The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1940-12-12

the committee already mas dCCoin-
plished whatever land that that
didn't amount to much) was ex-
pected of II, that it's a nuisance to
the justice department by its ever
lasting publicity concerning mat
tiers that the department Is trying
to handle under cover. Further
more, that the departments FBl
is a deal more effective than the
committee, that the latter is a pest
to the state department. too, by
stirring up unpleasantness, that
the desired 100000 simply will
be wasted, and that the sooner the
representatorial inquisition ends
the better It will be.
Chairman Dies answer Is that
the FBIs secrecy Is just what he
doesn't like about IL. It's liable, he
intimates, to develop or degenerate
into a kind of OGPU or GESTAPO,
Ike Stains or Hitler's.
Some Congressman Agree
And that's what quite few con-
gressmen say he may be right
about.
Back In Harry NJ. Daughertys
day as attorney general under
President Harding, the justice de-
partments FBI federal bureau OF
investigation, with William Burns
at the head Of IL, did transform IT.
self into an outfit not so very diff
ferent from what today are Rus
sias OGPU or Germany's GESTA-
Pc. It certainly wasn't as muir
derous as they're reputed to be,
although one homicide was pretty
generally attributed to it. But it's
fairly we'll established that 1t
tapped wires freely, that 1t broke
into senator's and representatives
Offices and ransacked their corre-
spondence files in an effort to get
the political goods on them. and
that it INDUCED in numerous other
GESTAPO-ish practices.
OF course, all that sort OF thing
was abolished as a sequel to the
scandal period which followed
President Harding's death. Nobody
even hints that such conditions
prevail now under Attorney Gen.
eral Robert H. Jackson, with J. Ed
gar Hoover as his FBI chief.
Nevertheless, it's hard to dispute
Chairman Dies hint that It's pos
sible situation, since 1t actually cid
exist for awhile in the Harding
regime.
Can't Forget Past
II was an era which Is more or
less forgotten now, but there are
lawmakers orr Capisof HilI- ybc.
still remember II. AS one congress
sional critic remarked to me, u
don't question the desirability OF
undercover work when the FBTs
dealing with kidnapings and out.
and-out interstate racketeering,
but I'm in favor Of all colors OF
publicity In connection with these
borderline cases"
Chairman Dies likewise contends
that the FBI isn't as capable as
the administration says it is. In
ferreting out un-American activi-
ties. He points out that his COM
mittee has disclosed plenty Of them
that the FBI never had done any
thing about. and he doesn't believe
that il knew Of them.
The congressman emphasizes
that he isn't attacking the FIJI,
but he surely is pretty critical of it.
The administration argument
that it's congress business to
I laws and the governmental
utive ends task to enforce
them. And it reasons that Dies,
legislator, is endeavoring to break
into enforcement, which is none of
his affair, assert Uncle Sans exec
utives.
A bit OF jealousy Is involved In
the controversy.
Up to Congress
Anyway, the White House Itself
failed to appease Dies, President
Roosevelt summoned him clear
from Texas, TO urge him to call of
his dog. and Dies answer was that
radio broadcast, sticking the animal
on to further fury
1t all depends on congress. Dies
pup will have TO stop his yapping
If the legislators fail to vote him
another lease on life. with 81 000,.
900 or thereabouts to feed on. II