The Nome nugget., 1942-04-13
Censorship


 We're still crossing our fingers and knocking on wood after the beautiful announcement made by the Of flee of Facts and Figures the other day This ment indicated that all news, unless is believed 10 be of benefit to the enemy, will be presented to the American people.
 This is simply reiteration of the basic principles upon which the censors have been acting since the be- ginning If the Office of Facts and Figures at tempting to answer any of the criticism which has been directed at the cenSorS, it failed.
 Nevertheless, step by step, seem to be nearing more sensible application of censorship But we still do not have the uniformity of rules of censorship that we should have. Rules applied in Washington, D C. frequently differ greatly from those applied by censors in remote areas in ruling what is and what isn't publshable These differences result in the SUD- presSion of publishable news in many instances, news that publication 100 miles away prints without any qualms When the publication 100 miles away finds its way to the commutity where newspaper has been told not to print c8 ain things, and these things are Haunted in the oblAag publishers face it results in unfair competition d hard feelings
 The censorship organization, if it is organization to be composed of numerous censors, each of whom makes his rules, often directly in contradic tion with the practice followed elsewhere
 Recently The Empire requested to do away with the practice of printing tide tables, service that has been performed to relieve readers of the bother of looking into any of the numerous tide tables which may be purchased openly by any Jap spy who wishes This seems like senseless ruling We under the impression that most naval vessels, enemy otherwise
 
 his tide table in short time without any diff culty. Yet we complied with the order, have all such requests.
 Newspapers to the south continue to publish the nam- of vessels in port, directly against the censorship regulations long after The Empire complied and also tide tables
 There seems to be an insufficient liason between the Office of Censorship and the men who are sent any great distance from Washington service censors.
 CenSors seem to be laboring under the illusion that fol secrets that would aid the enemy. That is mistake Censors also seem to think that newspaper editors incompetent to judge the value of certain stories to the enemy. That is another mistake. Certainly, newspaper who knows is more likely to sense it's value to the enemy than a person who has spent short training spell in a censorship school, men who is interested primarily in the practice of arms
 There to be entire lack of expert censors in Alaska, situation which should be remedied at once. News communicated and originated in Alaska must travel all the way to San Francisco to the Headquarters of the Western Defense Command and aIl the way back to be released Certainly there are enough newspapers in Alaska 10 warrant the appoint ment of person able to pass judgement these stories in Alaska and eliminate this awkward delay If all the is to be sent to San Francisco and leased there, why have any censors in Alaska at all? Back tO the general policy, still fail to why should not give enemy credit for observing scenes of general knowledge They should be able to apprase accomplished facts well ourselves It seems like y that the Japanese would get information from battle in the Far Pacific much Speedier than we get them in Washington D. C. We are inclined to believe that the censors laying too much importance on things in the past.
 There is every reason to conceal future actions on the part of our armed forces but to pull screen over the past seems illogical. We also believe that there are occasions when to risk the chance of informing the enemy in order to inform the American public is wise. Keeping up the morale is vtally important in this war.
 IJ organization of censorship by We are looking for some changes-Daily Alaska Empire
 The Department of Agriculture is urging city farn-