Evening star., 1948-02-21
Legislation 10 Attack
Communist PIotters
Forecast in 7 Weeks

|f0reCdS1 IN 1 weeks
A subcommittee of the Hous,
Committee on Un-Amer1can Activ'
tiles hopes to produce, in about twt
weeks, legislation which would Civ,
law enforcement agencies a new
weapon against "the case hardened
Communist eonspirator.
AS explained by Chairman Nixor
Of the subcommittee, the group will
Itry to devise a law to make illega
the conspiracy which Is made up o1
the card-carrying practicing Com.
munists." These he distinguished
from intellectual Communists,
who may espouse the philosophy o1
the movement or even register as
Communist voters without engaging
IN active subversion.
He emphasized, however, subcom-
mittee members have not made ur
their minds finally as to the best
approach to the problem and might
decide any form of suppression is
inadvisable at this time.
Pointing out "the sentiment OF
the subcommittee has been for edu-
cation and exposure rather than
|illegalization," the California Re-
publican said recent testimony at
its public hearings has prompted
the members to give renewed con-
sideration to the possibility of max
ing illegal the activities at least
of those constituting "the hard
core of communism" in the United
States.
Step by Step Considered.
He suggested the subcommittee
may decide on a step-by step ap-
proach, leading to outlawry of the
Communist Party at later date,
when public opinion is ready for
step that drastic"
The subcommittee is awaiting a
report from Attorney General Clark
on the constitutionality and use
fulness of the Mundt bill, which
would brand the Communist Party
subversive and require registration
of its members, Mr.. Nixon said.
If the report proves adverse, he
added, the subcommittee will expect
to receive suggestions from Mr..
Clark as to what legislation should
be substituted.
I'VE feel that the responsibility
lies on him to do something more
than criticize the bill that comes
before u.s." he commented.
Mr. Nixon said he expected the
full committee to consider the sub
committees report in about two
weeks, after which he looked for
rather fast action In the House
this year."
Public Hearings Concluded.
Asked about plans to educate the
public as to the extent of the Com
munist menace, Mr.. Nixon said the
committee would "do what it could" "
He said he believes any large-scale
Government propaganda campaign
would be in the nature of an effort
toward controlling thought" and
feels the job probably could be done
better by the press, radio and mo-
ton pictures.
In winding up its public hearings
yesterday, the subcommittee heard
an official Communist Party spokes-
man declare that party members
"are patriotic Americans and refuse
to be put in category of political
suspects or second-class citizens" "
The witness, Benjamin j. Davis,
colored, member of the New York
City Council, declared
"We will not register as foreign
agents, nor in any other way that
violates the Bill of Rights and is
not required of all other political
parties. Nor will our press
submit to censorship and discrim-
inatory restrictions"
Denies Violence Advocated.
| A member of the National Com
mittee of the Communist Party, Mr.
Davis appeared in place of Will
liam z. Foster, party chief, who
4ldo OCCA4 AAAfACCo w U4lc SuDSO4A4-
mittee.
"The Communist Party is in the
forefront of every struggle waged
by the American people for peace,
for economic security, for equality
and for social progress he de-
clared.
He charged a Bipartisan war
party is rebuilding Germany and
Japan as United States-domin-
ated centers for military adventures
against the Soviet Union and the
democracies of Eastern Europe"
'The Attorney General has no
real case against the Communist
Party" Mr.. Davis argued, "for the
simple reason that my party in
principle and in practice, is not
the advocate of force and violence" )"
Spectators who crowded the hear
ing room had expected sharp ex-
changes when the husky, even
voiced witness was subjected to
questioning after completion Of his
prepared statement. They were dis
appointed, however, as he was ex-
cused without any inquiries being