The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-02-25

40 Lexington Ave, New York
30 T.. Wacker Drive, Chicago
THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 25. 1913
CONVERTING THE WORLD
While the federal government
has cut down the amount OF paper
available for newspapers and per
iodicals in 1913, il has contracted
itself for purchase OF 60 per cent
more paper for this year than was
used, in 1871. says senator Ray
Hond F.. Willis in speech Of pro
Test against an alleged threat to
free speech.
The very freedom OF the entire
American press is threatened by
government curtailment. he says.
and vet in the first three weeks
Of this year the federal govern
ment. in Washington. alone-en.
tirely exclusive OF the rest OF the
country. consumed 1855, 900
pounds Of the 350.O00.OO0 pounds
under contract for l943.'
Willis. ranking Republican mem
Der of the Senate Printing Commit
tee and OF the Joint Senate and
House Printing Committee, pre-
sents figures to show that in 1871
the government contracted for III,
$4,000 pounds OF paper and actual
" consumed 20s.900,O00 pounds;
in 1912. the first full year OF war,
1850. 600 pounds were contracted
and 226.0oQ 600 pounds were con-
sumed.
For use in 1913" he said. the
government contracted for $50,
100000 pounds, or 90 per cent
more than actually consumed in
1871. the year which American
newspapers and magazines were
asked 10 use as an even-then-scaled-
down base period for determining
their consum ption in 1913.
II this rate were 20 be main
famed. the federal government
could be expected to consume more
tLar billion pounds OF paper in
The government printing office in
Washington alone, in 1913, or 9.6
times as much as it consumed in
1S4l
The paper in process OF being
stored. in five huge warehouses
rented by the federal government
in Baltimore. New York City, At
lanta, Ga. Chicago and San Fran
cisco, is looked upon by Sen. Willis
as a guarantee of freedom OF ex-
preston for the government, even
81 newspapers and magazines are
reduced 10 the size OF government
questionnsires. .,
As an early step in this direction
the new magazine named Vic
tory is cited as unnecessary ex-
traysgance by those who view it
rs costly government propaganda.
il is beautifully designed with
beautiful color effects and starts
with a circulation OF approximately
. half million copies.
Expressed purpose OF the maya
zine is TO acquaint other nations.
Including China. Russia and South
America with our way Of life and
Its advantages. From the stand
point OF paper waste and curtail-
ment OF the supply for newspapers
and magazines, this can easily be
considered Objectionable. but there
is another side. There is the mat
ter OF foreign viewpoint to be
shaped to best world advantage for
post war understanding
IL Russia feels that We have
failed in providing war aid and
that the allied victory will there
fore be due chiefly TO the work of
the Russian army. we may expect
trouble with Russia after the war
And II China gathers similar
opinion, we cannot expect the
friendship We should have in the
far east. In South America there
is also need for better understand
ing.
In view OF these international re-
lstions of the future. II IS possible
that an official government maya
zlne can accomplish a great deal
in way OF terms that will guaran-
tee a lasting peace. To reach the
people OF other nations. however
the magazine will have to be print
ed in several different languages
and in huge quantities.
Content OF the magazine will be
OF tremendous importance The
beautiful pictures will hold atten
ton. but the appeal to be effective
will require extraordinary editor
ial skin. Suffering. war torn ma
tons aren't going to be fsyorsbl!
impressed by pictures Of American
luxury. or what might be luXur!
10 them even though considered
hardship here.
II is a delicate subject. this com
parison OF national advantages ant
converting the world to better liy
ing. Germany tried Il without sue
cess. Possibly we can do bette
job OF il than Hitler did. W
hope so.
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