The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1933-11-23

whereby the government may license
newspapers under certain conditions
that may possibly develop The pub
fishers insist that a licsnsed press IS
not free press, and again we say that
contention is logical one. Whenever
the press OF a nation must answer to
any form of governmental control, at
that moment the freedom of the press
goes glinlmering and this important
means of public information becomes
merely the tool of the party or clique
that happens to be in control at the
time.
The newspapers are perfectly willing
to sign code respecting hours and
wages to be paid Neither are they TAX
ing the position they do in spirit of
captious criticism of the administra-
ton. Both democratic and republican
newspapers are taking the same stand.
They are firm in this stand, for the
reason that they believe one Of the
most vital liberties of the people IS at
stake and they do not intend to allow
anything to creep in that may rob the
nation of a free press. We are conf
dent not many publishers believe
President Roosevelt or Mr.. Johnson
desire to control the press, but they do
believe a precedent might be here es-
tablished that would prove extremely
dangerous in the future.
To protect this constitutional freedom
of the press, the publishers submitted
the code with this proviso printed
thereon:
I'm submitting this code or in sub
scribing or asserting thereto, the daily
newspaper publishers do not thereby
agree to accept or comply with any
requirements other than those herein
contained, or waive any right to OBJ
ject to imposition of any further or
different requirements, or waive any
constitutional rights or consent to the
imposition of any requirements that
might restrict or interfere with the
constitutional guarantee of the freedom
of the press
President Roosevelt and Mr. John
son insist that the publishers are See
ing things under the bed,a and that
they have no intention to invade the
freedom of the press and insist that
they could not even though they SO
desired. They have refused to accept
the above proviso II they have no in
tention to interfere with the press. why
then do they not sign this proviso BY
the publishers
A pertinent incident was narrated in
Mondays papers, under Washington
date line. Ii appears the administration
has not been wholly satisfied with re-
ports sent out by certain governmental
statisticians regarding improvement OF
business over the country. Orders have
therefore been given that all statistics
must first be submitted to certain adj
ministration officials. They must look
over these statistics before the public
gets them. Denial is made Of any desire
to color the statistics but the feeling
has gone out among the statisticians
that fha administration desires more
rosy figures. Already it has had its eff
feet, says Paul Mallon, in his column
News Behind the News" He says the
statisticians have wives and children
to support and it is merely human ma
ture to protect themselves and Their
families by slightly coloring their re-
ports in line with what they surmise
the administration desires What is tht
result? The public will at once lost
faith in government reports.
| We cite this incident merely as al
indication of what public officials viii
do to get the information they desire
before the nation. What vastly geatei
harm could be done if the press of thu
nation were licensed and thus muzzlet
and under the control of the men wht
happen to be sitting in the seats O
the mighty at the time.