Evening star., 1945-01-09
Right to Probe Polls
Claimed by Anderson
Representative Says DR.. Gallup
Could Be Forced to Testify
By Dapid Laurence

democrat, OF New Mexico seems to
feel that the congressional committee
Of which he is chairman and which has
been investigating campaign expendi-
lures, has right to investigate public
opinion polls.
This correspondent, the other day,
pointed out that DR.. Gallup had testi-
fled voluntarily, so that there was no
constitutional infringement, but Mr.. An
derson declares that even If the witness
had not come voluntarily there was au-
thortty in the committee to carry on
such an investigation. He writes:
II would remind you that the House
resolution creating the committee au-
thorized the committee to investigate
not only expenditures of candidates, but
the use Of any other means or influence
dncluding the promise or use of patron
age) for the purpose of aiding or in
fuencing the nomination or election Of
any such candidates. There were many
people who felt that the Gallup poll
had been used in an attempt to inf1u-
ence both the 1910 and the 1914 elec-
tions and we did, therefore, have the
authority under the resolution to In
vestigate that charge"
1t has been generally held In the past
that where Congress had no right to
legislate, it had no right to investigate.
The first amendment to the Constitu-
ton declares that Congress shall make
no law abridging = . the freedom Of
speech or of the press"
Precedent Involved.
MIR. Anderson draws a distinction be-
tween opinion articles in newspapers
and those which represent themselves
as scientific in their origin. There is
no such distinction in the court deci-
sions concerning freedom OF speech and
it would be sorry day for America II
any governmental agency or congress
sional committee should attempt to set
up rule of law differentiating between
expressions of opinion in newspapers or
dispatches reporting news or versions
OF news, whether or not scientifically
gathered.
A public opinion poll is no different
from any other piece of news that ap-
pears in the reading columns of the
newspapers. For decades there have
been public opinion polls and straw
votes, and while the accuracy or in
accuracy of these may have been ques-
toned from time to time by readers,
there has never been an attempt to ex-
ercise disciplinary power by investigat-
ing machinery or by legislation. very
important precedent would be involved
because If Congress had authority over
public opinion polls it could likewise
claim authority over everything else ap-
| pearing in the news columns.
Perhaps the best statement of the
| case against congressional interference
with newspapers and those who write
| for them is contained in an article
written by I. F. Stone, one of the edi.
| tors of PM, liberal newspaper. Mr.
Stone recently wrote:
To permit a committee of Congress
to subpoena the records and sponsor:
of a radio commentator is to establish
precedent fraught with the gravest
of dangers to free speech in America.
1t Is to establish a weapon which can
be used under many and diverse cir
cumstances to punish and pillory critics
OF any agency of the Government,
whether congressional or executive"
The incident arose when the Dies
Committee had subpoenaed the radio
script and records of a commentator
| and had summoned for questioning
| the officers of the network over which
| the comments were broadcast The
| principle is just the same in the pres.
| ent instance.
Poll Influence Doubted.
/ What is difficult to understand, how.
| ever, is the sudden interest of a con.
| gressional committee in public opinion
| polls and the attempt to satisfy thos
| people who, knowing very little abou
/ scientific polls, got the impression tina
because the poll turned out a certain
| way 1t was being used to inf1uenc,
| votes in that direction. Actually tn
Gallup poll, for instance, underesti
mated the Republican congressional
| strength in 1912, and by the same kint
| of logic the Republicans should hav
instituted an investigation to find ou
| why their real strength was not re-
| dected in that poll.
1t would appear doubtful whethe,
| any public opinion polls actually in.
f1uence election results to the exten
that is claimed by those persons wht
| dislike the polls. Certainly during the
| last election the underestimation o.
| Roosevelt strength did not deter tn,
Roosevelt campaign committees from
| working even harder to achieve tn,
| victory, and it is difficult to see how
| an election which resulted in 432 elec.
| toral votes for Mr.. Roosevelt to 80 fol
| Mr.. Dewey could have been seriously
| affected by the small margin of errol
noted in any of the public opinion
| polls.
1t may even be that the underesti.
mate of the Democratic strength coule
have had a salutary influence on tn,
Democratic campaign, for, If polls hav,
| as much influence as Is now claimed
| then the Republicans were evidently
lulled into inaction by the overestimat.
OF their strength given in the publ,
opinion polls. And that Is something
the Democrats ought to be glad about
instead of complaining now about the
fact that one of the polls gave Roose-
velt Sis per cent instead of 53.7 pei
| cent.
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