Evening star., 1943-04-24
The Political Mill
House Action Against 'Subversive' OfficioIs
Is Reverse Of New DeoFs Purge Attempt

ations of the House are the re-
verse OF the purge" started
in 1888 by the administration
against conservative, anti-New
Deal Democratic members OF
Congress. Indeed, the New Deal
ers undertook to beat Represent
ative Howard Smith of Virginia
with DR.. Dodd, in a Democratic
primary in the 9th congressional
district, but failed signally.
The definition of "subversive
activity" by the House commit
tee becomes of immediate impor-
tance, since it is to be the meas
ure by which the accused Gov
ernment officials are to be judged.
The committee had to write its
own definition. Subversive &C
tivity has not been defined by the
courts or by Congress. This is
what the committee wrote:
"Subversive activity in this
country derives from conduct in
tentionally destructive Of or in
imical to the Government Of the
United States-that which seeks
to undermine its institutions, or
to distort its functions, or to
impede its projects, or to lessen
its efforts, the ultimate end being
to overturn it all. Such activity
may be open and direct as by
effort to overthrow, or subtle and
indirect as by sabotage"
Should Not Act Hastily.
"The ultimate end being to
overturn 1t all" is the key to the
definition. No one who wishes to
overturn the Government OF the
United States should be employed
as a Government official.
In its report to the House the
Appropriation Committee main
tanned that both DR.. Watson and
DR.. Dodd had associated them
selves with front organizations"
so designated by the Department
of Justice. Further, they had
written or lectured for such Or
ganizations.
The House committee and the
House itself would make serious
mistake and do great injustice If
it acted without the fullest in
formation and substantial proof
that a Government official was
guilty of subversive activity"
1t must be more than mere
criticism of American institu-
tions. How many people, when
they disagree with Congress .or
with the Chief Executive, said,
that either or both represent the
lowest form of human activity
or words to that effect? These
critics, however, are attacking
Congress or the President as in
dividuals, not as parts of the
Government.
Drive on Against Wilkie.
Speaking of "purges," there is
a drive from some sources an
tagonistic to Wendell L. Willkie
to make it appear he is not want
ed for the Republican presidential
nomination next year. First, the
Fort Wayne News-Sentinel car
ried on a poll of 1000 Republican
precinct committeeman in an
effort to prove Mr.. Willkie un-
acceptable. One thousand an
swered and only 50 favored Mr..
Willkie. The rest had other pref
erences. How the other 5000
feel is not disclosed.
Now, the Republican members
OF the Illinois House of Repre-
sentatives have been polled on
whether they want Mr.. Willkie
or not. The report is that that
they voted SO to 6 against the
1910 standard bearer.
Mr.. Willkie has not been strong
with the Republican politicians
IN the Middle West since he came
out strongly for cooperation
with the British and other ma
tons fighting the Axis, soon after
the 1910 elections. In those elec-
lions, however. he did carry Indi-
ana and cut the Roosevelt plu-
rallty In Illinois way down.