Evening star., 1942-03-30
Wallace
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Wallace
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said they had been identified with
Communist front organizations.
Mr.. Dies devoted three pages of
his letter to Maurice Parmelee, S.
600, principal economist of the board
who was said to advocate "the wide
spread practice of nudism in this
country" and to tie his philosophy
of nudism up with his ideas of eco
nomicS."
HE does not offer it in the form
diversion or fad," Mr.. Dies wrote,
but quite seriously declares it
should be practiced whenever
feasible in Office, workshop and fac
tory The author processes to be-
lieve that nudlsm has the greatest
advantages for the home and for
society generally"
Mentions Eight Others.
Mr.. Parmelee, Representative Dies
said, was affiliated with the Com
munist-controlled American League
for Peace and Democracy" along
with the eight colleagues on the
board whom he named as follows:
C. Hartley Grattan, economic
analyst, receiving $500 annually;
T. A Bison, principal economic
analyst, $500; Kendall Foss, princi-
pal analyst, $500; Sigmund Tim
berg, principal analyst, S. 600; David
B. Vaughan, head administrative
officer, $4,000; Abe M. Draisner, as
sistant intelligence analyst, $4,000;
Eugene Staley, consultant (no SAL
ary named); Nathaniel Weyl, senior
economic analyst, $4,000.
Defends Economists Record.
Mr.. Wallace Immediately issued
statement in.reply to what he called
Mr.. Dies "open letter." saying that
Mr.. Parmelee had been employed
bacause of responsible work which
he did in London on blockade con-
troll for the United States War
Trade Board during the last war"
and defending his Government serv-
ice and his record as sociologist.
Mr.. Dies has twisted few iso-
lated facts in an effort to create the
impression that the Board of Eco
nomic Warfare is planning a nudist
poSt-World War for the United
States" Mr.. Wallace said. In
hi would y,ookn him
the laughingstock of the country.
In these days of crisis and tension,
however, we cannot tolerate dellb-
crate and dishonest efforts to con-
fuse the public. These are the most
critical times in our history. Every
thing we treasure is at stake.
1T is the solemn duty of all pa
triotie citizens to fight the enemy
within our gates who hide under
many cloaks, the most insidlous
of which is false patriotism. Any
man who seeks to undermine faith
in our Government by a malicious
misuse of isolated facts is a greater
danger to our national safety than
thousands of Axis soldiers within
our borders. Hitler and the JapS
know that better than anyone else.
We Americans must face the i'm
plications of this ugly truth.
Sees Itch for Publicity
"I trust that Mr.. Dies and others
of his kind with an intense itch
for publicity will use their great tai
ents to help the United NaionS to
win his war, rather than stir up dis
cord among patriotic Americans"
The letter signed by Mr.. Dies re-
called that recently it became my
duty to expose the Communist rec
ord" of an employe of the Office of
Facts and Figures, who resigned.
Il believe" he concluded, that
the American people will now well
come numerous resignations-or dis
missals-from the staff of the
Board of Economic Warfare. I am
sure that you will unhesitatingly
agree that the interests of national
unity would be furthered thereby"
ParmeIee Won't Comment.
Mr.. Parmelee said this morning
that he had mo comment" on the
case.
I've been instructed to refer any
one who calls to the proper authori-
ties of the board" he added. Asked
who this might be, he suggested
William Hillman, in charge of pub,
licity, but that official was not i'm
mediately available.
Mr.. Grattan, one OF the best
known members of the group, re-
piled emphatically none whatever
when asked if he had any comment
on the case.
The Board of Economic Warfare,
In addition to planning for postwar
economic reconstruction, administers
the export control laws and deals
with the acquisition and disposition
of materials from foreign countries,
international investments and sim
liar matters.
1t was established by an executive
order last July as the Economic
Defense BZlrd. In addition to Mr..
Wallace, the board is composed of
Secretary of State Hull, Treasury
Secretary Morgenthau, War Secre-
tary Stimson and Attorney General
Biddle, with Milo Perkins, former
Agriculture Department official, as
executive director.