Evening star., 1938-12-05
City Officials Warned
Not 10 Take Sides
In Group Rows
Chicago Leader Cites
Evils as Session Is
Opened Here

Declaring that the preservation of
civil liberties through unbiased law
enforcement has become a national
problem, Barnet Hodes, corporation
counsel Of Chicago, today warned
city oficials against taking sides in
any dispute between classes or
groups.
There Is always the danger Of
honest officials being persuaded that
resort to illegal methods, such as
the unlawful suppression of certain
groups, may be justified in the in
terest Of local welfare" Mr. Hodes
declared in his presidential address
opening the annual meeting of the
National Institute of Municipal Law
Oh1cers at the Mayflower Hotel.
This is dangerous policy. If 1t
- necessary to control or even sup
press certain kinds of activity, it
ought to be done lawfully and in
accord with proper processes. Un-
lawful acts, whether done by pri-
vate persons or by government,
breed other unlawful acts.
Flouting Of Legal Rights.
ANY deviation from the principle
Of guaranteeing all groups equal
protection of law, even though such
deviation is assumedly motivated by
a desire to maintain American in
stitutions, or other lofty motives,
must inevitably lead to undermining
those very American institutions
which all true Americans want pre-
served. We cannot defend democ-
racy or defend law and order by
resorting to non-democratic meth
ods or by flouting or ignoring legal
principles and legal rights"
TO get down to concrete cases" ;"
Mr.. Hodes told his audience, drawn
from throughout the country, IF in
any community were to have pro-
labor and anti-labor groups oppos-
ing each other or. let us say, pro-
Nazi and anti-Nazi groups opposing
each other, city governments must
make clear that each side is entitled
to full legal rights, no more or no
less, and that these rights will be
respected and enforced; and that
likewise each side must be given to
understand that each will be held
accountable for infractions of law.
No other policy is either American
or practical
Cites Bars Move.
Mr.. Hodes urged that the institute
follow the lead of the American Bar
Association-which has appointed a
committee on civil liberties-and
undertake "a serious study of the
problem of civil liberties as it is
faced practically by American mu-
inequalities.
The institute will meet three days,
with one of its important discussions
revolving around President Roose-
velt's proposal for Federal tax on
municipal bonds and salaries.
While many city attorneys have
expressed approval of the Presidents
plan, it was believed the institute
will formulate a counterplan for re-
reciprocal taxation if waiver of tax
immunities between cities and the
Federal Government can be worked
out.
City campaigns against small vice
and gambling is another topic.
Elwood Seal, corporation coun-
Gel of Washington, was to address
the meeting this afternoon on the
subject of The Financial Problems
Of the National Capital City"
Jackson Will Speak.
A high light of the meeting is 4
scheduled address by Solicitor Gen.
eral Robert H. jackson on the sub
ject of ''Federal-Municipal Co-opera-
ton in Advancing New Social Ideas"
The talk will be delivered at din
ner tomorrow night.
A panel on labor problems today
was considering the handling of
strikes, the legality of labor con-
tracts with municipal employees, and
the effect on city employees of the
new Fair Labor Standards Act.
The convention will adjourn We'd
nesday afternoon following election
Of officers.