Evening star., 1948-06-05
Text of Trun1on's Address in Chicago

ms Address in {
| They are being given temporary
shelter by the International Refugee
Organization. The United States is,
as it should be, the largest contrlbu-
tor to this organization. But the
present arrangement offers no per-
manent solution. These people and
their children cannot be regarded
indefinitely as wards OF interna-
tional charity. We must help them
to become self-supporting. We must
not 60 on maintaining this barren,
fruitless life for people who want to
work and who are qualified to work.
They are young. Most OF them are
skilled workers. Their skills are
badly needed in every country. in
cMding our own. They must be given
an opportunity to settle in perma-
nent homes and live like human be-
ings, so they can make their full
contribution to society as useful cit
liens.
This is not solely an American
problem. 1t is world problem. But
we must do our part. Other nations
have already provided homes for
some OF the displaced persons, but
there is no prospect that all of them
will be able to get new start in
life unless the United States accepts
its fair share.
have repeatedly asked the. Con-
gress to permit substantial number
of displaced persons to enter this
country as immigrants. Some of the
Legislation for this purposes which
the Congress Is considering sets
limits and quotas on countries and
occupations. These are Gripping
amendments. They work unfair dis
Termination againstDtgreaps, which
are already represented In this
country and which have helped to
make it great.
| hope that the Congress will soon
enact displaced persons legislation,
! and enact it without any qualif1ca-
tions which would depart from our
established American principles.
I would remind the members of
Congress that it is not they who are
waiting, nor 1 who am waiting, but
young people and little children
whose hope for life of freedom and
equality is getting DINNER with
every day that passes.
Freedom and equality are among
the greatest of human aspirations.
They are universal to all mankind,
but they have their greatest fulfill
ment in our own country. To Ameri-
cans, they will never be remote
ideals, but something we work for
and are close to every day.
Americans rightly expect that
their Federal Government will be
a friendly, vigilant protector of
those ideals. This is primary duty
of government, which I, for one,
accept gladly. To discharge this duty
requires each of us to defend the
integrity of our ideals against all
who would alter or weaken them,
whether from within the country
or from without. whether the harm
comes from willful destruction or
from misguided enthusiasm.
Attack on Our Ideals.
The American people are rightly
concerned these days about the at
tack on our ideals by international
communism. There has been a great
deal of discussion on this subject
throughout the country, and recent
ly We have been hearing some
people say that the way to avoid
the danger of communism in the
United States is to pass a lava
law, for example, to check certain
kinds of political activity. Some peo-
pie think you can combat commu-
nism by outlawing the Communist
Party.
1t seems to me that such proposals
miss the point.
You cannot stop the spread of an
idea by passing a law against it.
You cannot stamp out communism
by driving it underground.
But you can prevent communism
by more and better democracy.
AS far as the United States is con-
cerned, the menace of communism
is not the activities of a few foreign
agents or the political activities Of
few isolated individuals. The men
ace of communism lies primarily in
those areas of American life where
the promise OF democracy remains
unfulfilled.
Invitation to Communism.
If some of our people are living
in slum housing, and nothing is
done about it. that is an invitation
to communism.
If some of our people are forced
to work at substandard wages, and
nothing is done about it, that is an
invitation to communism.
If some of our people are arbi-
trarily denied the right to vote or
deprived of other basic rights, and
nothing is done about it. that is an
invitation to communism.
If some of our people do not have
proper medical care, or opportuni-
ties for a good education, or ade-
quate assistance in time of sickness
or unemployment, or old age, and
nothing is done about it, that Is an
invitation to communism.
And finally, If high prices are de-
priving some of our people of the
necessities of life. and nothing Is
done about it, that is an invitation
! to communism. -..
Communism succeeds only when
there is weakness, or misery, OF
despair. 1t cannot succeed IN q
strong and healthy society. The ma
tions Of Western Europe, with our
help. have checked the spread OF
communism by working together to
build up their economies, improve