Detroit evening times., 1945-02-21
FAIR
ENOUGH
By WestbrookA
PeqIerN

imposed on the American press
in matters which do not involve
the safety of fighting forces or
the President, is 10 violate the
censorship defantly and chal-
lenge President Roosevelt to do
his worst.
The White House correspond
entS, being at disadvantage
and in a false, SemiSocial posi-
ton, will shrink from such con-
duct and may be pardoned for
continuing TO conceal from the
people harmless news which IL
entrusted TO them under the
seal of confidence.
But there is nothing 10 pre-
vent individuals from withdraw
ing from the circle formally
with a warning that henceforth
they will obey their own judg-
ment.
4 NY good reporter can pick
"a up outside the press confer
enceS and outside the intimacy
Of the White House as much
information as he can 90 by
maintaining his standing ihNhe
bund and feel free 10 use il
according TO his discretion.
White House news has, 10
large extent, been made COM
modify and perquisite sold
through a racket.
The regular reporters get the
routine stuff but favored indi-
viduals. notably Harry Hopkins,
so long a guest of the nation,
are allowed 10 sell for their per-
sonal profit more important bus
which the whole press deserves
by reason OF its position.
To be sire the newspapers.
and press associations are gov
erncd by the profit motive. BuN
il IS not news which they sell
but their unique and peculiar
talents in learning news and
their service in disseminating
the same.
THEIR position has been rec
l. ognized in the very custom Of
holding press conferences for II
their function were not legltI-
mate and a public service, the
conferences would not be held.
If. then. all independent MEM
berS OF the conference. were 10
decide, tomorrow, 10 boycott
these meetings ard rely on their
own reSOurcetulneSS and diScre-
ton. always mindful of the re-
-qH4Fe#eht 10 cheek facts, Roose-
welt would be more az loss than
the press.
For IL is a fact. far more
fagrantly than Herbert Hoover,
who was accused of loading his
conferences with questions which
he could answer for his own
benefit, Roosevelt has conducted
his classes as a propagandist by
methods which rarely have per-
mltted him 10 be shown AT a
disadvantage.
He has his theological and
political claque always on hand
10 feed him easy questions. 10
laugh al his pedagogical humor
and 10 snap il of when the 60
lng gets rough
And on the few occasions when
he has come out OF these en-
counters wearing long, fuzzy
ears he was tho author Of his
, own embarrassment, through the
fault OF his own patronizing
overconidence.
One such occasion was his un-
guarded remark that the coll
/ umniSt was an excreSccnce
wherein his own spouse, the coz
/ ductor Of not one column
two. folded her due share =.
sprigs from the bouquet.
I'VE dard American
Il press, as distinguished from
our relatively few totalltarian
papers, most Of them published
in New York. is noted among
the journalism OF the entire
world for its respect for con-
fidence.
This is at once great
virtue and a serious weakness,
often imposed upon by RooSe-
welt 10 the injury of not only
the papers, themselves. but OF
their readers and TO the danger
OF the freedom OF the press.
For if this American press.
enjoying this freedom, shall
enter secret agreements 10
withhold news where there is
no justification for the secrecy,
then II is defaultinG a duty
which that freedom imposes.
TNE impudence Of this GEN.
Sorship and fraternal secrecy
was fiagrantly expressed in the
episode of Elliott Roosevelts 5
dog
II should not have taken
more than an hour 10 60 10 the
files, produce the actual pri-
orlty by which this beast was
illegally freightcd across the
country to the degradation of
the three servicemen and the
delay of important military
freight, identify the officer who
authorized it and start court
martial.
Instead, by conspiracy Of
confusion. evasion and conceal
ment, this little act of office
routine took weeks.
Now a plain violation of law
and military orders for which,
in other circumstances, K