Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-23

and the Scandinavian States, for in
stance, the situation is far different
These peoples are by nature opposed to
any changes of government by force.
When conditions are not to their salts
faction, they resort to the ballot. And
| If they are sincere and determined.
they have little dificulty in accomplish
ing their purpose"
THE perfect defense against danger
Gus radicaliSm is not suppression, not
anger, not lawlessness among law OIL
| Gals. but social jutice," says the Duluth
| Herald. while the Flint Daily Journal,
recording that "it is generally believed
that the fundamental appeals of COM
munism do not grip the American peo-
pie" yet comedies that there probably
Is no great harm In determining the
extent to which Communism exists In
America" The Rochester Times Union
advises: THE place where the Root pro-
posal will stir most enthusiasm Is in
Moscow, Nothing will delight the Rus
sian leaders more than such activities"
Coming from one of the standing Of
Mr.. Root" thinks the Harrisburg Teie-
graph, "the matter is deserving of more
than ordinary thought. But why Is 90
much attention psid to the more or less
fruitless plottings and vaporings Of
Communistic nobodies while far more
potent enemies CT good government are
allowed to bore from within with little
more than occasional newspaper pro-
test?"
Whether Communism has become
menace to American institutions, or Is
little more than a bugaboo" comments
the Chicago Daily News. lis a question
which the Department of Justice and
two or three other departments, such as
those presided over by the Secretary
of Labor and the Postmaster General
always should be able to answer with
ample knowledge" The Buffalo Eve
ming News argues: "If Federal police
powers are to be extended. Communist
activities would better. be made an in
cidental, rather than main. objective
The same law which enlisted Fed
eral cooperation in the control Of other
crimes would cover amply the criminal
activities Of revolutionary plotters who
are dangerous only to the .xtent that
their purposes are not understood"
NO doubt 1t would be just as we'll"
believes the Chattanooga Times, ito
Keep watchful eve on Communist agi-
tatorS and to curb their activities. But
there would seem to be no reason why
the situation could not be controlled by
local authorities. Certainly the au-
thority and power of the Federal Gov
eminent should not be extended BY
creating general Federal police In
harass the people except as last resort
And in the meantime it is of the utmost
Importance for those in authority to
keep in mind the fact that good. clean
government based on the American ira
dition is the best possible safeguard
against revolution
There is no need to magnify the I'm
portanee of the reds" declares the Al
banv Evening News. seeing little neei
of new Federal police organization.
The st. Louis Post-Dispatch emphasizes
the failure OF Russia and asks, Are we
no longer able to combat error with
truth?" The Lvnchburg News main
tains that Mr.. Root might point out
that the Federal Government can do
better than create huge police force
to emulate Mussolini: that IL could de-
vote little serious attention to better
ing conditions, If possible.
5. Even those who ietest the reds most
heartily. concludes the New York sun,
may be inclined to dismiss Mr.. Roots
plan as Just one more bureau or to
inquire whether 1t Is not possible for
the Department of Justice to assume
Whatever detective ability the Commtin-
list problem requires" The New York
Herald Tribune also opposes the police
plan with the contention that, cleft
alone. Communists are impotent.'