Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1955-04-23
BY FRANCIS p. DOUGLAS

BY FRANCIS p. DOUGLAS
Newspaper editors were told
yesterday there is hope the De-
Tense Department order restrict
ing information will be so clari-
fled "es to dismiss some of our
apprehensionS."
This hope was expressed by
j. Russell Virgins. managing
editor of the Washington Post
and Times Herald. He presided
over a meeting of the American
Society of Newspaper Editors in
the Hotel Statler. The session
was devoted to the American
peoples right to know about
their Government.
Cites Three Divisions
Mr.. Virgins explained the
three parts of Defense Secre-
tary Wilson's order which raised
apprehensions.
One part centralizes all re-
lease authority in the Office of
the Secretary. Mr.. Virgins said
efforts to centralize informa-
ton in a single Office may
strange freedom of information,
Another section of the order
directed that information re-
leased must make constructive
contributions to the primary
mission of the department. 1t is
the duty of the Government to
furnish information, the speaker
said, and for the people to decide
whether it is favorable or not
and whether it makes a con-
Structive contribution"
The third part of the order
was directed to halting the dis
closure to enemies of the Ca
liabilities of our weapons.
Mr.. Virgins is chairman Of
the ASNE Freedom of Informa-
ton Committee.
Dispute Issues
One panel on judicial pro-
ceedings brought a conflict Of
ideals between an attorney and
an editor.
Edwin M. Otterbourg, former
president of the New YORK
County Lawyers Association,
said the bar is cleaning its own
house. He urged the press to do
the same to protect citizens
constitutional rights to fair
trial.
He cited a proposed court rule
that would forbid attorneys in
pending or anticipated criminal
or matrimonial proceedings to
make statements or give infor-
nation which might interfere
with a fair trial.
Alexander F. Jones of the
Syracuse Herald-J journal criti-
cized a section of the New York
bar which had advocated
State law which would have
curbed information. He said the
proposal would have prevented
any attorney or the police giving
the. press information about
criminal cases except the formal
charges
Cites AIertness of Press
Fortunately, this was defeated,
he said. He also asserted it is
the alertness OF the press which
keeps the district attorneys and
chiefs of police working.
OF fair trials and the part
newspapers play in them, Mr..
Jones said: Il will rest on the
incontestable fact there cannot
be an unfair trial in the country
unless there is an incompetent
Judge"
In another part of his talk.
Mr.. Jones urged a uniform ma
tional traffic code with stricter
penalties, including compulsory
Jail sentences for drunken driv-
ing.
William H. Fitzpatrick of the
Wall Street journal presided over
the panel on judicial proceed
ings. Byron Price was chairman
of a panel on military affairs.
He is a consultant to the Office
of Defense Mobilization and in
World War II was head of the
censorship office.
Plan Being Drawn Up
Mr.. Price said ODM is now
drawing up for use in case of
war a voluntary press and radio
censorship plan. He said it will
be discussed with representa-
tives of the press and broadcast |
ers. The plans will be "in full
conformity with our free tradi-
TONS" he added.
r.. Karl Honaman defended
the Office of Strategic Informa-
ton of which he is director.
The program has been chal- /!
lenged on grounds it is censor
ship Mr.. Honaman denied CEN
sorship "has any part in our
thinking"
He was followed by DR.. NAL
colin c. Henderson, Catholic !.
University physicist, who was
formerly an Atomic Energy Com
mission Official.
1T does no good for the Of
fee of Strategic Information to
disclain. censorship" he said. !
Censorship is censorship. wheth- |