Evening star., 1939-08-14
Compares Hatch Bill
To Prohibition Law
Writer Believes Measure Will
Encourage Revival Of
Shopping Tocties

Snoopin9 loctics
To the Editor of The Star:
Why is it that no one has yet consid-
cred the Hatch bill from the standpoint
of its enforcement possibilities? Com
menators still see it accidentally as they
did when it was pending as bill, dis
cussing extension of civil service restric-
tions, difference between private and
public expression of opinion, etc, etc.
But how about the job of enforcing this
law? Right here is the vicious end of
the reptile.
Let's take good look at the thing
which calls itself IAN act to prevent
pernicious political activities" How do
you like that wording, citizens? Let's
turn our imagination loose on it, AS this
bill originally passed the Senate it stip-
ulated that Government employees could
only express privately their opinions on
all political subjects" Then lest the
word privately" might whiplash us out
of our apathy, run counter to our Bill
Of Rights and bring every redblooded
American outstanding with hackles
erect, they struck out the word "pri-
vately." But (to continue) nevertheless
employees, while expressing their political
must see to it that their opinions do not
affect the result Of an election" Now
just imagine trying to determine that
point! And while we're using our imag-
ination picture the process Of enforc-
ing such law; the spying, the Switching,
the reporting" by co-workers, by ac-
quaintances, friends, the daily fear of
losing your job to the other fellow or
the other fellows brother, who only waits
an opportunity to easing you out. And
while we're about it, we might call to
mind the horrors of our prohibition en-
1orcement. Have we so soon forgotten
that? Such short time ago, too; we
don't even have to know history-just
current events.
What does this law mean? 1t means,
II enforced, that there will be a sharp
curtailment of freedom of speech in this
country. 1t means that Government
employees will live in the same constant
fear Of espionage that the German
people live IN: fearing their enemies,
their co-workers, fearing their friends,
fearing even the members of their own
families and households. If this law
could be enforced in America (and
there's doubt if it could the innocent
would be accused as readily as the
guilty by any one whose interest it
might be to get them out of their Jobs.
And if our Government attempts to en-
force this law, where will such curtail-
ment of liberty end? With Government
employees? Not for a minute? 1t will
only begin with them. 1t will be. like
the hole In the dixie. the beginning of
the end. We are all able to see our
corporate liberties menaced by permit
ting any persecution of minority group,
but this is exactly the same principle.
1t is the first break made by the en-
croaching waters which will seep down
as surely into every group and eventually
into every life.
Living as we do today at the peak of
world pattern of dictatorship it be-
hooVes us to look sharply for every first
step in that direction. Congress raises
the cry of dictator" and cites the Presi-
dent. Excellent red herringism, this, as
the dictatorship usually embodies itself
IN one man. 1t keeps the public from
watching the hole whence the real die
tator will emerge.
1 am merely member of the patient
and long suffering public, referred to
by politicians as 1.-The peepul." 1 only
wish we had more intelligence. I also
wish we had more imagination and
horse sense. But while bemoaning
our groWnup apathy, let's all thank
God individually and collectively for the
Young Democrats who have reared their
heads in our midst. They see this law
clearly for what it is, brand it promptly
and damn it accordingly.
The Hatch law is a crisis. It NAV nor
look like one. Neither did the 18th
amendment I am surprised that the
President felt himself under any pres
sure from the politicians Gf indeed he
did to sign bill which will loose on
our people an official gestapo, armed
with power to challenge our freedom of
speech and press, our right of assembly
our town meeting participation in gov
ernment, enjoyed and exercised for 300
years. VICTORIA T.. MUNRO
Fairfax, Va.
August TO-