Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-04-19
Senate Inquiry
Divides Editors
Continued From First Page


Continued From First Page
no comment latter the Times
Joined the battle with the East
land investigation"
He also cited a statement by
four editors after an investiga-
ton of a newspaper editor which
said: "A press that is under con-
tinuing necessity of accounting
to Government for its opinions is
not a free-press - whether the
Government be good or baol
government.
Sees Legislative Invasion
"A press put to the frequent
necessity of explaining it's news
and editorial policies to a United
States Senator, armed with the
full powers of the Government
of the United States, is not
free press-whether the Senator
be good or a bad Senator"
Mr.. billiard, referring to the
Senate subcommittee investi-
cation, praised the Times for
"staunchly resisting this at
tempted and demonstrably par
TALLY successful invasion of the
freedom of the press"
Mr.. Register said Congress has
been investigating Communist
activities, individuals connected
with them, labor union members,
college professors, Hollywood
writer's and even burlesque
stripteaSers. Only for newspa-
permen. lis there claimed this
privilege of untouchability."
"Timidity" Decried
He said that in the case of
newspapermen too timid to exer-
else their rights, the shame is not
to the Senator. but to the editor.
I'VE have no Constitutional
protection against timidity," he
said. He added that freedom of
the press is not abridged because
la Senator asks embarrassing
questions. Far from protesting
against such questioning, he
added. the press should welcome
! it.
Secrecy in Government has be-
come "entrenched behind a host
of statutes and regulations" the
editors were told today by the
society's president. Kenneth
Macdonald of the Des Moines
Register and Tribune.
The only real and lasting
remedy for the entrenched sec
recy. Mr.. Macdonald said, lies
in new legislation. But, he added,
this presents a dilemma.
Specific Points at Issue
How could the society's board
of directors, speaking for the
membership, agree on specific
legislative recommendations to
control secrecy? he asked. How
could we advocate anything in
the legislative field without turn
ing ASNE into lobbying agency?
How can we recommend
which statutes should be revised
when it is a certainty that all
members would not agree on
that point? Probably every one
lis against secrecy if we talk
about secrecy in general terms.
But not every one is against
secrecy if we talk about Federal
income tax returns. Everyone is
against secrecy in general. but
mot everyone is against secrecy
on atomic energy matters. j.
Eat last there is at least some
disposition in Congress to take
positive action. Unless this move
lis vigorously supported it may
very we'll fail"
Panel on Freedom
The convention will hear a
discussion on freedom of infor-
nation tomorrow from a panel
headed by j. r. Virgins. execu-
tive editor of the Washing
ton Post and Times Herald,
head Of the Freedom of Informa-
ton Committee.
That committee also made a
report to the directors that
there had been some gains and
some losses in the matter Of in
formation. 1t listed these gains:
More frequent press confer
IenceS held by department heads.
Unprecedented candor" by
the White House in handling in
formation about President Eli
Isenhoweris illness.
Growing usefulness of White
House press conferences.
An increasing awareness by
many Federal agencies Of the
lpublic's right to know. 1t said
this resulted from the work
lof the House Government Ope-
Irations Subcommittee headed by
Representative Moss. Democrat
of California. and other in
! f1uences.
The Freedom of Information
Committee said a rather costly
and time-consuming campaign"
by the American Society of
Newspaper Editors has had re-
suits.
The committees report pre-