Evening star., 1946-10-03
Red Influence in u. S.
Cannot Be BeIittIed
Hoover's Speech to Legion Shows
Inroads of Communism
By David laurence


Inroads of Communism
By David Laurence
J. Edgar Hoover, as the head Of the
Federal Bureau Of Investigation, knows
what's going on IN America-hs has In
formation from his Thousands Of agents
and from other sources. 30 when he
makes . speech to the American Legion
declaring that America faces "for-
midabls foe" inside the United States
in Communism, his words attract at-
tention. What Mr.. Hoover said Is 20
important that his words are repro
duced here exactly:
During the past five years, American
Communists have made their deepest
inroads upon our national life. In our
vaunted tolerance for all peoples the
Communist has found our Achilles
heel The American Legion represents
q force which holds within it's power
the ability to expose the hypocrisy and
ruthlessness Of this foreign ism which
has crept into our national life-an ism
built and supported by dishonor, deceit,
tyranny and deliberate policy Of false
hood.
TT is q matter Of self-preservation.
The veterans who fought for America
will be among the first to suffer II the
Communists succeed In carrying out
their diabolical plots to wreck the
American way Of life. The divide and
conquer tactics did not die with Hitler
they are being employed with greater
with their boring from within strategy.
Their propaganda, skillfully designed
and adroitly executed, has been pro-
jected into practically every phase Of
our national life.
Hundreds Are Duped.
"The fact that the Communist Party
in the United States claims some 100, 900
members has 'lulled many Americans
into . feeling Of false complacency. I
would not be concerned If we were deal
ing with only 100000 Communists. The
Communists themselves boast that for
every party member there are 10 others
ready to do the partys work. These
include their satellites, their fellow
travellers and their so-called progressive
and phony liberal allies. They have
maneuvered themselves into positions
where . few Communists control the
destinies of hundreds who are either
willing to be led or have been duped
into obeying the dictates of others.
The average American workingman
IL loyal, patriotic and law-abiding. He
wants security for his family and him.
self. But in some unions the rank and
file find themselves between . Com
munist pincers, manipulated by . few
leaders who have hoodwinked and brow
beaten them into q state Of submission.
Communist labor leaders have spared
for time In their labor deliberations to
refer matters Of policy TO Communist
Party headquarters for clearance. In
fact, resolutions have been delayed
pending such approval and contem-
plated strikes have been postponed
until adequate Communist support and
backing were available.
The Communist influence has pro-
jected itself into some newspaper,
magazines, books, radio and the screen.
Some churches, schools, colleges and
even fraternal orders have bsen pene-
trsted, not with the approval Of the
rank and nle but In spite Of them.
have been pleased to observe that the
Communist attempts to penetrats the
American Legion have met With failure.
Eternal vigilance will continue TO kssp
your ranks free Of sidfty, doubls-cfoes-
ing Communist destructionists.
I'VE are rapidly reaching the TING
when loyal Americans must be Willing
to stand up and be counted. The
claims, Is not truly . political party.
The Communist Party In this country
Is not working for the general welfare
of all our people-it is working against
our people. 1t is not interested in pro-
viding for the common defense. 1t has
and its conversion to the goddess Com
munist way of life. II it were q politi-
cal party its adherents could be ap-
pealed to by reason. Instead, it is q
system of intrigue, actuated by fanati-
cism. It knows no rules Of decsncy.
Would Sell America Short.
"Its unprincipled converts would sell
America short If it would help their
cause of furthering an alien way Of life
conceived in darkness and motivated
by greed for power whose ultimate aim
Is the destruction of our cherished
freedom. Let us no longer be misled
by their sly propaganda and false
preachments on civil liberty. They
want civil license to do as they please
and, If they get control, liberty for
Americans will be but haunted MEM
ory. For those who seek to provoke
prejudice and stir up the public mind
to angry resentment against our form
of government are q menace to the
very powers of law and order which
guarantee and safeguard popular rights.
I'VE, of this generation, have faced
two great menaces in America-fascism
and communism. Both are MATERIAL
istic, both are totalitarian, both are
antireligious, both are degrading and
inhuman. In fact, they differ little
except In name. Communism has bred
fascism and fascism spawns commu-
nism. Both are the antithesis OF
American belief In liberty and freedom.
If the peoples of other countries want
communism, let them have it, but It
has no place in America.
"Tne Hitler, TOTO and Mussolini