Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1936-12-17
| Topics Interpreted

Predicts ments by CLOSE
advisers of the
President" or activities of ''those
on the inside" than persons living
at distances from Washington. They
are less likely to be misled in their
conclusions as to the meaning OF
such statements or actions, come
as they may from 'high sources"
than others not closely in touch.
But even this close contact by OBJ
servers here does not always pro-
duce for them definite finality on
their conclusions because some
things are simply impossible OF
proof.
The above statements are by way
of directing attention to the inabil-
ity of the corps of correspondents
here to tell whether DR.. Stanley
High was speaking with the approx
al or even the acquiescence Of
President Roosevelt when DR.. High
voiced the opinions in Liberty Mag
azine recently to the effect that Mr..
Roosevelt is in a mood to disci-
pine the newspapers of the coun-
try. DR.. High, to summarize many
words in his magazine article, rath-
er forecast Mr.. Roosevelt in his new
term of Office will not abandon his
liberal policies but probably will
chastiSe his enemies less than oc-
Cured during his first term-except
the press. Certainly, DR.. High gave
us all reason to believe that Mr..
Roosevelt is pretty much disgust
ed with certain types Of newspapers
in this country and that he may
be expected to "crack down" on
them.
The consensus among the writing
fraternity in Washington is that DR..
High has an opportunity at least
to know the Presidential mind. He
has virtually lived with it during the
last six months and there can be
no doubt that he had opportunities
during that time of talking formally
and informally with the Chief Exec
utive in a manner not permitted
more than few persons. On this
basis, if on no other, one would be
led to believe that DR.. High was
writing in a sense a reflection of
Mr.. Roosevelt's thoughts, yet, as I
said at the beginning, none of us
can be sure.
While DR.. High definitely is in a
position as an adviser to the Presi-
dent to know the trend of Mr..
Roosevelt's mind, he was delight
fully general in the discussion of
the Presidents future program ex-
cept as to the press. Again, it may
be much ado about nothing. So
many of the Presidential advisers
and insiders have been writing and
talking and acting in the last three
years that it is difficult to tell which
is the real story. It may be, there
fore,-and / believe this is the best
answer-that DR.. High has turned
loose a toy balloon. If this balloon
is blown the wrong way by COM
ments from the nation, you probab-
ly will hear no more about a dis
cipline for the press. If the COM
ments are friendly, another story
may be expected and its nature is
not now to be forecast.
Assuming now that DR.. High has
faithfully presented the President s
>, thoughts on the
Htt Onfdtr newspapers of the
journalism, country, it seems
entirely proper
that the suggestion be examined
from the viewpoint of national well
fare.
DR.. High, to be sure, made clear
In his article that the President S
efforts to reform the press will be
addressed only to those newspapers
which engage in misrepresentation,
color their news or are guilty OF
unfair journalism. / believe that
the vast majority of our newspapers
properly are Jealous of the integ-
rity of their policies. believe that
the vast majority of our editors re-
gard the responsibility of leader
ship as something quite sacred and
not to be tainted. In the same breath
that we mention the President s
purported thoughts and the attitude
of most newspapers, one cannot
help but recall that at least three
fourths of all newspaper circula-
ton in the recent Presidential cam
paign was opposed to President
Roosevelt's reelection.
Thus, and in view of these cir
cumstances, it may be discomfort
ing to a good many people to read
the strong language that DR.. High
has used in rejecting the implica-
tons of the Presidential mind. To
that school of thought, the Doctor
language, if it means anything,
means that Mr.. Roosevelt proposes
to take steps, directly or indirect
ly, to make the entire press Of
America conform to his ideas OF
what constitutes ''fair journalism.
In other words, if their interpre-
tation of the High article is correct,
there can be intimidation of the
press from the White House.
The intimidation could come from
Presidential tongue flashing of news
papers or any one individual news
paper which the President believed
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