FREEDOM OF PRESS

Waikato Times, Volume 128, Issue 21371, 15 March 1941, Page 10

FREEDOM OF PRESS

MR ROOSEVELT S VIEWS GREAT BASIC PRINCIPLES VALUE TO DEMOCRACY (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received March 15, 11 a.m.) BOSTON, March 14. At a dinner concluding a function commemorating the fight for a tree press in America, Mr Daniel Marsh, president of the Boston University, read the following message from Mr Roosevelt: “ The fathers of the Constitution wisely guaranteed in the organic law of the land those great basic freedoms of conscience, education, press, speech and of assembly, not the least of which is freedom of the press, without which our institutions of democracy could not be maintained.” “ Indeed, since in the last analysis democratic government is a government by public opinion, it is of paramount importance that public opinion be fully informed. This mnst be guaranteed by the press, by-' forum debate and discussion, and in these twentieth century days by the magic of radio.” '* All these agencies of information must be kept iree and accessmie to all, as the well-springs from which our democracy draws its very life.”