Evening star., 1947-10-26
Pepper and Rankin
Debate Film Inquiry
In Radio Broadcast
8y the Associcfed Press

: NEW YORK, Oct. Ex-senator
Pepper, Democrat, of Florida said
tonight the House Committee on
Un-American Activities investiga-
ton of Hollywood is censorship in
violation of the Bill of Rights, and
Representative Rankin, Democrat.
of Mississippi, member of the COM
mittee, replied that the criticism
comes with poor grace" from a
Senator.
"If censorship begins with the
movies it will next reach the press,
the radio, the painter, the musician
and, In time, the pulpit" Senator
Pepper said in Mutual Broadcast
ing System radio broadcast from
here.
Going on the air at "McComb,
Miss, Immediately after Senator
Peppers broadcast, and on the same
program. Mr.. Rankin said civil lib
critics guarantees do not give the
right to any one to plot to over
throw our Government or attempt
to spread communism or any other
ism to our destruction"
Sees Comfort" to Enemies.
He said the committee is render
ing a great service ''by exposing the
enemies within our gates and it
comes with poor grace for United
States Senator to be giving them
aid and comfort by criticizing the
committee"
Calling the investigation a witch
hunt" Senator Pepper said the dan
ger OF such investigations comes
from the fact that they stifle the
American genius for growth and
development. They attempt to pro-
duce safe and even pusillanimous
conformity to a stereotype of medi-
ocrity dictated by some self -consti-
tuted censor"
He said the First Amendment for
bids laws censoring In advance and
also laws imposing subsequent
punishment" and added:
Fear of punishment whether
through imprisonment or through
congressional committee defamation,
can and does result in a silencing
Of those who have a right to speak
out"
Says Facts Are Sought.
Mr.. Rankin replied that so far
as attempting to prosecute any one,
there is not a word of truth to it.
The committee has done all possible
to get at the facts. And those who
squawk the loudest always seem to
be those who are later convicted"
Sentaor Pepper said witnesses
were permitted to testify to hear
say and third-hand information"
unadmissible in any court of law,
under the cloak of congressional
Immunity" and some of those dam
aged may never get chance to
defend themselves"
I'VE have right to investigate
the activities of those Communists
who are trying to spread propa-
.ganda through the moving pictures"
Mr., Rankin replied.
Communism Is the greatest
menace our civilization has ever
known and any one who attempts to
spread it in this country is an
enemy of our Government and
ought to be dealt with as SUCH"
Bogge Supports Pepper.
Earlier. today, former Assistant
Attorney General o. John Rogge
said that Hollywood figures should
refuse to appear before the COM
mittee.
Speaking at conference On cul-
tural freedom and civil liberties
sponsored by the National Arts,
Sciences and Professions Council of
the Progressive Citizens Of America,
Mr.. Rogge said MY advice to our
Hollywood friends and to all others
is not to appear at ALL
He declared that Senator Pepper
"did not go far enough when he
advised Hollywood artists and
writer's to appear but to answer no
questions pertaining to their private
political beliefs or ideas"
I'm my opinion" he said, "The
House committee is unconstitutional.
1t violates not only the First Amend
ment, but the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth
and Tenth Amendments as we'll.
And in my opinion, no one need
appear and testify before such an
unauthorized and unconstitutional
e