New Britain herald., 1924-01-18
PROPAGANDA.

News from Washington that Con eress is contemplating an investiga- ton Of propaganda in general and in particular as to the Box peace award, Is not particularly surprising. Led by & group of the irreconcilables a move Is on foot to determine why the gen. eral public must be melted to interest in the League Of Nations through the broadcasting of such a plan. The Investigation indicates that the judges and sponsors of the plan have acted with reconciliation fin awarding the prize, favoring League, World Court, or whatever one wishes to call an as- sociation of nations for the common welfare.
 No one should realize better than the members of our high legislative body. that propaganda is the life Of the body polite today II has come to such point that propaganda is necessary 10 further any move. much ss we regret that this is true, The public is slow to be spurred 10 action; fl takes much to catch its fancy and keep it thinking. Ordinarily as certain humorlst remarked. man is not thinking as much of the Mellon tax plan. the Box peace plan, the Eat More Toast" campaign, the theory of evolution, or the local tax possibilities as he is Of a place where he can park his car.
 The bonus advocates may be guilty of spreading propaganda: the anti bonus men, as we have recently point ed out. are probably also guilty and. at present seem to have more com nlete organization for getting the stun 10 the public. The Hartford Courant recently published story 10 the effect that the Governor was to have q press agent 10 spread his propaganda. The same newspaper las been playing up" the activities Of it's political friends for years. Just why the Governor and the Courant have fallen out. making it necessary for the Governor to get a press agent of his own is not evident to us. Ger tainly he must get into she propa- panda game somehow-everyone else is.
 Propaganda, used for the more commonplace effort to further financial scheme, 10 help the sales Of an automobile, a piece Of soap or to make women wear corsets again. is familiar to every newspaper editor. and usually rejected by him. The ad- rertising columns are the place for such schemes.
 But questions destined to become Of great public interest, in order 10 have an effect on our body polite. must be covered in the news columns in order that the public may be fully informed, may be stirred from a state of apathy into a state Of action. The newspaper with the welfare Of it's con- Etituents at heart does it's best to give both sides Of the argument, limiting its propaganda 10 no particular per son, political party creed or race. It's reporters. as a rule. while they may be aware Of the impelling motive be- hind a piece or news try to give space to inc opposition as we1l-and 6 good reporter succeeds. Everyone who occupies a semi-public position these days is trying 10 gain attention for his particular theory by calling at- tention to the merits Of it or the de- merits of the opposition. Probably the majority or those so doing arc honest in their convictions. think they are working for Inc best. some Of them arc undoubtedly working for direct gain 10 the pocketbook. in which they are most interested. their own.
 This paper has been in favor Of the bonus for veterans. When an anti bonus league was formed here the members of it had their say-a '.ean- ned" say which was sent from some other, outside. source It was printed i,ss.ause v-e owe t 10 the public 10 10 so. Today certain remarks Of seua- tor Mclean. favoring the bonus. are reprinted. We agree with the sena- tor in this particular case. though we often disagree. in the League of Na- ton issue notably. You will ordinar- fly find arguments pro and con in our columns. despite how the cranks up- on one side or the other disapprove of our printing the arguments Of the opposition. The public may look up- on both sides Of the propaganda and decide which is good. BUt-Ii is sli propaganda just the same.