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Editorial
June 29, 1948
The Daily Alaska Empire
Juneau, Juneau County, Alaska
What is this article about?
This editorial from The Empire critiques U.S. postal regulations that bar newspapers from publishing stories about illegal raffles and lotteries, calling the censorship of factual community events nonsensical and unnecessary.
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RAFFLES-THEY'RE ILLEGAL
Many times articles are submitted to The Empire, or reporters bring in stories about raffles, and are flatly told that publishing of such stories is illegal.
The whys and wherefores are immediately asked! and we have to reply "it's against the postal regulations."
Very recently the Cincinnati Enquirer commented on this phase of government censorship as follows:
The raffle, or lottery (the two words are almost synonymous), season is with us again. From now until the time of the first frost hospitals, churches, charitable organizations and neighborhood groups will be selling chances on everything from boxes of groceries to super-duper, hard-to-get 1948 automobiles. And it's all against the law-especially if sponsors write letters advertising their pet projects or sell tickets through the mails.
Post Office inspectors, of course, are only acting in accordance with the regulations under which they operate when they issue warnings about sending lottery tickets through mails, or finally crack down on offenders. but it is sort of silly. It's not as silly, however, as the regulation which prohibits newspapers from publishing factual news that a raffle is to be conducted or the factual publication of the names of winners. Everybody knows that these affairs are going on all around us, so why should newspapers be forbidden to publish factual news concerning them?
Automobiles are placed on display in hotel lobbies with large signs announcing that the car will be awarded to the holder of the lucky ticket at such-and-such a lawn fete. Thousands of persons see these cars and buy raffle tickets, but if a newspaper publishes several lines about the affair that newspaper may find its product barred from the mails. There is many a human interest story in the winners of raffle prizes. but newspapers can't publish them.
Raffles and lotteries aren't the most important things in the news, and newspapers can worry along without referring to them, but they are events which are taking place in the community every day. and there is no good reason why factual reference to them should be suppressed any more than the facts about any other event should be suppressed. The present regulations simply don't make sense.
Many times articles are submitted to The Empire, or reporters bring in stories about raffles, and are flatly told that publishing of such stories is illegal.
The whys and wherefores are immediately asked! and we have to reply "it's against the postal regulations."
Very recently the Cincinnati Enquirer commented on this phase of government censorship as follows:
The raffle, or lottery (the two words are almost synonymous), season is with us again. From now until the time of the first frost hospitals, churches, charitable organizations and neighborhood groups will be selling chances on everything from boxes of groceries to super-duper, hard-to-get 1948 automobiles. And it's all against the law-especially if sponsors write letters advertising their pet projects or sell tickets through the mails.
Post Office inspectors, of course, are only acting in accordance with the regulations under which they operate when they issue warnings about sending lottery tickets through mails, or finally crack down on offenders. but it is sort of silly. It's not as silly, however, as the regulation which prohibits newspapers from publishing factual news that a raffle is to be conducted or the factual publication of the names of winners. Everybody knows that these affairs are going on all around us, so why should newspapers be forbidden to publish factual news concerning them?
Automobiles are placed on display in hotel lobbies with large signs announcing that the car will be awarded to the holder of the lucky ticket at such-and-such a lawn fete. Thousands of persons see these cars and buy raffle tickets, but if a newspaper publishes several lines about the affair that newspaper may find its product barred from the mails. There is many a human interest story in the winners of raffle prizes. but newspapers can't publish them.
Raffles and lotteries aren't the most important things in the news, and newspapers can worry along without referring to them, but they are events which are taking place in the community every day. and there is no good reason why factual reference to them should be suppressed any more than the facts about any other event should be suppressed. The present regulations simply don't make sense.
What sub-type of article is it?
Press Freedom
What keywords are associated?
Raffles
Lotteries
Postal Regulations
Press Censorship
Government Censorship
Factual News Suppression
What entities or persons were involved?
Post Office Inspectors
Cincinnati Enquirer
The Empire
Editorial Details
Primary Topic
Opposition To Postal Censorship Of Raffle News
Stance / Tone
Critical Of Government Regulations Suppressing Factual Press Reporting
Key Figures
Post Office Inspectors
Cincinnati Enquirer
The Empire
Key Arguments
Publishing Raffle Stories In Newspapers Is Illegal Under Postal Regulations
It Is Silly To Prohibit Factual News About Raffles And Lotteries
Raffles Are Common Community Events Involving Charities And Organizations
Newspapers Cannot Report On Raffle Winners Or Announcements Without Risking Mail Bans
There Is No Good Reason To Suppress Factual References To Raffles More Than Other Events