Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-22
Government Ne,vs Sources
Become Bane to Reporters
Red Tape No,U Necessary to Get Author.
lied Information Is Virtual
Censorship.

| plete picture Of the current school Sit
uation is might be necessary to see 10
men in the Interior Department. Under
the Set-up IT would, in theory at least,
be necessary to obtain separate per-
mission to see every one of these m0n-
The correspondent dosn't know where
the trail will lead when he starts
permission to interview the most OBJ
vious souce. This is unfruitful. but
suggests another, in another bureau.
Again permission must be obtained.
Still another man in another bureau
is suggested. Under his intructions he
cannot talk until still another permit
is obtained-and so on ad infinitum.
May Be Ridiculous.
This policy may lead to ridiculous
extremes. Surprising a correspondent
wants to know the amount of snowfall
on Pixies Peak. 1t might be detail in
the story he was writing. He goes to
the proper authority In the Geological
Survey Now, under strict interpreta-
ton OF his orders. this man cannot give
out the information to reporter with
out the authority Of the office of in
formation. OF course nothing would
happen to him IL he did But he might
be very literal-minded fellow.
So the reporter would have to 20 to
the office of information to get permits
sion to have some geologist tell him the
average amount Of snowfall on Pixies
Peak. OF course, the permission would
be forthcoming, and any help the re-
porter desired to clear up other details.
They would laugh at the literal minded
ness Of the impractical scientists.
But there is no escaping the fact that.
interpreting his orders literally, the man
who refused TO give the information
would be right.
There has been no essential change
In the policies of the State, War and
Navy Departments Because of the vital
Slgnlhcance OF information which might
come from these departments officials
never have had complete freedom in
talking to correspondents, but in the
past the chief function of the officers
IN charge of their information services
In actually has been to clear the way"
Function illustrated.
This clearing of the way" function
is most strikingly illustrated in the press
services of the Department of Agricul-
ture and the Department Of Commerce.
whose officials have maintained an atti-
tude of rigid objectivity-the only OBJ
Ject being to insure that the American
people get through the press any kind
OF information they desired about the
activities Of the different bureaus. The
press contact men have tried tn facili-
tate the uncoyering of the last bit of
information possible at all consistent
with public policy
Ihere has been gross misrepresenta-
ton at times.
FOR example, not long ago a plant
explorer, returning from China. was
interviewed by an irresponsible report
er and, either through misapprehen-
sion or deliberate taking was repre-
sented as having brought back "a
strawberry tree"-not only that. but
strawberry tree. the fruit of which
was sure-flre complexion beautifer.
People all over the country wrote in
demanding specimens Of this straw
perry tree. and there was an ava
lanche OF letters from women aspiring
70 beauty. 1t probably cost the de-
partment several hundred dollars and
lot Of embarrassment to answer those
letters.
Free Access Best.
Naturally the bureau head was an
CRY. Here is where the information
service had to step in, mollify the in
lured feelings. persuade the bureau
head that. while unfortunate incidents
were bound to happen, it was far bet
Ter public policy in the long run to
clear"
1t would not judge the American
press as a whole-and shape the policy
OF the department on that Judgment
by the irritation caused by an irespon-
sible faker or an ignoramus. The idea
OF Department of Agriculture bureau
head or expert getting permission to
talk has been repugnant to the whole
policy OF the department. No great
establishment is without dirt" When
an effort is made to make it appear
so. the result is simply to make unreal
the picture of its activities.
And this is still the policy of the
Agriculture Department proper. There
has even been q loosening. up on the
part of subordinate officials with the
passing of few of the old timers with
old-fashioned ideas.