Evening star., 1943-06-17
Elmer Davis Attacks
Congress Critics Of
His Boston Speech
owl Director Asserts
Short and Bridges Used
Only Port of Address

Director Elmer Davis of the Office
of War Information charged today
that congressional criticism of his
remarks this week that Washington
news was inadequately reported was
based on parts OF his remarks rather
than the full speech.
Mr.. Davis, who was assailed by
Senator Bridges. Republican OF
New Hampshire and Representative
Short. Republican, of Missouri for
statements made before the Ameri-
can Newspaper Guild in Boston, said
Mr.. Shorts criticism is mostly
nonsense"
Both the verbal attacks of Senator
Bridges and Mr.. Short Mr.. Davis
said, show certain misapprehen-
sionS."
II stand on the full text of nv
speech and not on sentences that
may be yanked out of context" he
said
Repeats Charges.
Mr.. Davis repeated his charges
that newspapers had devoted too
much space to stories about rows
among administrators and had given
insufficient attention to the good Job
of conducting the war which has
been done in Washington. He ad-
mitted that war agencies have made
manv mistakes and that the various
fights among officials were part of
the general Washington news pic
ture.
The Owl director declared that
the only accurate part OF Mr.. Short
criticism Was where he said that
George Creel, who was in charge of
Information in the last war, had
done an excellent job. Mr.. Davis
said he concurred in that view.
though he believes Mr.. Creels Job
was less difficult than the one facing
owl today.
II don't know when we ever pre-
vented any one from telling the
truth said Mr.. Davis in answer to
charges that he suppressed news
Not Party Leader.
The only time we prevented any
body from telling anything was
when there were several different
versions Of a story Mr.. Davis said.
In answer to Mr.. Shorts asser-
ton that he was a leader of the
radical" American Labor party in
New York, Mr.. Davis said:
Il not only never was a leader of
the party or an architect of the
party as Mr.. Stanley High called
me, but doubt very much If anv
one in the party knew l was
member. This is sample of Mr..
Shorts accuracy"
Mr.. Davis was questioned about
reports that he is in such sharp
disagreement with another TOD owl
official. who is close to the White
House. and that one of them would
nave TO resign. In this connection
he was asked if the services of Lowell
Mellett, owl Official and admins
tratlon adviser. would be dispensed
with"
Might Drop MelIetts Bureau.
Il don't know Mr.. Davis replied
The information director then
said Mr.. Mellett has done an excel
lent job III motion pictures, adding
that in view of the proposed cut in
Owls budget recommended bv the
House Appropriations Committee
l oont know whether we will have
motion picture bureau" Mr.. Mel
lett Is head Of that bureau.
Mr.. Davis said he had not de-
rl6a6 h0ur ha
uvitles in accordance with the ap-
preparations cut recommended To
Congress. He said that che agencv's
news operations in this country
would not be affected if he could
prevent it.
The House committee cut tho
budget for Owls domestic OPERA
tlons by about 38 per cent. Mr..
Davis was asked how this would
affect the work of the agency.
Il weigh IT'S pounds and this
budget they reported for the
domestic branch is just as if thev
told me to cut SIS pounds off nv
frame at places I could more easilv
spare it."
III ue4ellSe OF ms stand that Wash
mgton news is not covered ade-
quately. Mr.. Davis admitted that
some of the alleged SHORTCOMINGS
might be due to reluctance of off,
Gals m giving out newsworthy
statements and to the vigor with
which the censorship office SUD-
presses production data. He was
asked if he believed "bureaucrats
USED the press as a tool"
Il am sorry to say that is all too
frequently the case" he replied.
Confers With President.
Mr.. Davis conferred with Presi.
dent Roosevelt yesterday "abour the
whiting down we are going to have
to do if Congress goes through with
appropriation cut.
The Owl chief told reporters
at first that he had merely talked
over few small matters with the
Chief Executive But when one of
the newsmen asked how he expected
the press to do adequate reporting
ne opened up and said that the
financial worries of Owl had been
discussed.
He said he believed anything Con-
gresS cut out for Owl domestic oper-
ations would have to be put in ap-
preparations for other agencies for