The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1948-06-04
Hon. Mike Mansfield
House Office Building
aShingtOn. D. c.

surprised that you should have voted for the
Mundt-Nixon "subversive control BILL
I've read your reply several times and,
while not doubling the sincerity of your con-
viction, [ do question your logic in arriving
at that conviction.
1t is true that during the few days between
when the house un-American committee re-
ported out that bill, and its being approved
by the house as a whole, certain particularly
obnoxious sections were deleted (points and
Z of your reply) and no longer carry legal
status.
1t is also true, under the proposed admin
iStrative procedure for its enforcement, that
these most vicious provisions despite lack of
legal standing, continue to exist to harass
every liberal individual or group, every labor
union, every farm organization
That this is So from your past experience you should
know. You state that the bill provides for hear
ings being conducted by the attorney genera-that it
sets up administrative procedure for the first time
and s.. clears the air in this respect that
every accused person group has recourse to the
courts, etc
But Mike think a moment With much of the press
and radio controlled by major corporate groups what
difference does it make that finally, the accused
be completely exonerated by the courts.
AS you well know trial by the press" determines
guilt far much of the public is concerned That
this Peoples Court" should be setup giving the attOr
whether he sufficient evidence otherwise is in
itself terrific for intimidation The fear of
smear by publicity" will only hasten to silence all
voices of those honestly opposing policies gov
eminent.
By your own admission lin paragraph following
point 81 the present attorney general is given to hold
ing star chamber" sessions without the accused being
permitted his constitutional right of self defense of
being faced by his accusers. Is there any to
believe that he others like him, if it politically
advantageous would show any greater of airpay
in hailng offenders before his inquisitional tribunal
under provisions of the Mundt-Nixon bill? Aure, prob
ably 999 every hailed before him would be
cleared after due deberation by him. by the
but that is not important.
For example: supposng the AFL printers QTU)
and the Anaconda company having difficulties
determining wages and working conditions, and
big business had attorney general friendly to them
To weaken the position of the printers what could be
easier than having the attorney general at the right
moment publicly hail officers of the ITU in charges
of being "subversve. Impossible you say. Not at all
review of the of the present attorney general
on similar matters makes such "strikebreaking' pro
cedure very much probability 1t would matter not
whit in the court of public opinion" that the ITU
as simon pure American as even the American Legion
The press would that the reverse became fixed in
the minds Of much of the public; the printers bargain
ing position would be seriously weakened, and, in the
minds Of the people the notion would lnger years
that the printers were "unpatriotic"
Referring back to your contention that " for
the first time, it lays down the administrative proceed
and thus clears the air in this
spect two additional questions arise:
Do you honestly believe that passage of this bill will
curtail the UnAmerican activities committee Unsuitable
appetite for publicity that this fascisincined commit
tee will then deliver itself unto the archives Of forgot
things that in future only the attorney general
will have the prerogative Of "smearng such fine
leans Dr. Guy Condor, Henry Wallace, the late
Franklin Deano Roosevelt?
Is Such Legislation Actually Necessary
Secondly, is there any real need for setting up
'GestapO-p court procedure in America,
view of stringent laws covering treason? In
view of time hOnored and tested federal grand jury
system Article of Constitution says that treason
shall consist of citizens of this country levying
against the United States, who adhere and give aid
and comfort to the enemies of the United States. To
deal with treason stringent laws carrying up the
death penalty, the statute books. However, be-
fore individual group of individuals be hailed
into federal court charge of treason indictment
must be prepared based a thorough investigation
Unlike the Mundt BILL the accused then faces charges
in open court under due process procedure-not at
hearings called at the within of the attorney general
and wide to the possibility that only f any