Evening star., 1940-02-16
Dies Committeeman
Object 10 Calling! 4!
Father CoughIin
Oppose Making Group
A Sounding Board to
Advocate Gloss Hatred

b the Associated Press.
Objections were raised within the
Dies Committee today to calling the
Rev. Charles E. Coughlin to the wit
ness stand. but no decision was
reached.
The question came up yesterday
when Chairman Dies was asked at q
press conference whether the COM
mittee would investigate Father
Coughlin. Mr.. Dies replied that the
Royal Oak CMich) priest had signi-
fed in one of his publications that
he wished to be called.
Representative Mason, Republican,
Of Illinois commented later that he
had no fixed view on hearing the
priest, but added, "1 don't think he
has been mixed in with these sub
versive elements" Representative
Mason said he was not in agree
ment with Father Coughnns views.
Representative Dempsey, Demo-
crat, of New Mexico, like Mr.. Mason,
q committee member, told reporters:
II don't think that the committee
should be used as a sounding board
for any advocate of class hatred"
Others Agree.
Other committeeman, who asked
that their names not be used, said
that for the reasons given by Repre-
sentative Mason and Dempsey they
doubted the wisdom of having the
priest testify.
Replying to one inquiry regarding
Father Coughlin, Chairman Dies
said the question of calling him
posed this problem: Whether the
committee should conflne itself to
organizations with alleged foreign
connections or should plunge into a
domestic field lacking foreign i'm
plications.
Personally" Mr.. Dies said, II
believe that any one who breaches
religious, racial or class hatred is
un-American."
Discussing many subjects during
his hours press conference, Mr.. Dies
said he thought that the rs, 900 voted
his committee by the House for this
year was wholly inadequate" and
that he should have $4,000 more.
Dies Has Program.
The chairman, swinging his legs
from his tabletop seat, also de-
clared that he had a personal
legislative program for ridding
America of un-Americanism.
It consisted, he said. of giving "full
publicity" to organizations with
known international connections
and to strengthening immigration
and deportation laws.
Up to now, Mr.. Dies said, "the
greatest work the committee has
done Is to disillusion the American
people-even the President said he
was disillusioned about Russia"
Meanwhile. remark on the House
floor yesterday that Mr.. Dies was
able to take care of his publicity
"prerogatives" disrupted House pro-
ceedings for a time during the
afternoon.
Representative Bradley, Democrat,
of Pennsylvania made the remark
while twitting Representative Keefe,
Republican, of Wisconsin, who, he
said, was trying to share" in the
publicity Chairman Dies and his
committee obtained by attacking the
American Youth Congress.
Remarks Stricken.
"You can't steal this publicity
baby from Martin CDies)," Mr..
Bradley told Mr.. Keefe, facetiously.
IF there's any publicity going
around, Martins going to get it. AS
I say, he is pretty smart fellow
and after all, he has not been presi-
dent of the Demagogue Club for
eight years for nothing without
learning how to take care of his
prerogatives as far as publicity is
concerned"
The Demagogue Club is a House
cloakroom fun-making organization
whose members are supposed to
vote for all appropriation bills and
against all taxes.
Mr. Bradley'S remarks brought
Representative Hoffman, Repub-
hcan. Of Michigan to his feet with
q demand that the reference to Mr..
Dies be taken down. move pre-
iiminary to having it stricken from
the Record.
Acting Speaker Rayburn, Demo-
crat, OF Texas ruled that Mr.. Brad