The Nome nugget., 1941-10-10
Censorship: For Enemies Only
Philadelphia Record)

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 Publicity is the life-blood of a democracy
 Dilute it with censorship, and democracy grows anemc-as France found out too late
 Increase it and democracy grows strong-as Brit ain discovered barely in time.
 But the military and naval brass hats of this coun- try have largely failed realize the importance of gv ing the people full publicity defense program.
 They still insist on treating the public at large and the press in particular flock of Typhoid Marys to be kept at distance.
 The Fascsts have done better, although there is much less need in dictatorship to arouse the people
 The Fascists have dramatzed their progress with military pageants and displays. They have told the people their plans, and given them detailed promises (even though baseess) of what they will get for their sacrifices.
 We shouldn't be afraid of borrowing good idea from enemies Let's give the people the facts let's make OUR defense program dramatic.
 An example of what we are talking about is the series of articles by Edward P Flynn now appearing in The Record.
 The articles tell what has been accomplished in our defense program and what hasn't been accom- pshed They give facts and fgures-and pictures
 Facts of this series didn't from routine hand outs from the War and Navy Departments.
 Officials of these departments devote their time to shooing reporters away from any fact that might in erest the publc-and to nventng slap-happy slogans and preparing releases about what the 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 an example of what should be done to in- form the public.
 Some idea of what should be done to keep genuine military secrets away from the enemy, the other hand is beginning to seep through 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 off1caldom has been pretty success fu in keeping the public dark about what's going on- but it hasn't done we'll in keeping secrets from the enemy
 Recently Government prosecutor, in outlining the case against Nazi spy ring, revealed that the German Government has had the ''secret' Norden bombsght in it's possession since 1888
 The proposed censorship of outgoing communica- tions-cables, radio, mai-Would tend to stop trans mission of such information.
 We think we should have been more careful to see that information about genuine military secrets such as the bombsight did not fall into the hands of enemy agents in the first place Thorough investigation of those who had access to the plans-and thorough vellance of any workers who fell under suspicion - would have been whole lot effective.
 If some of the brass hats spent much energy trailing enemy agents they have in chasing report CTS seeking legitimate news, spy rings wouldn't be any problem
 The joint Arrny-Navy plans, while not seeking the public the news.
 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 news flow naturally, and morale will take care of itself.