The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-10-09


Censorship Director Byron Price
praises Americas newspaper and
radio stations for keeping secret
President Roosevens recent inspec-
ton tour. For two solid weeks, he
says every newspaper. every radio
station. every periodical in the
United States kept as secret the
news OF the Presidents trip across
the country and back, inspecting
war plants and camps fi"st-hand.
Most of them knew about the trip
which ou.d ordinarily be big news
as soon as il happened But the only
consideration In all their minds was
the safety Of the Commander-in-
Chief in wartime so far as they
could contribute 10 ia considera-
lion which was called 10 their at
,ention by the voluntary censorship
code Never before have they made
such a sacrifice OF regular opera
tons Their act provides striking
proof o. the workability OF yolun-
tary censorship. which must rest
upon the patriotism OF the press and
broadcssting agencies
Editorial p.ges OF the nation
press indicate wide disagreement
on the need for such suppression of
news.
The New York Times suggests
that much confusion and misunder-
standing could have been avoided II
the White House or Office OF War
Information had issued a general
statement in advance telling the ma
ton the President would be absent
for some time. II adds:
This would have protected the
Presidents person none the less
securely. At the same time II would
have had these beneficial results:
% The public would not have been
encouraged 70 believe that il was
being fooled about one important
item Of Washington news. and
therefore 10 suspect that It was
being fooled about others, ~ the
newspapers would not have been
put in the curious position OF seem
ing 10 ignore. or TO suppress
piece OF news OF great public inter
est: and CD the whole public would
have known that the President was
absent from Washington during the
two weeks battle with the farm
bloc. and that his personal. on-the-
spot influence was not being
brought 70 bear upon the issues at
stake there"
The New York Herald-Tribune
says the President exhibited an
ominous blindness 10 the reasons
for free press in a democracy
and 10 the inviolable limits which
those reasons set 10 the control OF
news BY government After two
weeks OF secrecy how much faith
can any American citizen have In
The Administration report OF its
deeds
1T is our considered judgment
that in Two weeks a President Of
1 :
point OF a great war, has done more
10 undermine the confidence OF his
fellow citizens than could the gray
est disaster or any enemy act
The Washington Post. in front
page editorial. implies that secre-
~ OF the trip infringed on the free
dom Of the press because IL was no
secret in official Washington or in
number OF teeminz industrial cen
ters
The Daily Press like other news
papers received calls asking why
We we're not mentioning the fact
that the President was visiting the
bomber plant. Il was probably the
most en- barrsssing situation in re-
cent newspaper history. Everyone
IN the community seemed to know
about the visit yet the newspaper
appeared to be Ignoring y
Censorship is supposed 10 be for
the purpose Of protection through
keeping news from the enemy. but
there certainly could be no question
about such trip a. he President
de being 8 matter OF general
knowledge Il is hard therefore. 10
see where the suppression order
served as a protective measure bu'
II the President felt more secure
during his trip by reason Of the
supposed secrecy. We are glad 20
have had a part in helping TO give
him that assistance We hope. how
ever. for the benefit o. readers as
well a. for protection OF the Amer
lean principle Of free speech. tina
such censorship is not 10 become
too commonplace.