Imperial Valley press., 1944-10-04
NAHONS NEWSPAPERS
DRAW WIDE PRAISE

In a Tree nation, among many other
favors and blessings is that of a free
press. This week has bcen designated
throughout the United States as News
paper Week" and among the tributes
paid the press is the proclamation, desig
mating the week, issued by Governor Earl
Warren.
If nothing more is accomplished, it is
significant that the observance again en-
phaszes the difference between a free
press and the press of dictator nations.
And it does not come amSs for this ma
ton to rededicate itself to the glory of a
free press and of free speech, because
there are those in high places and in or
dinary walks of life who preach the op-
posite doctrine-taking advantage of the
very liberties they enjoy to try to plant
a spirit entirely foreign to free America.
The American Press has met as try
ing situation due to war conditions as
has come to and been met by other or
ganiZations and by individual citizens.
on a curtailed supply of news print. the
press has continued to give its readers
comprehensive news of the war on its
many fronts; it has kept abreast of the
demand for domestic news and In addl-
ton it has found space for helping pro-
mote and complete the many necessary
war bond drives and other activities as
sociated with the war.
This has been accomplished in the face
of a continued and unnecessary waste
of paper. the chief offender being the
government agencies themselves from
which sources some almost daily warn
ings on shortages in production and of
the necessity to direct man power to war
output.
The press has gone along about its
duties under other handicaps and not of
the war emergency type. There has been
for the past few years marked tendency
at Washington to dominate the press and
some of the blasts aimed at the great in
stitution of free press have come from
the nations chief himself Representatives
of the press. in line of duty and attempt
ing to give the nation factual and unbias-
ed accounts of the ''state of the nation
frequently have been compelled to take
studied insults in White House confer
ences. Many times it has been difficult
to assemble any news from that source.
But these men and women still recog-
nize a duty to the nation IN maintaining
a free press, and have pressed on.
However, among the high tributes paid
the press this week is one coming from
the national director of the war finance
division of the treasury department. 1t
has to do with the unselfish assistance
rendered war loan campaigns by the
press.
Says this official:
"On this, National Newspaper Week,
I would like to express the gratitude of
the treasury for the amazing support
newspapers have given the five war loan
drives. In the last four drives alone the
daily and the weekly newspapers pub
lished a total of 5S9.623 separate war
bond advertisements with total value of
S31 .213. .76O A total of more than S7O,-
100000 in newspaper advertising has
been devoted to the sale of war bonds
since May, 1871. In addition newspapers
contributed 168,244, ,46O lines Of news and
editorial space to promote the last four
drives"
Americas newspapers will continue to
follow these lines and will never submit
to any attempt to abridge one whit the
right of a Free Press.
We have a vast number of men who
want to stay in the Army, Navy, and Air
Corps. There will be more than we can
accommodate We will have to make
selection and keep those best qualified.
Sen. Elmer Thomas CD of Oklahoma,
member subcommittee on Army and
Navy appropriations.