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Show Truman's Order Given As Move to Stifle Free Press By Senator Arthur V. Watkins Muzzle the Press President Truman's recent order or-der tightening up on the issuance issu-ance of information to the press by the various Executive departments depart-ments is viewed in many quarters quar-ters as a move to stifle the free flow of government information to the American people. After the President's announcement, announce-ment, an incident occurred that may Indicate just how extreme the use of this order may become. The Office of Price Stabilization immediately promulgated an order or-der which said that none of its employes or divisions was to issue is-sue any Information that might embarras the agency. This repugnant repug-nant OPS order was cancelled within two hours as a result of the uproar that occurred in Congress Con-gress and amongst the press. This action on the part of the President, to me is somewhat reminiscent of Dictator Peron of Argentina who has successfully clamped the lid of censorship upon the press of his country. The orte paper in Argentina that had the" courage to fight Peron's policy is now out of business. |