Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-07-10
WHITE HOUSE PLUGS
NEWS STORY LEAKS.
"Stated Official Sources" to
Give Out Press In
formation.

or the White House ltselt except WIiStl
such material is given to the press BY
"stated cfficial sources" according to
rule Just laid down to washington
newspaper men at the White House.
Announcement Of this policy was
made by Theodore G. Joslin, one OF
President HoC74-'s secretaries. 1t fol-
lowed the revelation that an investiga-
ton of Secret Service men and news
writers at the White House had been
Undertaken to determine how number
CT so-called personal stories about the
President and his household had leak
ed into print recently.
The incident has caused consider
able stir among the large corps OF news
paper men in the Capital.
Some of the older members of the
news corps are strongly reminded of
the stirring days in Washington follow
ing the White House leaks during the
Wilson administration. Otherwise the
present attitude of the White House
toward publicity is regarded by the
newspaper men as unprecedented. While
the new rule has been interpreted by
the newspaper men as an attempt to
censorship, Secretary Joslin refuses to
see it that way and insists that he has
no intention of censoring news.
President Annoyed.
Mr.. Josiin, in response to questions
AS to the reasons which prompted the
inquiry, replied that 1t was because of
Mr.. Hoover's determination to find out
who is the news leak" and not be-
cause of his annoyance at the nature
of the stories themselves.
aAAed tndaU hV Secretary
.Joslin that while the White House
wanted news of the White House to
come frcm stated official sources the
White House had no objection TO the
newspaper questioning any cmploye OF
the White House in their search for
news, but he added, with smile, try
and get any information.
When pressed for an admission by
newyoaper men that this meant that
the White House employees nad oeen m
Structed to answer no questions from
writer's, Mr. Joslin replied that ne kne"
of no such instructions.
It was stated also by Secretary JoSlln
TODAY that thus far the Investigation
into the White House news leaks has
failed to produce results. However, IL
was made plain that the White House
has not completed its investigation ana
that it will be continued until those
guilty of talking have been renewed
from the WIllte
Secret Service Suspected.
In this respect 1t is known that when
W n Moran. chief Of the United
states Secret Service, was summoned
to the White House yesterday and
given instructions by one OF the Presl-
dents intimate associates to nno OUT
who was discussing White House af-
fairs. he was given to understand that
the President suspected members OF the
Secret Service and that II the results
of the investigation warranted IT, ne
would not hesitate in having the whole
Secret Service force at the White House
transferred elsewhere.
There are nine men in the White
House Secret Service. selected because
of their rare experience and looked
upon as the cream of the service. and.
as might be expected, they resent the
fact that they are being investigated.
Guests Eager Takers.
1t has been pointed out, in this con-
nect!on, that most Of the leak stories
were not known by any member OF the
secret service until they were seen in
print. It has also been suggested that
many of the Presidents guests and
visitors do quite a little talking after
their visits Some Of them have no
hesitancy in repeating interesting in
source of news leaks has been taken
into consideration by the White House
in its investigation of the secret service.
news story appearing in the New
York Times last Monday, describing
how President Hoover left his Rapidan
Camp and rushed back to washington
last Sunday afternoon, is said to be
responsible for the White House In
vestigation and the subsequent an
nounced policy that news must come
from stated officials circles"
Other Stories Probed.
This is essentially true, but not
wholly correct 1t is common knowl-
edge that various other stories of vari-
Gus nature dealing with the President
and his household, have been investi-
gated.
The first story about his medicine
ball throwing with some of his intimate
friends at the White House, was in
vestigated as was later story about
one of the members of the Presidents
medicine ball cabinet" being toppled
over by swiftly travelling ball thrown
by Mr.. Justice Stone.
Inquiries were made to find the source
Of story that Mrs. Hoover on motor
ride from Washington to Richmond
did her own chauffering. The fact that
the President was so popular through
out the country as to have more than
a dozen turkeys sent to him from all
sections for his first Thanksgiving din
ner prompted another assignment on
the part of the Secret Service men to
discover its source. 1t was learned, in
this instance, that the President saw
no reason why the number of turkeys
sent to him was CT interest to the
public. The same point of view was
expressed concerning story that
portion of the top floor of the White
House was being remodeled into a
modern nursery for the Hoover grand
children.
Friend Gives News.
Publication of the Presidents work
of Transforming his library on the sec
ond floor of the White House into the
Lincoln room" by installing furniture.
pictures and desk articles formerly used
by the Civil War President was respon-
sible for some more quiet investigating
In this instance. as In the case Of 9TH
ers. the news source was one of the
Presidents personal friends to whom he
had revealed his plans for the Lincoln
room" More recent stories which have
provoked energy on the part OF the
White House to run down the news
sources were those stating that a
patched lace curtain and a ragged cur
tain shade were hanging IN front VIM
dows of the White House, the biting Of
a Marine at the Rapidan camp by Mrs.
Hoover's pet Irish wolf hound, Sham
rock, and that the President he'd de
ciared a moratorium" on noise when he
was prevented from taking e. nap be-
cause OF the hammering of carpenter
in nearby room.
No one of these stories came from q
member of the Secret Service. The
patched lace curtain and ragged shade
h.