The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-09-23

Francis Biddle, Attorney General
OF the United States, is charged
with the task of prosecuting those
who break the laws OF the United
States. He apparently makes a dis.
tinetion between those who are pro-
New Deal and those VINO are anti
New Deal. in the instance OF Sidney
Hiilman and the p. A. c.
The Hatch Act declared, as SEN
ator Moore OF Oklahoma points out,
=. 1t 10 be unlawful for any person,
including an association, corpora-
ton, or other organization, to make
a contribution in excess OF $4,000
during any calendar year 10 any
committee or other organization
engaged In furthering, advancing
or advocating the nomination or
election OF any candidate for an
elective Federal office, including
the office OF the President OF the
United States.
Yet, Sidney Hillman admitted be-
fore a Congressional Committee,
that the Amalgamated Clothing
Workers OF America contributed
100000 to the P.A.C. this year.
Mr.. Biddle's obligation is TO bring
those apparently guilty OF violations
OF the Hatch Act into court and TO
let the courts decide whether the
language OF the Act gives them
the loopholes which they read into
II. The evasion of the Act by split
ting P.A.C. into two parts, designed
10 meet the requirements OF the
Hatch Act and other Corrupt Prac-
tees Acts, as amended zy the
Smith Connally Act, Is to obvious
to fool even Mr. Biddle.
II is true that Sidney Hillman Is
raising this money to elect Mr.
Biddle's boss to Fourth.Term and
that Mr.. Biddle has reason to hope
that the defeat of Dewey will insure
his retention OF the Attorney Cen
eralship. It Is asking a lot to de-
mand that Biddle prosecute his own
benefa ctors: yet, his job Is to see
that the law Is enforced, good law
and bad law, even law that may put
him out Of office.
The basic wrong in the New
Deal Is that 1t produces anarchy in
administration. Instead OF abiding
by the law, ways are sought and
found to bypass the law. The New
Dealers function like the old-time
wicked corporation, the head OF
which would hire a lawyer not to
tell him what was lawful or TN
lawful, but how to get around the
law so that he could do whatever
he wanted TO do. Mr.. Roosevelt
started the procession in that d.
rection by demanding and recei ling
blank checks OF power, particular
ly for the expenditures OF vast sums
without Congressional control.
When the law is abandoned by Off
Gals who are engaged to protect
II. the course OF government be-
comes anarchic. Senator Chaves OF
New Mexico once put it this way:
The time is ripe for the recti'
fication OF our course. Let us no
longer allow the Executive to In
fringe upon our constitutional HAL
date and assume our constitutional
obligations in the most chaotic NO
ments OF a world crisis"
Democratic members OF Congress,
as we'll as Republicans, have de-
nounced the avoidance OF Constitu
tional restraints and the by-passing
of laws passed by Congress by ad-
ministrative officials, but they do
nothing about 1t. For instance, dur.
ing the investigation of the FEC 2y
Eugene Carey, 1t was shown that
Commissioner Fly acted in num-
Der OF instances in violation OF he
specific intention OF Congress, but
II was Carey and not Fly who was
forced to resign, and M. Biddle
had a hand in that. The time sure