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Show THE PRESS AN ESSENTIAL ES-SENTIAL INDUSTRY In view of the fact that newspapers and periodicals have lost some employees, em-ployees, who have sought greater immunity from military service in more essential war industries, it is well to ask just how essential the press is to winning the war. The war industies board puts newspapers and periodicals in class 4 in the 'priority list which furnishes the basis for industrial exemption from the draft. Industries grouped in class 1 are of exceptional importance in connection with the prosecution of the war. Those grouped in 2, 3 and 4 will have precedence over all industries not appearing in the priority pri-ority list, but the board says distinctly distinct-ly that "as between these three classes, class-es, however, there shall be no complete com-plete or aboslute preference." This means that newspapers and periodicals period-icals are practically on the same footing foot-ing as the industries and plants of classes 2 and 3 in demonstrating the essential quality of their product. What service has the press already rendered in this war? The national publications broke down so effectually effect-ually all sectional barriers that when ,the time came to declare war on Germany Ger-many it was the act of a united nation. Newspapers and periodicals have been the most powerful single force popularizing support of the Liberty Loans, and Secretary McA'doo" has testified to the major part they have thus played in supplying the sinews of war. They have so educated the public mind on the issues of the wrar and the duty of every citizen in a democracy that the draft has met with no opposition. Had the newspapers, during the Civil war, given the same support to this principle, there would have been no draft riots then. The task of the 'press in preparing the public for the great loans yet to come is tremendous, tremend-ous, and its mission of education in the closing months of the war and in the preparation for peace is as significant and essential as that which it has already accomplished. Leslie's. |