The Best Policy

a cryptic puzzle by Emily Cox and Henry Rathvon

Solution
Honesty compels us to confess that 17 answer lengths (the numbers in parentheses) are incorrect. These numbers do tell how many squares are available in the diagram, but the 17 answers must be manipulated to fit into their squares. Answers, we can candidly assert, include eight proper nouns.

Across

  • 1.
    Indonesian food stuff (4)
  • 5.
    Piano composer of Britain pounds an Irish hero (7)
  • 10.
    Town in Kerry rejected pictures of fish? (6)
  • 11.
    One Latin force in seedy tavern causing dissension (8)
  • 12.
    Passage right back of a kidney (5)
  • 13.
    Grimly advanced, like the eyes of a lobster? (7)
  • 14.
    Thankless person occupying bars? (7)
  • 17.
    Room aboard vessel for rats (6)
  • 18.
    Drag back organ for a storied traveler (8)
  • 19.
    Some garden greenery keeping gold and white (5)
  • 20.
    What each of nine spaces in this diagram might be called honest (10)
  • 24.
    Enthusiastic about soprano singers (5)
  • 27.
    Voice is breaking by pantry (7)
  • 29.
    Aquatic Olympian pens article in Acapulco, free (7)
  • 31.
    Movie actor let canceled material remain, suppressing hostilities (7)
  • 32.
    Shaking rattles, cause shock (7)
  • 33.
    Pithy remark: "I have incentive" (6)
  • 34.
    Pint I put in the possession of wine cellar's prisoner (7)
  • 35.
    Refresher, one taken by gunner? (7)
  • 36.
    Underworld visitor shot up horse (7)
  • 37.
    Thousands collecting train sets (4)

Down

  • 1.
    Long and thin pen describes loop (7)
  • 2.
    Convertible near a sports center (5)
  • 3.
    Sweetheart comes in for fruit (7)
  • 4.
    Vocally explain about the First Lady's city (two words) (3,4)
  • 5.
    Annoying people eating the French grinders (7)
  • 6.
    Tried to pass clear around valley (7)
  • 7.
    Northerner and I smoke hash? (6)
  • 8.
    Long Island Review blasted a conductor (7) (two words) (8)
  • 9.
    Lured leader of dragoons into Spanish city (5) (two words) (5)
  • 15.
    Out of public view, blab about Indian's first victory (7)
  • 16.
    Start off misleading and baffling (7)
  • 20.
    Match covered with wood of the finest quality (7) (hyphenated) (8)
  • 21.
    Those who cite wild torques (7)
  • 22.
    Middle section of Corelli musical uplifted family member (8)
  • 23.
    Seafood fork carried by newfangled stores (7)
  • 25.
    Mountain is home to top cartoonist (two words) (6)
  • 26.
    Happy clown in Twelfth Night wraps up one verse (7)
  • 28.
    Article: "Ego's topics" (6)
  • 29.
    Club is located in Washington andOregon's capital (5)
  • 30.
    Road by side of lake in moonshine (6)