The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-10-21

even If we get physically into the
current world conflict.
Consequently, as l say, while l
may not overly like CONSUMPTION In
principle. the issues only Of aea-
demic interest, so far as I'm con-
cerned.
But, as a newspaperman. I'm
very sensitive 10 the idea OF CEN
sorship. And if we become active
~ involved in the present ruckus.
I'm suspicious that we'll have
something Of that sort wished onto
us right here in the United States.
Prior to Uncle Samuels partici-
patton In the last conhagration, |
was an American correspondent
variously in England, Germany
and France. l didn't enjoy their
censorships a bit. not only
couldn't get a lot Of news that l
wanted: but If l did get II, /
couldn't use it, except subject to
the o. k. Of some funcuonary l
didn't approve of at all.
In World War I
At the time we finally entered
that war I was in the news BUSH
ness in the Argentine republic. Of
fering my services TO our local en-
bassy. l was assigned TO handle
our governmental publicity In
Buenos Aires and vicinity. Nat
urally, my job was TO disseminate
pro-Yankee stuff. Local authort-
ties had no objection, and ] kept
it up until after the Armistice.
Hence, no local censorship hurt my
feelings throughout that particular
era. And, since I was so far away,
l didn't know how much we were
being censorized here at home.
Now that we're threatened with
being dragged into todays war.
I've questioned many Of the news
paper chaps who were In Washing
ton then, and were up against 1t.
I find that our system was some
what less rigorous than the Old
Worlds and the Orient's. In Eu-
rope and Asia they do their best to
keep you from getting anything.
but II you get II, nevertheless, they
penalize you for using II.
1t appears that we kept every
thing corked up as tightly as pos
sible, but that a, newspaperman
who. despite official secrecy. actu-
ally dug up bit Of genuine infor-
nation, wasn't outright slammed
In Jail for printing il There was
a remote possibility, indeed. that
he might be charged with and
tried for treason, but a military
court couldn't dispose Of him sum-
marily.
Public Information
Most folk probably will recall
the Committee on Public Informa-
ton. with George Creel at the head
Of IT. 1t was the outfit l worked
for in South America.
This committee gave out bodies
OF official releases" Publishing
them. uncommented on, was per-
fectly legitimate. In fact. the
committee was anxious to have
them widely publicized.
But II a Washington correspond
ent asked at the war department,
say. for an answer TO some ques-
ton that had occurred to him. the
standard rejoinder was. Wed be
pleased TO tell you. but you'll have
TO put your query up to the Com
mittee on Public Information.
From all accounts, the commit
tee didn't know much Of anything
about anything. The correspond
ents say that II both didn't and
didn't intend to; it's releases"
were the sole and last word on
every subject. That was its atti-
tude.
Well, there's difference be-
tween a censorship that simply
won't tell and a censorship that
may put you in front Of a firing
squad, If you find out, anyway, and
do tell.
What I'm curious TO ascertain is:
Surprising we do have a new
censorship
Mayn't 1t be the European or