The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-10-05
. Clapper
Newspapers Unhappy 81
Roosevelt Censorship
Inability 70 Say Word
About Trips Hurts Public
Too Strict Censorship
Only Be~ilders Folks
b. RAYMOND CLAPPER

able question but number #
Washington Newspaper men be-
Heve that President Roosevelt
placed excessive censorship restrie-
tons on his coast 10 coast tour
Just completed.
We were informed that the trip
would be undertaken but that il
was not 10 be mentioned until Il
was over. Finally a concession
was made 20 permit three news
paper men to accompany the presi-
dent TO represent the entire Amer
lean press. Mr.. Roosevelt says he
personally went over their dis
patches and added several touches
TO them himself.
Newspaper men and radio COM
mentators all complied 100 per
cent with the White House order
that no discussion Of the trip take
place until its completion. Many
of us. however. feel IL was an un-
reasonable application Of the so
called voluntary censorship.
We are all American citizens
and are concerned with the sue
cess of the war. We also recog-
nize fully the necessity of protect
ing the presidents safety. The
only question raised in this case
is whether the restrictions went
beyond the point necessary. Some
feel that a precedent is being
established that will carry censor
ship beyond the point Of security
requirements into broader field.
All Of us have discussed these
questions at great length among
ourselves during the last two
weeks. Some of us feel that a
middle ground might have been
taken without interfering with Sc
curity. The primary risk was
taken when the president left the
White House to travel nearly 1000
miles around the country.
He was seen by thousands of
people. In communities that he
visited word Of his presence spread
quickly. Newspaper offices in
those communities were compelled
to maintain complete silence. They
could not even print any explsns-
ton or hint of why they were
silent. Newspaper offices were
deluged with inquiries from read
ers asking why no mention was
being made of the presidents
visit. In some instances We are
informed newspapers were &C.
cused Of carrying political ami
mostly to the point suppressing
news about the president.
Some newspaper men here be-
lieve that this situation under
mines public confidence in the
press. When readers, knowing
that the president has been in
their community. see no mention
Of such important news, they are
apt 10 wonder what other news is
being held back. Some here, and
this is not limited TO newspaper
men, feel that such suppression for
so long tends TO damage conf
dence not only in the newspapers
but in the completeness of the
news that the government gives
out.
In a message noting the oh
sersanee Of National News
paper Week. Mr.. Roosevelt
saSs: War imposes grave
new responsibilities on all of
IN, hut upon no public servant
does the responsibility for
truth and integrity rest more
heavily than upon the press.
Theirs is the duty of keeping
the people fully and truly in
formed"
The restrictions such as were
placed on this trip make it diff
cult for the American press TO
carry on in the spirit of the presi-
dents own definition of the func-
ton Of a wartime press.
Byron Price, director of censor
ship, told s meeting of newspaper
publishers a few days ago that he
thought the newspapers had done
poor JOB Of informing the public
why some information has TO be
withheld. Il was not possible. OBJ
Yiousiy. to tell the public why news
Of the presidents trip was with
held throughout q two-week per-
iod. The reason II was withheld
was that Il was 50 ordered. News
paper men in Washington have
been sitting on not egg for two
weeks and they have been most
unhappy about il.
Full. immediate publication
would have been dangerous. Pub
hcauon might have been per-
mitted with less delay without re-
Neahng the president itinerary.
Most Of All there IS apprehension
lest the practice be expanded 70
cover other officials and other
news developments. with the con-
sequence Of sim further restrict
ING the operating area Of a free
press.