Evening star., 1935-02-17
Revolutionary Propaganda.

The legislative recommendations OF
the special House committee investi-
eating revolutionary propaganda in
the United States cover a wide field
They cover, Furthermore, field that
needs attention. When Communists,
Fascists and others opposed to the
republican form Of government guar
anteed under the Constitution of the
United States are free to operate as
they will there is always danger. The
long period OF depression in this
country has opened the way for Com
munist and Fascist ideas which could
not otherwise have found even scanty
lodgment
The laws proposed by the commit
tee, which is headed by Representa-
tive John Mccormack of Massachu-
sets, are six in number. The first
three have to do particularly with
the activities of aliens in this coun-
try. 1t is especially repugnant that
men and women who are not Amer
leans. citizens of other countries,
should be permitted to come to these
shores and undertake to tell Amer
leans what their form of govern
ment should be. Persons of that
character should be dealt with sum-
marily. The House committee recon-
mends that the Secretary of Labor
be empowered to shorten or terminate
abruptly the sojourn of any visitor
engaging in propaganda or political
activity. It recommends further that
all publicity agencies or agents in
this country representing foreign
government, a foreign political power,
or q foreign industrial organization
must be registered with the State
Department and must give the de-
tails of their employment. The COM
mittee's third recommendation Is that
treaties be negotiated with foreign
governments under which they would
receive back emigrants to the United
States who may become subject to de-
portation under the laws of the
United States.
The fourth recommendation Of the
House committee, which should GER
tainly meet with favor. deals with those
who seek to undermine the loyalty
Of the Army and Navy. Much definite
information has been obtained that
the Communists have sought to incul-
cate disloyalty in the armed forces of
the country. Those who undertake to
SOW such seeds, whether they be
aliens or American citizens. should
be dealt with drastically.
The last two recommendations of
the committee require careful con-
sideration. One proposes that Federal
attorneys throughout the country be
empowered to appear against wit
nesses who refuse to appear and
testify or produce records before any
lawful committee Of Congress. The
second would make it unlawful for
any person to advocate changes, in
q manner which incites to the use
OF force and revolution in the Gov
ernment of the United States or of
the republican form of government
guaranteed under the Constitution.
The purposes which the committee
have In mind are sound enough. But
the powers which they seek to grant
government might easily be used
tyrannically. AS a matter Of fact,
congressional committees have been
signally successful in compelling the
attendance of witnesses and the sub
mission Of records required for their
investigations. How successful and
how powerful o recent decision Of the
Supreme Court of the United States
amply testifles.
When 1t comes to writing into law
that a man or woman may be pun
ished for advocating change in gov
ernmental policies there is need for
serious thought. Who Is to determine
what constitutes a manner which in
cites to the use Of force? How vigor-
GUS must protests be against an exist
ing governmental policy that might
be construed by the government in
power as in line with a republican
form Of government to bring about
prosecution2