OWI ignores Bricker role as candidate
Just calls him ‘Governor of Ohio’ in stories sent overseas
Washington (UP) –
The Office of War Information covered Governor John W. Bricker’s press conference here Thursday, but for policy reasons did not identify the Ohio chief executive in the reports sent abroad as a candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, Director Elmer Davis said today.
He was simply referred to as a “prominent Republican and Governor of Ohio” in the OWI dispatches sent to Africa, Britain and Australia.
The press conference was covered by an OWI editor and his story was cleared personally by Mr. Davis. It was transmitted to OWI outposts in London, Algiers and Sydney for redistribution.
Political angle cited
Mr. Davis said the omission of any reference to Mr. Bricker’s announced candidacy was in line with the agency’s policy in handling political news the last few months when it was difficult, he said, to ascertain who presidential candidate actually were.
The OWI chief said:
That was the period when a lot of men were standing around waiting for lightning to strike and it was considered best not to mention political aspirations in our reports.
Now that the elections are drawing closer and the political picture is coming into sharper focus, Mr. Davis said, a new policy in this matter will be drawn up soon by himself and other OWI officials.
Must announce candidacy
Under the new policy, Mr. Davis said that if a candidate has publicly announced his candidacy, it will be mentioned in OWI overseas stories.
Mr. Davis said:
In some cases, of course, it will be necessary to say “considered by many to be a candidate for the office.”
The OWI story began by saying that Mr. Bricker “favored a foreign policy ‘along the general lines’” of the Mackinac Republican Conference statement.
It also included Mr. Bricker’s comment on a recent article in a British newspaper suggesting the reelection of President Roosevelt.
‘None of their business’
Mr. Bricker said in that connection:
I think we ought to elect our own President and it’s none of their business. I think we ought to take care of that matter without outside interference.
The story ended by quoting Mr. Bricker as saying that he differed with “the whole philosophy of the New Deal.”
The dispatch also carried Mr. Bricker’s stand in favor of state ballots for soldier voting but made no reference to his views that there should be a law which would outlaw wartime strikes.