The Republican., 1938-12-01

congressman DIeS may HOG NC n
zany as Mr. Ickes calls him and Mr..
Ickes may not be a crackpot as Mr..
Dies calls him. Or they may both be-
right. But that isn't the important
point. The important point is whether
what the Dies committee has developed
about the Communistic flavor of GER
tain Administration agencies and the
Communistic saturation of certain of
its political allies are facts-or
whether they are not facts.
##*
Since he began his hearings a great
deal of denunciation has been heaped
upon Mr.. Dies by Administration
.spokesmen and the professional liber-
ais who are thrown into fury at the
mere suggestion that Communism is
disease which should not be allowed to
touch any part of the Government.
There has been plenty of denuncla-
ton but not many denials. Without
going into details, there has been on
real denial that the sit-down strikes
in Detroit were led and inspired by
Communists; that many key men In
the C. I. O., largest financial contribu-
tor to the Roosevelt 1886 campaign,
are Communists; that Communists are
active and numerous on various WPA
projects; that the official economic ad-
wiser of an important Government
board is openly against the capitalistlc
system; that at least one important
Government official is sympathetically
affiliated with an organization in
which Communists are conspicuous.
*&E
Now none of these things means
that Mr.. Roosevelt or any member OF
his Cabinet is CommuniStically In
clined On the contrary, the President
has almost violently denounced Com
munism on various occasions. There IS
no question of his sincerity. Neverthe-
less the facts cited have not been con-
tradicted except with abuse OF Mr..
Dies. The Presidents own unprece-
dented effort to discredit the commit
tee was a defense of Governor Murphy
rather than denial of fact. The meth
ods, the motive and the character OF
the investigation have been criticized
and probably justly-but few facts
have been successfully assailed. 1t is
easy to understand why Mr.. Dies is so
cordially hated-why Administration
leaders are preparing to further dis
credit him and his report when the
House convenes. The fight will be over
whether he is to continue his inveStl-
cation or the committee is to be
suuelched. The outcome is in doubt
Administration politicians are furious
at being compelled to debate and deny.
They recognize that the discussion
contributes to sentiment politically
damaging to the New Deal. While per-
haps there is no real danger of Com
munism in this country and the Com
munists by themselves are impotent
and insignificant, nevertheless deep
resentment exists against Communist
agitators and activities. Any contact
or cooperation with these upon the
part of their public officials is ex-
tremely repugnant to the great bulk
of the American people. The reasons
are clear.
There is general recognition of the
Communist desire to overthrow the
American system and substitute their
own. Economic chaos is concededly the
essential step in that goal. No bal
anced person believes they will ever
get far in this country through their
own efforts, but the popular distaste
for Communists is such that no politi-
can candidate can afford even the ap
pearance of tolerance. Hense, the in
tense New Deal dislike of the Com
munist support thrust upon them, and
which no amount of disclaiming dis
courages. In New York, for example,
after both the President and Governor
Lehman had curtly rejected Commun-
ist proffers, the New Deal candidates
were given the solid Communist vote,
which amounted to more than 100000.
No ore disputes that. In order to sup
port the New Deal ticket in New York
the Communists actually sacrificed
their party status and threw away
their right to place on the ballot next
time.
1t is an interesting situation and not
without humor. The doving adoption
by the Communists of the New Deal as
a cause and Mr.. Roosevelt as a man go
ing in their general directse~ the slo-
gan of the Daily WOrker-'Eets pass
the Roosevelt program and go 10 from
there; the eulogistic speeches of Mr..
Earl Browder and other OSsmmunists-
these things greatly incensed the
White House politicians. Fully aware
L