many problems treated
locally is excellent and timely. This
was illustrated by methods he ap-
proved for working out the unemploy-
ment situation, whereby local effort Is
co-ordinated and assisted by federal
supervision. Other public men have
spoken pertinently of this tendency,
among them our governor and master
of the State Grange.
The situation entitled "The Menace
to Journalism" may better be entitled
"The Menace to Straight Thinking
and Correct Conclusions" 1t is some
thing to be considered in connection
with every proposition for centralized
control, every suggestion for Govern
ment in place of local management.
It goes without the saying that ev-
cry appeal in behalf of Federal well
fare work makes an almost irresisti-
bic demand on the American people;
they want this welfare work done and
when it is proposed to let the Gov
eminent do it and find the money for
the purpose the predominant impulse
is to say: Go to it." And go to it."
they do. They get the money. How
do YOU suppose Are you paying
taxes: They establish bureau, one of
the first requirements being ito edu-
cate the public. But not with the
facts as an impartial investigator
would present them, but with such
facts as they may choose to permit
the public to know. Among these |
surely will be no mention of inefi- |
cheney on their part. no mention of
the complexities of red tape. no men,
ton Of enormous administrative ex-
penses. no mention of the thousand |
and one mistakes, if not worse, with |
which Government. bureaucratic
management is infested.
But who are "they?" Why they
compose motley aggregation and in
it will be found the enthusiast, the |
professional "uplifter." the self-sac-
rif1cing worker and the worker of a
Job, good folks In the main but none !,
Of them SO good as to warrant a Ii
cense for estimating their own worth,
TOR fixing their own authority, for in
aidiously moulding the public to their !
purpose, all of which is comparatively |
easy to do unless there shall be some |
way by which the public may be
kept informed.
We all recall what General Dawes
encountered. when he set out to do
the Presidents bidding in cutting
down the bureaucratic expenditures,
but the department propaganda Is al
ready telling US that they must have
moro money. more help. more scope
or q world OF woe must follow and
complete data concerning, for in
stance. such pressing problems as the