Evening star., 1940-12-19
u. ). Surveillance
0fWorkers Seen as
Threat 10 Rights
Mass Meeting Voices
Protests on 'DeIvine
Into Private Lives

Participants at q mass meeting
held by the Washington Committee
for Democratic Action last night
unanimously adopted a resolution
protesting efforts seeking Ito under
mine the civil lights and liberties Of
employees of the Federal Govern
ment."
The action followed a panel dis
cussion held before approximately
coo persons at the Burlington Hotel.
AS evidences of action by "instru-
mentalities of the Federal Govern
ment" tending to undermine en-
ployes' rights, speakers cited civil
service circular sent to department
heads advocating dismissal Of unde-
Sirable employees, and referred to
"unwarranted" delving into the pri-
vate lives of workers.
In the resolution. the group petit
toned the National Federation for
Constitutional Liberties to initiate an
immediate Nationwide campaign
Ito the end that the traditional
American civil rights and liberties Of
employees of the Federal Government
shall be preserved without impair
nlent."
See Emergency as Pretext.
Utilizing the national emergency
5 a pretext." the resolution stated,
"2arious instrumentalities of the
-ederal Government are engaged in
? drastic and concerted effort to
rNdermine the civil rights and lib
cities" of Government employees by:
Maintaining surveillance" over
employees in the exercise of their
ght of free speech and their right
:, belong to unions: subjecting en-
'>loyes to "unwarranted and demor-
alizing questioning" on details Of
their private lives; subjecting them
- risk of discharge and subsequent
N,acklisting without hearing through
vague and unsubstantiated"
ollarges; melting agency heads to
move employees suspected of dis
'yalty" and to ignore safeguards
-ainst such firings gained through
I'd attempting to use as blacklists
q lists of alleged members of or
MIA tions charged with or sus-
cted as being "subversive."
Edward Scheunemann, chairman
the subcommittee on the rights of
overnment employees and a mem
or OF the panel, introduced the res
luton and warned that the situa-
on has become a national prob
m"
Witch Hunt Charged.
A similar expression came from
olen Miller of the Federal Workers
">uncil. who said:
Government employees are now
faced with witch hunt such as has
ut been experienced in many
voors."
She said that constant alertness
must be maintained to avoid the
Inevitable succeeding steps which
v-ill follow such first attempts to
eliminate employees rights and liber-
t'os.
Arthur Stein of the District Coun-
I'll, United FEDERAL workers OF
AMERICA, presided over the panel,
~'hich was composed of Miss Miller,
Mr.. Scheunemann, Milton Freeman,
Securities and Exchange Commis-
sion attorney: Herbert Fuch, men,
her Of the Committee of Rights OF
Government Employees: George Slaff.
attorney for the Federal Power
Commission, and Dr. Alpheus Hun
ton Of Howard University and OF
The Washington Council Of the Ma
tional Negro Congress.
Miss Eleanor Nelson, secretary
treasurer Of the U. F. w. A., who
as to have addressed the meeting,
as prevented from attending by
mess.
The meeting also adopted a reso-
lien. presented by Frank Donner
= the Civil Rights Committee. OPP
"sing the Smith and Hoffman
-ouse legislation, which was repre-
ronted as embodying the vicious
attack" against American workers
hv the enemies of labor in the guise
Of promoting defense and preventing
sabotage"