Evening star., 1942-03-15
Censorship-A Compromise
u S. Seeks Guard Press Freedom Keep Enemy
Raymond P Brndt

DEFORE the war, Lowell Mellett, ad-
- ministrative assistant to the Presi-
dent and director OF the Once of Gov
ernment Reports, told numerous audi
ences. including congressional commit
tees. that In the event of war there
would be no press censorship. Why then
was Byron Price, executive news editor
of the Associated Press, named censor
10 days after Pearl Harbor2
The answer is that war requires CEN
sorship just as it requires propaganda.
The only realistic question is the extent
governments rely on the two practices,
whose very names connote evil.
Eventually the once Of Censorship
will have around $4,000 employees. This
may seem an exorbitant figure, yet it
only indicates the comprehensive scope
of this wartime activity. The organ
ization chart which Mr.. Price carries in
his head shows the disposition Of these
workers. most of whom will be selected
by civil service examinations.
At the top is Mr.. Price, responsible
only to the President, who has given
him absolute discretion" in the censor
ship field He handles only the most
difficult problems. For routine work
there are six divisions for which Mr..
Price has selected men experienced in
particular fields.
Key Men Selected.
The first is administration and per-
sonnet" headed by James King, for
merly assistant to the administrator of
the Wage-Hour Division, to handle
budget questions, payrolls. quarters, sup
plies and the like, difficult job in WASH
ington these days.
The second is press" headed by John
H. Sorrells Of New York, formerly
executive editor Of the Scripps Howard
newspapers, selected presumably, to
counterbalance Mr.. Prices connection
with the Associated Press.
The third is radio" supervised by
John Harold Ryan OF Toledo, general
manager of the Fort Industries, which
operated six broadcasting stations.
The international mail" division is
supervised by 1t Col. William B. Corder-
man. who is building up staff of II 900
workers. Of whom 5000 have already
been selected. The fifth is international
cable. radio and landwire communica-
tions," headed by Capt Herbert Fem,
U S. N. 1t will have 5000 employees, Of
whom about 1900 have been chosen.
The sixth and last division, the most
secret and romantic, has the unglamor-
ousNtitle Of reports" Its head Is Archie
D. Burford, formerly special intelligence
agent in charge Of the Dallas office of
the Internal Revenue Bureau, who will
have about 800 highly-trained subordi-
mates.
Elmer Trey, co-ordinator Of the Treas
ury Departments investigative services.
says that in taking Mr.. Burford, Mr.
Price commandeered one of his best men,
his right arm" With more than 20
years experience in the special intel
hgence unit, Mr.. Burford handled the
New Orleans graft cases in which 149
persons were indicted and more than
S6000,000 in back taxes collected. In his
new job, he assemblies all suspected ma
terials collected by the international
mail and communications divisions,
pieces them together when possible and
routes the various reports to the proper
Government agencies, such as military
and naval intelligence, the Board Of Eco
nomic Warfare, the State Department,
the Justice Department, the' Treasury
Department or whatever establishment
is affected.