Evening star., 1941-07-26

VI Dt OStl IOOhtu.
Thus Senator David Lawrence.
Wheeler can be eXonerated of any
intention to stir up the troops, be-
cause he did not send them any
letters as members of the armed
forces but only incidentally as they
happened to be on a mailing list of
million miscellaneous names. Any
body who has had experience with
mailing lists knows how difficult 1t
is to tell without expensive check
Ing and double checking just who
is on such list. The fact that
few soldiers got the postcards is not
a reason for suggesting that the
Montana Senator deliberately tried
to do something subversive.
1t is true that soldiers have no
right to address members of Con-
gresS while in the service and that
1t is dangerous business for anybody
to tamper with the morale of the
troops. but it is also true that impet-
uous accusations about those who
disagree with us are not conducive
to good temper in a democracy.
The fact that the Montana Sena-
tor usec his own franking privilege
to mail out letters on a piece of
pending legislation introduces moth
ing new. 1t has been the custom for
many years for Senators and Repre-
sentatives to mail millions of letters
to voters urging them to write to
Congress or to others in the Govern
ment on controversial questions. To
hold Senator Wheeler guilty of sub
versive activity because he used the
franking privilege to oppose the ad-
ministration foreign policy is mere
ly to allow feeling to get the better
of Judgment.
Not Anything Serious.
AS for Government Official using
the Government own money to in
f1uence Congress, it will be recalled
that few months ago the chairman
of the National Labor Relations
Board, J. Warren Madden, admitted
in testimony before the Smith In
vestigating Committee of the House
of Representatives that although it
was violation of Federal statutes to
use Government money to influence
Federal legislation, he thought the
end justified the means. When the
matter was drawn to the attention
of the Attorney General for prose-
cution by Representative Smith.
Democrat, of Virginia, the issue was
ignored and not long afterwards Mr..
Madden was rewarded by President
Roosevelt with a lifetime position
As United States judge on the Court
of Claims
So it evidently isn't anything Seri-
Gus for Government officials, especi-
ally members of the New Deal, to go
so far as even to violate Federal laws
In order to stir up propaganda
against Federal legislation. In the
case of the Labor Board, the men,
bers were fighting against amend
ments to the law which created the
Board and they defended their ac-
ton on the ground that they were
fighting for the life of the Board
itself. They also acquiesced in the
efforts made by former Labor Board
employees to stir up the unions which
had cases then pending before the
Board so as TO get their lobbying
help by telegraph or letter in bring
Ing pressure on Congress.
Just now Senator Wheelers posi-
tion on war issues is unpopular. This
correspondent thinks he is mistaken
in his views, but this has nothing
to do with the right of Senator
Wheeler TO mail a million postcards
or 10 million cards to any citizens
and urge them to oppose pending
legislation. Senator La Toilette of
Wisconsin made himself thoroughly
unpopular in 1917 by his opposition
to the Wilson administration and
he was bitterly attacked, but in the
POSITIVE years he regained his pop
ularity because it was evident he
was motivated by deep conviction,
and he polled 1922 900 votes in 1924
on third-party ticket for President
with Senator Wheeler as vice presi-
Dental nominee. In that same year
John w. Davis, Democratic NOM
inee, polled 83860OO votes.
Injustice to Wheeler.
The Army regulations forbid SOL
diers from complaining to Congress.
This is necessary in the interest of
discipline, but it would be tragic
II the troops were to be cut off from
making protests about conditions in
Army camps or similar matters
through letters to their friends or
relatives. 1t would be tragic, too, If
members Of Congress were intimi-
dated against keeping in touch with
what is going on in Army camps.
1t would appear that the response
bilitv of Congress to the troops in
the ield is even greater in abnormal
than in normal times.
The cause of national unity and
especially the crusade for the four
freedoms" will make more progress
in an era of tolerance than intol-
erance. 1t is hard to sit by and
allow freedom of speech to oppo-
nents. especially in time of crisis,
but 1t was Justice Oliver Wendell
Holmes who defined freedom of
speech as freedom for the thought
we hate In a famous Supreme
Court opinion, it was also declared
that no more pernicious evil could
be conceived of in the field of Gov
ernment than to suspend the con-
stitutional guarantees of the citizen
on the ground Of expediency Sena-
tor Wheeler did not deliberately stir
I'm the troops to send protests. A