Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1940-01-12

committees first year was a per-
feet model Of what congressional in
vestigations shouldn't be. Dies had
no counsel, no cooperation from the
administration and no reason to ex-
pect any.
But he did get publicity, and last
year an alarmed citizenry demand
ed that these un-American upstairs
be ferreted out and shot at SUM-
rise. Result: A $100, 1000 appropri-
alton.
Dies couldn't fight a world series
but he used much bigger COMPETE
tive news story as stepladder to
fame. That story was World War
II. The Communicated pact last
August gave him new stature, for
it proved the swastikas were blood
brothers to the hammers-and-sick-
les.
Since the war started America
has tried to lock its gates against
foreign propagandists, and has be-
gun wondering if Martin Dies isn't
something of prophet. Suddenly
the nation has realized that-despite
his clustering and apparently mis-
directed efforts-this red-baiter has
actually hung quite a few scalps
outside his wigwam.
In 1888 he pointed the commit
tees guns westward from Washing
ton and helped NOW down As Demo-
cratic congressman. Dies charged
that Frank Murphy failed to carry
out his gubernatorial duties in the
Flint Sit-down strike back in 1887,
and the resultant rumpus contribut-
ed to Murphy's defeat when he
sought reelection.
Even the administration has start
ed to cooperate. President Roose-
welt called it "sordid procedure"
when the committee published
names of SOS government employ
ees on the mailing list of the Ameri-
can League for Peace and Democ-
racy, the inference being that these
people were Communists. But a
few days later Dies charges against
Communist Earl Browder took
shape in a federal indictment. Bunds-
fuehrer Fritz Kuhn, limelighted by
the committee, was sent to Sing
Sing by New York District Attor-
ney Tom Dewey.
The case of Harry Bridges, radi-
cal west coast labor leader, was
shouted from the housetops until
Madame Secretary Perkins agreed
to a hearing on charges that Bridges
was an undesirable alien. A deci-
sion is now pending.
Glaring at labor, Martin Dies ac-
cused the unions of harboring for
eign agents. He now claims one
of the largest unions is quietly purg
ing its ranks. He was partially
responsible for the recent house in
vestigation of the National Labor
Relations board, in which unsavory
reports were aired.
Dies put a stop to the WPA fed
eral theater project, which he said
was alive with Communists. He also
talked congress into halving the ap-
preparation of Senator LaFollette's
civil liberties committee, which is
working the other side of the ism"
street.
Even his most severe critics now
admit Martin Dies is coming of age,
though they still notice a lot of
rough edges that need polishing. OBJ
livious to criticism, Dies has made
his report to congress and started
campaigning for more funds.
Here's his view of it: He's proved
conclusively the existence of ''isms"
in the United States. Therefore the
next logical step is to get at the
cause of these radical movements.
To this end he would ask congress
for funds to interview share-crop-
pers, laborers, sailors. dispossessed
farmers, bootblacks and all other
unhappy Americans who come with
in ear shot.
It would be the biggest show on
earth, with Martin Dies a. ring
master.