Evening star., 1948-04-27
Liberal Rally Hears
Marcantonio Plea 10
Beat Red Control Bill

Representatives OF approximately
IS liberal" organizations met today
at the willard Hotel. invited by 10
members Of Congress to discuss
methods Of defeating legislation, re-
Gently proposed by the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activities,
to control Communists.
They heard speeches against the
legislation as described in the House
committees report and received a
promise from the legislators that
they would be kept informed OF
developments.
The measure would require regis
tration Of Communists and their
front organizations, and establish
severe criminal penalties for per-
sons seeking to overthrow the Gov
ernment or by any means to SUBJ
vert it to = Communist power
abroad.
MarcantoniO Calls 1t FaScism.
The group applauded as Repre-
sentative Marcantonio, American
Labor Party, OF New York called the
proposed bill "an attempt to legis-
late fasciSm."
Mr.. Marcantonio, who said the
House committee wanted Ito put the
Bill OF Rights on the shelf" spear
headed the attack on the legislative
proposal. backed by q battery Of
congressional colleagues.
There Is no such thing Is COM
munism when people are happy"
said Representative Sadowski, Dem
ocrat, Of Michigan who added he
was 4 Catholic rather than q Com
munist but would join with any
body and everybody" TO tight the
House committee.
Representative Isacson, American
Labor Party, OF New York said the
proposed legislation was aimed at
all opposition to the policies of the
present administration" Like Mr..
Marcantonio, he asserted it would
make illegal all divergencies from
the ADMINISTRATORS foreign policy.
Klein States Opposition.
Representative Klein, Democrat,
OF New York said he wanted It
understood that mot all Of us at
this table think alike" But, he
said, he was united with the others
in opposition to the House commit
tees proposals.
Representative Holineld, Demo-
crat. Of California said he had not
read the report on the proposed bill.
but added: II cannot conceive Of
any good bill coming out Of this
committee"
Among those attending the meet
ing in the Willard's cabinet room
were DR.. Edward X. Barsky, chair
man Of the Joint Anti-Fascist Reg
usee Committee, who was convicted
in District Court last year Of con-
tempt Of the House committee and
still is in the process Of appealing
his case, and Mrs. Carol King, q
lawyer, who unsuccessfully defended
Gerhard Eisler, reputed No. Krem-
lin agent here. against . similar
charge.
Wallace Treasurer Present.
DR.. Harlow Shapley, director of
the Harvard University Observatory,
was present, as was Clark Foreman,
chairman Of the Southern Confer
ence for Human Welfare and treas
urer of the National Wallace Com
mittee. Other congressional spon-
sors OF the meeting who made brief
statements were Representatives
SABBATH, Democrat, OF Illinois. and
Powell, Democrat, Of New York.
Representative Blatnik, Democrat,
Of Minnesota was chairman during
the discussion.
The telegram inviting organiza-
tions to send representatives to the
meeting also was signed by Repre-
sentative Celler, Democrat, of New
York, and Granger, Democrat, of
Utah, and Senator Taylor Of Idaho,
who recently bolted the Democratic
Party to become Henry Wallaces
running mate next Noyen,her