The Daily Alaska empire., 1941-10-02
Censorship: For Enemies Only
Philadelphia Record)

Publicity is the blood of a democracy
 Dilute it with censorship and democracy grows anemic-as France found out too late.
 Increase it, and democracy grows strong-as Britain discovered barely in time.
 But the military and naval brass hats of this country have largely failed to realize the importance of giving the people full publicity defense program.
 They still insist on treating the public at large and the press in particular as flock of Typhoid Marys to be kept at distance.
 The Fascists have done better although there is much less need in a dictatorship to arouse the people.
 The Fascists have dramatized their progress with military pageants and displays They have told the people their plans and given them detailed promises (even though baseless) of what they will get for their sacrifices
 We shouldn't be afraid of! borrowing a good idea from enemies. Let's give the people the facts; let's make OUR defense program dramatic
 #8%s
 An example of what we are talking about is the series of articles by Edward P. Flynn appearing in The Record. 4
 The articles tell what has been accomplished in our defense program, and what hasn't been accom- plished They give facts and figures-and pictures
 Facts for this series didn't come from routine handouts from the War and Navy Departments.
 Officials of these departments devote their time shooing reporters away from any fact that might interest the public--and to inventing slap-happy slogans and preparing releases about what the mess sergeants wife has for dinner.
 The public doesn't want that kind of twaddle. It wants facts
 The Record is proud to present these articles by Flynn as an example of what should be done to inform the public.
 Some idea of what should be done to keep genuine military secrets away from the enemy on the other hand, is beginning to seep through even the brass hats in Washington.
 The House has been informed that joint Army Navy plans have been worked out for censorship of international communications, without compulsory censorship of the press.
 That makes sense.
 Washington officialdom has been pretty success full in keeping the public dark about what's going on-but it hasn't done well in keeping secrets from the enemy. ifts Recently Government prosecutor, in 6utAning he against a Nazi spy ring, revealed that the German Government has had the "secret'3 Norden 1ombsight in its possession since 1888. t:
 The proposed censorship of outgoing communi- ations-cabes, radio mail-would tend to stop transmission of such information
 We think we should have been careful to zee that information about genuine military secrets, such as the bombsight did not fall into the hands of enemy agents in the first place. Thorough inves- igaton of those who had access to the pans-and thorough surveillance of any workers who fell under suspicion-would have been whole lot more ef ,ective. a p
 If some of the brass hats spent much energy railing enemy agents as they have in chasing re- oorters seeking legitimate news spy rings wouldn't ae any problem.
 The joint Army Navy plans, while not seeking compulsory censorship makes no mention of giving he public the
 The people in this country won't be aroused and united behind the defense program unless they are told what's going Information produces morale
 Let the flow naturally, and morale will take of itself.