The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1941-09-18
(By Staff Writer)

WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept. 1t
Government circles here ar
still buzzing with talk about tn
charges of Martin Dies, Chairman
of the house committee on un
American activities, in which h
accused Leon Henderson, head
of the Office of Price Admins
tration and Civilian Supply, O.
communistic sympathies and at
filiations.
M. Henderson's office has beer
given broad powers to fix price:
and regulate the distribution Of
goods-powers which would moi
be given to the government ex-
cept for the emergency and the
problems of the defense program
Many here recognize that the po-
wers given to Mr.. Henderson's
office, although necessary for the
present, are basically opposed to
our democratic way of living.
Therefore any hint that the head
of this office may have commu-
nistic leanings, whether true or
not, is frightening to those who
already fear the control that this
office has over business.
In his charges Mr.. Dies said:
'Leon Henderson has surround
ed himself with highly paid as
sistants who are, by their own
public records, strangers to the
American way. The committee of
which I have the honor to be
chairman has learned that COM
munists specialize in the penetra-
ton of government agencies
wherever there is a lack of vigi-
lance against their Trojan horse
tactics.
81 submit that the fasts Whish
I have presented herewith in the
form of undisputed documents are
enough to bring about the imme-
diate severance from the govern
ment's payroll of Leon Hender-
son, Robert A. Brady, Tom Tip
petit, Dewey H. Palmer, Mildred
Edie Brady and E. J. Lever.
eff and when these persons are
removed from their respective po-
sitions, I shall be glad to co-ope-
rate with the administration in
bringing to light simila facts con-
corning other employees of
OPACS, to the end that this coun-
try may be defended against its
enemies within as we'll as with
out"
Henderson Denies It
Henderson has fatty denied he
is a communist or would employ
any communist.
Many congressman here believe
that Mr.. Dies charges will final
ly bring about a showdown on
the rumors of communists in our
government which have been
heard periodically for several
years. Many Of the charges in the
past have come from Mr.. Dies Of
flee, but never before has he di-
rectly accused a man in a position
as important as Mr.. Henderson's,
whom this column has referred to
as one of the toughest jobs in
Washington.
It is believed that the results of
investigation Of these charges will
result in one of two things: CD a
cleanup of communistic sympa-
thizers in the government, or (2)
termination of Mr.. Dies ectivi-
ties. In other words, if the charges
should be found to have some
foundation. Mr.. Dies will have
such strong backing of public
opinion that every charge he
makes will be acted upon, but if
the charges are found to be with
out foundation, he will be con-
sidered merely an alarmist and no
one will listen to him.
The danger of anti-American
activities in our government at a
time when the government is
spending billions to preserve de-
mocratic government at any cost
is danger which cannot be
passed over lightly. The President
has made it clear that we will go
to war if necessary to preserve
democracy and congress is in no
mood to permit any threats to our
form of government from within.
Begin Tax Paying Now
By the end of the month the
new tax bill will become law and
the people of this country will be-
gin paying the largest taxes they
have ever paid. It is expected that
the bill will be rushed through
since pressure is being brought on
congress by the people to let them
know right now what their tax
payments are going to be next