The people's voice., 1939-12-06
Dies Committee
Eats Dirt for
Mrs. Roosevelt

! WASdlNGIO ION. - lfGJ - WIN 1IS
best bib and tucker on and its hands
covered with a double layer of kid
gloves, the house committee allegedly
investigating un-American activities
here, ate dirt-and liked it.
| Principal reason for the sudden
change in diet was the presence of
Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, wife of
the president, at the hearing during
which charges of communism levied
against the American Youth Congress
, were discussed.
VIM. Hinckley, former president of
the congress, set the dish bluntly be-
fore Rep. Joseph Starnes ID. Ala.) and
Rep Jerry Voorhis Cd. Calif.) the only
two committee members present, when
asked by Rhea Whitley, counsel to the
committee, about the program of the
American Youth Congress.
Hinckley pulled from his pocket a
copy of a resolution and said the reso-
luton was being circulated as a petit
tion by the youth congress in an effort
to get as many signatures as possible
1t resolved:
"That the Dies committee be i'm
mediately discontinued.
"That we support careful, construc-
tive investigation of activities detri-
mental to American democracy and
urge public support and congressional
appropriation for the LaFollette civil
liberties committee"
The resolution declared, in it's pre-
amble, that the Dies committee threat
ems civil rights by % attempts to
discredit trade unions and other Am
erican organizations under the cloak
of a drive against foreign agents,
(2) misuse of congressional power,
intimidating members and staffs of
such organizations, seizing records
improperly and serving faulty sub
poenas, (3) conduct of un-American
and unjust hearings, acceptance of
hearsay, ,slander and surmise instead
of evidence, and (4) denial of ad-
equate hearing to organizations and in
dividuals attacked"
Starnes, in the chair at the time
Hinckley presented this morsel, along
with a statement concerning the Amer
lean Youth Congress and the COM
mittee, gulped hard but swallowed
his dish like a little man. Voohis
puffed furiously on his pipe. Mrs.
Roosevelt grinned while the audience
broke into applause.
Whitley asked if circulation of the
petition bearing the resolution, which
read slowly, was the main
activity of the congress.
NO." the pudgy farmer head de-
clared blandly, Il was thinking of
some of the things we're doing con-
structively at the moment"
Starnes gulped again and Redeemed
while Mrs. Roosevelt tried to conceal
a furtive grin and newspapermen |
chuckled with giee "Your organization
IS said to be communist controlled" |
Starnes said What is your COM
nent?"
1t was the first time a question of |
hat nature was ever put to witness
before the Dies committee. Haggard |
observers gasped Hinckley began at
he beginning of the committees hear
ngs and started to take the witnesses
against the American Youth Congress
,ne by one.
Starnes broke in to deliver lee
ure. He didn't care what the youth
thought of the committee,
lie said AS far as the committee
members were concerned they were
lot performing a duty voluntarily, they
we're merely carrying out legislation
imposed upon them by congress. "As
matter of fact l didn't even vote on
he original resolution" Starnes said.
Jack McMichael, a tall, gangling
-outh with broad southern accent,
he new chairman of the organization,
banked Starnes-he said it as if he
gere accepting an apology-and went
N with some additional comments
bout the committee.
after a period of Is months during
which officers of the American Youth
congress have constantly requested an
pportunity to answer charges made
V incomnetent witnesses before the !