Evening star., 1942-03-04
Dies
Continued From First ,Page.)

with Mr. Eliot. When he finished
his lengthy speech, nearly all of the
more than 300 House members on
the House floor stood and ap-
plauded. s..
At one point. Representative Ran
kin, Democrat, of Mississippi in
terrupted:
The gentleman from Massachu-
sets started this fight by going
out and attacking the Dies Com
mittee. Now at least take your
medicine"
The most dramatic episode came,
however, when Representative Col
mer, Democrat, of Mississippi asked
Mr.. Eliot why he had waited a week
before correcting the newspaper
stories of his attack on the Dies
Committee.
II think I should say to the gen.
tleman first, no week has elapsed"
declared Mr.. Eliot. And in the
second place, I did not know such
thin skins were possessed, and I
would like to read"
Il yield no further than that
retorted Mr. Dies, pointing a finger
at Mr.. Eliot. When you say thin
skins let me say to you that state
mentS such as you made, if you
made them, calling member of
the House a liar is no small matter.
1 have seen lying press re-
porters. Not majority, but some
of them, deliberately diStort the
facts and do all in their power to
undermine the confidence of the
American people in this body and in
this hour. Let me say to the gen.
tleman that whether he serves here
a long time or short time, the first
thing to learn is to love and respect
the members of this House"
Many House members arose and
applauded Mr.. Dies when he COM
pleted this statement.
Mr.. Dies read to the House an
exchange of correspondence between
himself and Attorney General Biddle
with respect to evidence the COM
mittee had uncovered about jap
anese fifth column activities and
declared he had worked assiduously
to cooperate with Government
agencies-particularly the F. B. I.
and the Army and Navy Intelli-
gence. He admitted, however, the
committee did not 90 through its
plans for hearings on the Japanese
fifth column activities because the
Attorney General had represented"
to him that the President and Sec
retary of State Hull were strongly
opposed"
Tn Difference to their Wishes" he
said, I'VE Cancelled the proposed
hearings"
Fascist Evidence Assembled.
Mr. Dies said the committee had
assembled over many months docu-
ments and evidence with reference
to Fascist activities which are now
at the Government Printing Office
In few days." he said, this COM
mittee will give to the American
people the result of our investigation
over period of years with reference
to Fascist activities"
Representative Coffee, Democrat,
of Washington, interrupted to say
that many people had been inquir-
ing of him why Father Coughlin's
had not been investi-
gated"
The answer to that" Mr.. Dies re-
piled, lis that Father Coughlin's Or
ganization has been investigated.
We have in our files evidence with |
reference to him and to other char
acters. Now, do you know what they
are complaining about? Let me give
you the facts.
I'VE had number Of letters urg-
ing us to bring Father Coughlin
to Washington and subject him to
questioning.
Il always suspect that those who
were urging that were those who
wanted to advertise Father Cough
lin. We also had letters demanding
that Gerald Winrod, Baptist
preacher. who has been anti