Evening star., 1948-09-29
DemoeracyProgram
Fell Short, Witnesses
In FSA Fight Concede
By Don S. Worren

Principal figures in the dispute
over the control of the United
States ONCE of Education today
seemed agreed its $150,000 pro-de-
mocracy, anti-Communist program
had fallen short of expectations.
At the same time it was indicated
something would be done to step up
the Zeal for American Democracy
program, for which the fund was
granted last fiscal year, plus a like
amount for this year.
Hearings on issues between the
Federal Security Administration
and its Education Office. were ad-
journed indefinitely yesterday by
Chairman Ferguson.
DR.. John w. Studebaker for IA
years commissioner of education
who resigned last July in protest
against censorship and centralized
controls" by FSA officials had pro-
tested the program had been ham
pered" by FSA interference.
Ewing Denies Censorship.
FSA Administrator Oscar r. Ew-
ing. sharply denied charges of cen
sorship and political partisanship,"
but he, too, in the end. voiced deep
concern" over the program.
At the close of the hearings. Mr..
Ewing agreed that at least one of
the key officials at the Office of Edu-
cation seemed to be badly confused"
over policies, and voiced determ-
ination to get Strengthened out" in
the matter.
Mr.. Ewing, while giving no ground
in his fight with DR.. Studebaker,
said he thinks I'VE will make some
progress" in perfecting the program.
Chairman Ferguson put it more
bluntly. After hearing thousands of
words of contradictory testimony
about the row between DR.. Stude-
baker and top FSA off1cials, he de-
clared yesterday:
II sit here grievously disappointed
at what was done with the S150,000
OF the taxpayers money that was
appropriated for this program last
year. 1 am shocked.
Are you not shocked?" he sud-
denly asked John Thurston, assist
ant FSA administrator, in charge
of program, who was on the stand.
Witness Regrets Delay.
Mr.. Thurston, who had been &C
cused of "censoring" education Of
fee zeal for democracy" material,
did not challenge Senator Fergu-
sons views. In fact, he came back
with an admission that he was
partly responsible for shortcomings
of the program.
III take some of the RESPONSE
bility," he told the investigating
group, because didn't start
needing soon enough"
AS had been expected, he denied
he had engaged in any "censoring"
of education Office data, saying he
had merely offered suggestions. F"
But he added that, although his
available time had been spread
pretty thin" he was perfectly
willing to say I should have gotten
into this program earlier"
New Data Wanted.
Several of the final witnesses were
agreed that too much Of the first
patches OF the democracy promotion
materials was only "warmed-oVer
hash" of previous speeches. There
was need for development of~neW
data, they agreed, to enlighten
American youth on the values Of
democracy and the evils of Com
munlsr1.
Mr.. Thurston agreed I'VE should
be much farther ahead but still
contended that considerable progress
had been made in the past year,
despite the controversial issues.
Underlying the fight between FSA
and it's Education ONCE was wide
spread campaign for legislation to
make the education office independ-
ent of the FSA and responsible only
to a citizens board.
Several witnesses urged this plan.
One of these was willard E. Givens,
executive secretary of the National
Association, who recalled
that NEA in its past two annual
had registered this
stand.