Evening star., 1941-11-10
The Great Game of Politics
Russion Loon Defended, but 'CoddIing' Communists
In This Country Is Called Unnecessary

CNn1naNniStto inclination 10r any |
one.
Observers Of the Campobello meet
ing last summer were disposed TO
regard Mr.. Lash's unpleasant per-
sonaity as not calculated to COM
mend his cause or himself to any
detached person-despite his friend
ship with Mrs. Roosevelt and his
frequent White House visits.
Ofacials Invited to Tea.
A number N Government officials
were invited to the Friday tea by
Mrs. Roosevelt in order to interest
them in this latest Lash-promoted
project. Though Mrs. Roosevelt's
motives are always Of the noblest,
this hardly seemed an auspicious
time for another White House gath
ering Of her crusading young friends,
who. If not avowedly Communistic,
are certainly under suspicion of hav-
ing Communistic Affiliations. 1t
makes it little more difficult to
enjoy our present Russian alliance.
In this connection 1t is also re-
called that over three weeks ago,
at the request Of Attorney General
Biddle, Chairman Dies sent to that
official list Of 1,124 Federal en-
ployes who, he said, were con-
nected with subversive Communis-
tic organizations or who advocated
the overthrow of the United States
Government.
Mr.. Dies gave names, salaries and
titles. He pointed out that 1923 of
those named drew salaries between
$1,000 and $4,000. He declared that
this list was far from complete, and
that 1t contained no names OF per-
sons in the defense organization.
because the investigations there had
not been concluded But 20 of those
named by Mr.. Dies are in Mr..
Blddle's own department.
Mr.. Biddle's request was made he
cause Congress had earmarked a
fund of 100000 to enable his de-
partment to investigate Communis-
tic activities of Government en-
ployes. 1t is reasonable to assume
that Mr.. Dies had proof of the
specific charges he had made. Any
how. the American people are en-
titled to know whether they are
true or not.
II they are true, it is great ad-
minlstration scandal; if they are not
true, then that should be known.
In any event, the Dies charges
must not be ignored. AS an admin
istration official it will not be easy
for Mr.. Biddle to report that Mr.
Dies was even partly justified in his
charges. though no informed person
in Washington has the least doubt
of that
Test Seen for Biddle.
There will be pressure on Mr..
Biddle either to file away the Dies
Information and do nothing about
it. or. having investigated and found
the facts, to minimize or deny them.
How he reacts to this will be a real
test Of the Attorney General. He is
an able. agreeable, high-minded
man, but whether he has the
strength to measure up to this op-
portunity to demonstrate his caliber
remains to be seen. Certainly it
would be relief to know that the
international situation is not giving
the Communists and fellow travellers
greater opportunities than before to
crawl into governmental posts where
they can work to undermine the
American system.
An administration house cleaning
as result Of the Dies evidence
would not hurt the Administrations
1t would do it good. It would not
weaken support of the aid-to-R Russia
poncy-it would strengthen It. It