Evening star., 1939-10-29
Dies Strikes Bock
At President, Asks
Support of Nation
Declares Criticism
Will Not Deter Him
From Exposing Reds
BY JAMES E. CHINN.

BY JAMES E. CHINN.
Chairman Dies Of the House Com.
mittee on Un-American Activities
declared in a radio address last
night that "the time has come" for
the people of the country to deter
mine whether his committee shall
"be constantly handicapped. embar-
rassed and thwarted by Washington
oncialdom'
The Texas Representative also re.
peated in his Nationwide broad.
cast, that "the Federal Government
has Communists in key positions
and nothing will deter me from ex-
posing them to the people"
The speech, designed primarily as
an answer to President Roosevelt's
criticism. topped off a stormy day
during which the Dies COMMITTEES
had heard husky Joseph Curran,
president of the National Maritime
Union &C. I. o., charge the Mari
time Commission with "stabbins
seamen in the back
Mr. Curran battled sporadically
with Chairman Dies almost from the
time he took the witness stand yes
terday morning until he was excused
more than four hours later. Once
the chairman threatened to cite the
union official for contempt after the
witness had muttered audibly, what
circus"
Grieved by Criticism.
In his radio reply to Mr.. Roose.
welt, Chairman Dies said he had
been deeply grieved by the Presi.
dents characterization of the pro-
cedure Of our committee as 'sordid.
He referred to the Chief Executives
comment Friday on the Dies COM
mittee's action in making public
the purported membership and
mailing list" of the Washington
branch of the American League for
Peace and Democracy. which the
Dies group insists is Communist
front organization. The list con-
tanned the names of 563 Federal and
District employees.
Mr. Dies insisted it was q "mem-
bership" list and asked
Can it be true that some of the
names on that list were too big for
release to the public?"
While asserting he was deeply
grieved" by the Presidents COM
ment. the Texan added that there
was nothing new about this latest
attack by the administration upon
the work of our committee. nothing
new except the occasion which
prompted it."
why Sudden Attack"
Mr.. Dies said there was no charge
of "sordid procedure" when the
committee made public q list Of
German-American Bund leaders and
"a mailing list of William Dudley
Pelley's Silver Shirts
why then" he asked. "this sud-
den fury of attack when the mem
bership of more than 500 officials
and employees of the Federal Gov.
ernment in the Communist con.
trolled American League for Peace
and Democracy is disclosed to the
American people?'
Mr.. Dies insisted he knew that
there are hundreds. yes thousands,
of members of the Communist.
controlled organizations scattered
through the departments and
agencies of our Federal Govern
ment." He declared the League for
Peace and Democracy is simply
the Communist party travelling on
one Of its many false passports"
| Elaborating on his statement al
leging lack of support from WASH
ington officialdom, the COMMITTEES
chairman said:
Il profoundly regret that the
President and all members of his
cabinet have not from the beginning
supported our committee with that
same unanimity of support which
we have received from the people
OF the country. I am as panied as
the Communists and their fellow
travellers are pleased at the Presi-
dents continued unfriendiness to-
ward our committee.
sees EneCt1VeneSS Hurt
L wish it were otherwise, and
am compelled to state that, unless
there is change in the admins.
tration's attitude it will be extreme.
ly difficult if not impossible for our
committee to produce the results
which the country has every reason
to expect"
Mr.. Dies also charged that one
OF the vice chairmen of the league
whose name he Gid not mention re.
signed his position in this Com.
munist front organization" to &C.
cept an appointment by the admin.
lstratlon as secretary of the Virgin
Islands. For years he declared this
man served with Earl Browder as co.
chairman of the American League"
Will Keep Faith With People.
Mr.. Dies asserted he had no fear
OF partisan politics in connection
with the investigation and added:
Il made covenant with the
American people that I would keep
faith with them alone on q matter
which rises above all party inter.
ests and considerations"
The committee hearing earlier
IN the day was an angry babel
Of voices interspersed with constant
banging of the chairman's gavel
as Mr.. Curran vehemently denied
he was a Communist and engaged
in frequent shouting contests with
Mr. Dies.