Evening star., 1947-11-01
Practical Way 10 End
Red Threat in u. ).
Troubles Committee
Bills to Outflow Communist
Party Liked by Amateurs;
Opposed by FBI Chief
Bv Doris Heeson

The critical phase of the House
Un-American Activities Committees
work starts now with the hunt for
practical legislative solutions for the
American Communist threat-solu-
tions that will not damage civil lib
critics.
Two bills are before the commit
tee to outlaw the Communist Party,
an obvious and seemingly simple de-
vice much favored by amateurs.
This technique, however, is privately
but very firmly opposed by the mas
ter manhunter, j. Edgar Hoover.
Mr.. Hoover says feelingly to friends
that it would make the FBI's work
ten times as hard by driving the
party underground. Communists,
he thinks, are hard enough to find
when it's legal to be one.
AS policy is the Attorney Gen.
erals province, Mr.. Hoover ducked
one committee effort to get his
views. It is hardly to be supposed,
however, that the FBI boss, the
greatest legend of them all, to-
whom Congress never says no, will
not be a factor in the committees
deliberations.
Another Solution Offered.
The Presidents Committee on
Civil Rights has offered another So
luton: Systematic registration pro-
cedures for all groups which attempt
to influence public opinion. Some
wise politicos think 1t would be
smart of the highly controversial
House committee to adopt this rec
ommendation of the impeccable
Charles E. Wilson of General Elec-
trio and his colleagues who did the
excellent civil-rights job for the
President.
In what was for them an oddly
lethargic session the committee
finally ended, by adjournment, some
of the fashiest brawling in the long
history of congressional investiga-
tions. Hollywood has "had it"
Unlike the equally sensational
Hughes hearings which broke up IN
an immense clatter of klieg lights,
impromptu press conferences, back
slapping and carnival high jtnks, the
un-American Committees malt
found it's participants IN SOBER,
thoughtful mood. Except for a few
extremists at each end, the gallery
of press, lawyers and interested by
ISLANDERS seemed to realize that here
were delicate issues that had been
brutally manhandled and that 1t IS
going to be difficult to find the mid
die way.
Most Capitol veterans who nave
watched the stormy committee from
its horrid beginnings under Martin
Dies found room for gratitude In
present improvements in committee
procedure. Mr.. Dies was genuinely
cavalier; he summoned witnesses to
his Texas farm for examination
and wrote Official reports which the
rest of the committee saw for the
first time in the newspapers. These
later hearings were Importantly
staged with every news facility pres
ent so that Americans can see and
Judge for themselves between &C
cused and accuser. The committee
staff, except the chief inquisltor,
Stripping, is now drawn exclusively
from the trained, responsible FB1
forces.
Lacks Men of Stature.
The principal trouble with the
committee Is that it lacks men OF
stature. With the exception of Karl
Mundt, now absorbed in foreign
policy. there is no member OF 1t
who has broad information, large
experience, intellectual interests, a
social conscience tested by time.
Contrary to the Communist yelps,
there are such men in Congress.
But they prefer the great permanent
committees where they can help
their constituents advance causes,
WELD great power within the House
itself. Being human, they also pre-
fer to duck a committee where the
mudslinging is two-way street.
Nobody has yet got anything but
n debatable reputation out of service
on Un-American Activities. So 1t
falls to the small-bores, Including
the one-man white supremacy bloc.
Rankin Of Mississippi. MIR. Rankin
has helped the current hearings by
staying away, but 1t is a favor that
may yet cost the country dear.
He Is using the time to campaign
for the late unlamented Blbo's
Senate seat.
(Released by the Bell Syndicate, 1nc)