Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 275, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 November 1918 — CABLE CONTROL. [ARTICLE]

CABLE CONTROL.

In his speech in the Senate yesterday Senator Watson intimated that I the action of the government in takI ing over the cables was part of a plan to control the news in connection with the approaching peace conference. The Senator said-: “I take it for granted that when the President leaves these shores, to gill intents and purposes, the cables are cut. I take it for granted that we are not to know on this side what they are doing over there, and that they are not to know on the other side what we are saying here. With George Creel at that end cbntroliing all the messages and information and Postmaster Burleson controlling the distribution of information, the country'may well be warned that it may take at least with a grain of salt whatever is published as to what happens on the other side.”-

‘ But ail this could have been arranged quite as easily without as with , government control. Nothing can be sent from France unless it is passed toy the censor. If there had been any such nefarious purpose as that assigned by Senator Watson it could have been carried out quite as effectively with the cables in private hands by re-establishing the censorship. We do not think that such charges should be lightly made at such a time as this. It is, however, difficult to see any good reason for assuming control of the cables. The companies have served the public well during the war, and have fully mlett the wishes of the government. Undoubtedly they would continue to do so. If we may judge from our experience with other state controlled enterprises there will be'no 'increase in efficiency, but rather a decrease. No necessity, as far as the people know, growing out of the ,war, can be urged in behalf of the new policy. During the period of actual hostilities, when a rigid censorship was absolutely necessary, the cables continued under private management. Now, when the fighting is over, the administration decides that they must ibe operated by the government. Senator Watson is, we think, entirely right when he says that the President “might have taken his felloe-citizens into his confidence and given his reasons.” It as not toe late yet to do this. Certainly it ought to be dune.

Aa things stand, the only'Reasonable conclusion is that the administration is committed to the policy of government managspient, in peace as well as in war. Here is the disturbing feature of the situation. Only the other day the express companies passed under government management. The cabjps follow, i The issue hi becoming more sharply defined every day- And none could be more important. Senator Watson said that Secretaries Baker and Daniels and Postmaster General Burleson had some time ago said “that there was no reason existing at that time why this action should be taken, but that they thought the government should own these lines and operate them permanently.” There are, it is known, many men connected with the administration who are strong advocates of the principle of government control. As that control spreads, it is impossible that me nshould not be suspicious and alarmed. Until the President assigns a good reason for tiferecent action, the people win be justified in believing that there is none.— Indianapolis News.