Evening star., 1946-11-08
The Right to a Day in Court

hS night ~ d Lay HI NouTt
To the Editor CT The Star:
While was out of Washington on a
trip that took several days, you carried
on your editorial page letter from
Hollister Wardwell, of Arundel, Nd
who said: How does 1t happen that
your columnist, Harold L. Ickes, who
recently has taken issue with the Com
munists and their fellow travellers on a
number of important issues. hops on the
band wagon again to indorse the New
York meeting OF the Civil Rights Con-
gress, which now is defending the
rights of the Communist Party in an
action before the New York State
courts 20"
I do not see any inconsistency here
nor do understand how an American
citizen who believes in the Constitution
could see any. One does not have to
be Communist to insist upon the
right of all, including Communists, to
have the courts pass upon issues that
may be raised with respect to them. To
deny the right of day in court to any
one, be he Communist, murderer, or
even befuddled citizen, would be con-
trary to real Americanism. This coun-
try will be safe so long as all of our
troubles and differences may be taken
freely and openly into court for legal
determination. To deny to any one
even If we regard him as a moral leper-
the opportunity either to defend himself
in court or to repair thither to demand
justice, would be taking first, and a
regrettable, step on the road to tyranny
and the suppression OF constitutional
and human rights.
HAROLD L. ICKES.
Interprets MIR. Dugan's Victory
To the Editor of The Star:
The victory Of Daniel A. Dugan in the
County Board election last Tuesday was
victory for nonpartisan local elections
and reputation of machine con-
troll OF Arlington's government. An
analysis of the vote reveals that the nom
partisan candidate was supported by
considerable numbers of Democrats and
Republicans as well as independents.
1t showed that the citizens definitely
intend to break up the system of party
nominations for local offices which keeps
our large Federal employe population
from having an active voice in local gov
ernment-a system that has resulted in
the county government dispensing spe-
cial favors to small minority of real
estate spectators and absentee land
lords while starving essential services
such as schools, roads and streets,
garbage and trash disposal, etc.
am sure that the election was in no
sense disavowal of the progressive
pelicies advocated by the incumbent,
Edmund Campbell, during his term of
Office, since Mr.. Dugan ran on pro-
gressive platform. Mr.. Campbell was in
a very real sense the scapegoat for the
reactionary policies pursued by the
machine that controls the Democratic
Party in Arlington, and feel certain
that it was only Mr.. Campbell's per-
sonal popularity that made the County
Board race in any sense real contest.
The voters in Arlington should get ready
for a housecleaning in 1947 of the
machine" oficeholders who are really
responsible for the lack of progress in
Arlington.
Your newspaper has editorially stated,
as interpret it, that Mr.. Campbell was
defeated because the people were dissat-
isfied with his attempts to make the
Democratic Party progressive in Arling-
ton This statement is in line with your
previous contention that there is no
machine in Virginia. We invite Mr..
Campbell to join our progressive nom
partisan group to which he so obviously
belongs HARLEY M. WILLIAMS,
Chairman, Dugan Campaign Commit
tee, Arlington Nonpartisan Com
rnittee.