Evening star., 1938-12-09
'Ameri(anism Revival
Backing Sought Of
Dies Probe byD. A. R.
President General Urges
Educational Campaign
To Instruct Youths
Ey the Associated Press.

The national head of the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution
urged a House committee today to
recommend "a revival Of American
ism" to combat subversive activities,
but advanced a six-point program
for more immediate action.
Mrs. Henry M. Robert, jr., presi-
dent-general of the society, told the
Dies Committee on Un-American Ac-
tivities that efforts to check subver-
sive groups must show to the Amer
lean people that they have for years
enjoyed more privileges than can be
obtained under other systems
through years to come"
Later, Theodore Graebner, profess
sor of philosophy at Concordia Theo-
logical Seminary. st. Louis, told the
committee that United States recog-
milton of Russia had become an "en-
tering wedge" for Communistic
preaching in universities, colleges
churches, papers and magazines.
I'VE already have much of what
others must yet strive for" Presi-
dent General Robert asserted. ped
oilers cease to ply their wares when
profits stop. Activities of agitators
will cease when the American peo-
pie learn that they already have
more than can be obtained through
a proffered exchange
Urges Educational Drive.
To get that idea across to the
fy-ct
step lis to provide the great Amer
lean public with concise. succinct
definition of AmericaniSm.'
She recommended an immediate
campaign by the United States Of
flee of Education, directed primarily
toward the youth of the Nation. to
spread the real meaning of Amer
lea and with concrete reasons why
life in this Nation, even with all of
ing than elsewhere.
Other recommendations in the
emergency program advocated by
Mrs. Robert included support for
the proposal by Chairman Dies to
require incorporated political Or
ganizations to file annual reports
with Congress; declaration of the
Communist party as outside the
definition of an American political
party and that it "be known for
what it is, dues-paying society
under program dictated by the
Third Internationale in Moscow"
Would Bar Speaking Tours.
oil n RI
that aliens ineligible for permanent
residence in this country because of
their political beliefs "be denied
visas for speaking tours for the
promotion of propaganda; deporta-
ton of aliens attempting to break
down American institutions. and
annual registration of all aliens.
Concerning the proposed youth
education program, Mrs Robert sug-
gested it might be accomplished
through distribution of a low-cost
book, such as the Constitution Ses-
Guicentennial Commission issued to
describe the Constitution and its
history.
Gone "Too Far Astray."
Before today's meeting, commit
tee member, Representative Demp-
sey, Democrat, of New York, ex-
pressed the opinion that the Dies
group frequently had gone too for
astray"
Were not a muck -raking COM
nlittee, and we've got a certain job
10 perform, but we have gone too
far astray a lot of times" Repre-
sentative Dempsey said.
He mentioned as an example
charges, later denied, that Com
munism permeates some activities
of the w. P. A. Theater and Writ
ers' Projects, particularly in New
York City.
That issue involves administra-
ton of the project, he said, and
should have little place in the COM
mittee's inquiry into subversive ac-
tivities.
LAS a matter of fact" he said,
"the laws of the land are such
that If a man is an avowed Com
munist and is in distress, he is
eligible for work on the w. P. A.
If he performs his job and doesn't t
talk his politics on the project, a
supervisor has no right to separate
him from the job"
Representative Dempsey contend
ed the committee had lacked money
for adequate investigators and at
torneys.
I'VE have had, as matter of cour-
tesy, to let many witnesses make
statements that were not relevant
to the inquiry" Mr.. Dempsey said
Had we been better financed we
could have boiled it down before
the witnesses came into the hear
ings"
Before the committee yesterday
Col. Latham Reed, former Army
officer, accused the American Civil
Liberties Union of defending athe-
ism and the right of an individual
to advocate murder, assassination
and revolution.
Col. Reed named Secretary OF
the Interior Ickes and Felix Frank
furter. a prominent possibility for
the present Supreme Court va
cancy, as members of the union
He said Secretary Ickes made a
radical" speech before the union
called Nations in Nightshirts."
Col. Reed, an intensely serious
little man with a crisp manner of
speaking. told the committee he had
spent many years studying the lit
erature and activities of the Civil
Liberties Union. In response to a
question he said he could qualify
as an expert on it.