Milford chronicle., 1942-11-06
Economic HighLigIts
National and International
Problems Inseparable from
Local Welfare

u LOCdl Weltdre u
Some of the most effective criti-
cism of the government in its
handling of the war effort has been
based on the theory that there has
been a definite and lamentable lack
OF frankness in telling the people
what is going on. Many officials,
this argument runs, seem to re-
gard the people as children, from
whom unpleasant truths must be
kept. One of the most common
sayings in Washington circles to-
day is that "the people aren't
awake" The defenders of the peo-
pie say that the people are more
completely awake than a good
many of the bilgwigs in govern
ment-and that the extent of popu-
lar bewilderment as to the course
of the war is directly attributable
to a stupid kind of censorship.
In the newspaper fraternity, a
peak of disgust was reached dur
ing the long drawn-out trial of the
eight Nazi saboteurs. The high
trial court seemed to work ON the
principle that the people should
be told absolutely nothing. Not
until the strongest kind of pres
sure was brought to bear were
newspapermen even permitted to
view the trial chamber. And even
then they were allowed in for only
a few minutes-and the presiding
General stopped all proceedings
until they had left. $3.50 r.
That is simply one example out
of many that could be cited
There has been much criticism of
what some authorities regard as
the refusal of the Navy to tell the
whole truth about Dutch Harbor |
and the occupation of certain Aleu-
tian Islands. And lately, San |
Francisco Judge brought serious
charges against the ranking Army |
General in the Far West. Defend
ers of this general say that, in
truth, he has done first-class job, |
and they have much evidence to
substantiate that. But again, as .
Time phrased it., "The trouble
seemed to lie in the Army's tell
the-people-nothing attitude"
There are obvious difficulties in
the way of deciding precisely what
information would be of benefit to
the enemy, and so must be sup
pressed, and what can be. told the
public fully and frankly. But it
seems virtually certain that in
long series of incidents the mill
tary authorities have leaned over
backward to an extraordinary eX-
tent in refusing to release news
which, according to the American
tradition, should and must be told.
And the fault is by noSmeans con-
fined to Army and Navy authorities.
Time and time again, various nom
military officials of the government
have made completely conflicting
statements about the same sub
ject-as, for instance, in news re-
leases on the oil, rubber and auto
mobile problems. Under those cir
it's no wonder that
very considerable part of the popu-
lation is lost in welter of con-
fusion. Ii
The main hope for ironing out ;
this unfortunate business lies in
Elmer Davis, the cool and canny :
head of the Office of War Informa-
ton. Mr.. Davis, it will be recalled,
was given his appointment some
months ago after the other govern
mental information bureaus had
made an almost complete failure
of the job. So far, Mr.. Davis does
not seem to have been able to
make a great deal of headway. But, : :
according to reliable reports, he is
working stubbornly, and is deter
mined that eventually the Ameri-
can people shall be promptly and
told everything it is pos
sible to tell them. He is said to
have the confidence of the Presi-
dent, and he isn't frightened by
either the military or the civil
brass hats. }
In the meantime, Mr.. Davis Owl l
IS apparently doing the best pos 4
;ible under the circumstances. On F
August s, it issued statement on 7
he war situation which is hearten- T
ngly different from the usual fed +
sral publicity releases. The state c
nent is not glowingly optimistic.
L isn't full of high-sounding phra-
,es. Instead, it is simple, factual +,
ind impressive. 1t points out that N
10 far our Allies have done most of
he fighting, and that this state of !
lffairs can't continue indefinitely. 1,
IN the subject of production, it S
ays that I'VE have done pretty
veil, but not well enough" 1t OBJ :
erves frankly that 1--WE could lose II
his war;" and that it's going to
AXE an infinitely greater effort
han we have so far made to win it. O.
Ind it says one thing that every a
american should remember: I'VE !
re fighting fanatical men out for II
World domination and we can beat tC
hem only if we want to beat them b.
s badly as they want to beat u.s." q,
In conclusion, it's a reasonable =,
iuess that, in the future, the Amer =