Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-01-24

" l. II lnueCelI
tactics? It will be recalled that the
administration has made no secret
of its opposition to the Dies COM
mittee and for this reason the COM
mittee has not had the benefit OF
the help which other committees OF
Congress get from executive agen-
cies and bureaus.
Thus. the Federal Bureau of In
Vestigation, which ought really to
be uncovering any wrong doing on
the communistic or fascistic front"
in the United States, has not been
cooperative with the Dies COM
mittee. though the F. B. I. has been
allowing its agents to be used by the
Securities and Exchange Commits
sion in a witch-hunt affecting in
surance companies. The F. B. L.
is a conscientious corps of agents
who, according to Representative
Dies, have been restrained by the
New Deal officials from helping the
committee.
The vote for the Dies committee
Is, indeed, a manifestation of pro-
test against all sorts of subversive
activities in America, but mostly a
rcbuke against those on the cleft
wing" who have been trying to
squelch the committees work be-
cause, borrowing from the expert
ence of some of the administration
controlled committees in Congress,
1t has been a bit rough at times with
friends of the left wing" or the
"left-wingers' themselves.
Vote Shames Doubts.
A vote of 345 to 81 would never
have been possible except for q
very intense desire on the part of
many national organizations that
The truth about Communism and
Fascism as it affects America be
exposed to view. Such organiza-
tions as the American Federation
of Labor and the American Legion,
as well as important church bodies,
wanted the Dies committee inquiry
continued. And the House respond
ed with a vote so big that one Won
OSlS Willy uul ltlS GllC 1doV 1CW ohJ D
there was any doubt about the
matter and why last-minute attacks
on Representative Dies were made.
Not long ago Chairman SABBATH
of the House Rules Committee had
a conference with President RooSe-
welt, after which Mr. SABBATH stated
that the President was not anxious
to see action taken at this time on
the proposal to extend the Dies in
uuiry Many members of the House
felt that the Congress should decide
this sort of question without con-
ferences between its members and
the Executive.
There can be no doubt that the
continuation of the Dies Commit
tee serves many useful purposes, not
the least of which is the saving to
many innocent persons through the
elimination of the many money
raising rackets adopted by various
leagues and associations which have
taken it upon themselves to stamp
out Communism. Fascism and a lot
of other isms. AS long as the Dies
Committee provides forum where
In all such things can be exposed
to view, the country will not need
the efforts of so many self-consti-
tuted bodies of vigilantes.
Can Expose Right" to View.
AS for the "left-wingers" who feel
shat the Dies committee isn't par
ticularly hard on the Fascists or
their sympathizers in the right wing
the opportunity presents itself
through left wing members on the
committee to see to it that any
Fascist tendencies are revealed, too
For years the cry that Commu-
nism was taking hold in America
has been heard in many quarters
and when the Nazis began to reach
out overseas, the contention was
advanced that Fascism too, was de-
veloping its following in the United
States. Most Members of Congress
have never taken seriously the idea
that either Communism or Fascism
was taking root, but the revela-
tions of the Dies Committee, 1t Is
agreed, have been healthy in the
sense of exposing to the air the
undercurrents and giving them
proper evaluation.
Can Nip Units in the Bud.
Whether the small minority OF
Fascists or Communists are trying
to indoctrinate American labor
unions. schools. colleges and church
organizations is of such vital i'm
portance to the Nation that an in
vestigating committee which merely
discloses and of itself has no power
to prosecute anybody cannot dc
much harm except by bit of I'M
pleasant publicity now and then
but it may do a great deal of good
IN checking or nipping in the buo
organizations financed by foreign
money or by domestic contributions
from citizens who are eager to appl,
alien PHILOSOPHERS in our midst.
The continuance of the Dies COM