davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1948-10-09
Bible Class Formed

Col. William S. Culbertson will
begin the leadership of a class for
men in the National Presbyterian
Church tomorrow morning for the
study Of the Bible, on the basis OF
Evening star., 1948-10-09

ing himself hard in the State OF
Washington.
Instead of speaking only once or
twice, as in most States on his
present campaign tour, the presiden-
tial candidate sped from town to
town, condemning 'misleaders of
labor" the Taft-Hartley Act, Un-
American activities investiga tions,
"militarization" and war scares."
He told paid admission crowd of
about 5000 in a field artillery armory
at Seattle last night that "misleaders
of labor"-whom he didn't name
are more dangerous to organized
labor than the Taft-Hartley law
itself"
Mr.. Wallace goes by auto to Aber-
deem today, then to Tacoma for a
speech tonight. Late tonight he
flies to Spokane. Tomorrow he will
speak at Moorhead, Mimi, and
Minneapolis.
Evening star., 1948-10-09

in China before coming to Bright
wood Park Methodist Church.
Mr.. Ehlers begins sermon Sc
ries tomorrow at II am. on This Is
Our Faith" Included IN the series
to be delivered on successive Sunday
mornings in october are God Cares
Life Is More Than Meat; Christ
Seeks and Saves" and Prayer Is
Power"
Evening star., 1948-10-09

Khan, English educated sportsman
son of the wealthy Aga Khan OF
India, has taken a home here, to
stay for some time, and that I'VE
plan to see each other a lot"
They met at a party at Cap
Antilles given by Elsa Maxwell
Then they toured Spain and Portu-
gal last summer. He is separated
from his wife. Miss Hayworth's di-
vorce from Orson Wenes becomes
final November II.
Evening star., 1948-10-09
Mrs. Cameron Assistant
At Brightwood Park

Mrs. Vivian Proud Cameron has
come to BrightWood Park Method
ist Church as assistant to the Rev.
Thomas B. Ehlers.
Mrs Cameron is a graduate of
Western Reserve University and
Ober!in Theological Seminary She
served in Ohio and as missionary
Evening star., 1948-09-05

racy For this reason We must
think clearly to avoid the confu-
sion which the Communistic hope
to create. Arguments about con-
Stitutlonal guarantees should be
analyzed to see if they apply to
the facts at hand.
No person has a right" to work
for the Government. Working
fer the Government of the
United States is privilege"
which should be extended only
to those in whom the greatest
trust may be imposed. This dis
tInction between a right and
privilege is most important one
in the consideration of a pro-
gram to guarantee the loyalty of
Government employees,
Freedom of speech, freedom of
political belief, freedom of as
sembly. and the right not to be
forced to testify against oneself,
are basic rights guaranteed to all
our people by the Constitution.
However. We must not be con-
fused as to the extent of these
rights. Let us consider three
cases by way of illustration: 1
Today person in our country
has a right to be a Communist
and to speak out in behalf of
communism if he violates no law
such as espionage or conspiracy.
BY so doing, however, he forfeits
any privilege he may have had
to work for the United States
Government. Surely no one can
seriously claim that a person
dedicated to overthroWing our
form of government is entitled
to the privilege of working for
that government; (2) in a GRIM
inal case a man has a right to
a trial by jury and can force the
Government to prove his guilt
beyond a reasonable doubt based
on testimony other than his own.
He cannot be convicted on sus-
picion. However, a man may
forfeit his privilege to work
for the Government by constant
association with known sub
versive elements. All Commu-
nists are potential espionage
agents and Federal employe
who constantly associates with
persons of that ilk forfeits his
privilege to work for the Gov
eminent just as man may for
Evening star., 1948-09-05

The conclusions and recon-
mendations of the subcommittee
concerning the present Federal
employees loyalty program may be
summarized as tolloUs:
l. The operation of the present
loyalty program has been unrea-
sonably delayed. The Loyalty
Review Board, which is respons-
ible for formulation of policies,
was not established until Decem-
Der. 1947, months after the pro-
gram was initiated. Even now,
more than II months after the
issuance of the executive order,
the organization of the loyalty
boards has not been completed
and the loyalty regulations of
some of the agencies have yet to
be approved. The time that
already has been lost is priceless.
Immediate steps must be taken
to expedite the operation of the
program.
z. The policy directives of the
Loyalty Review Board, which is
charged with the coordination of
employe loyalty policies and pro-
cedures, are ambiguous and have
resulted in confusion among the
agencies. A uniform program
cannot be expected without uni
form direction. These directives
should be revised Immediately
with view to prescribing specific
loyalty policies and procedures
for the uniform guidance of the
agencies.
). No attempt has been made
to give priority or special treat
ment to the investigation OF en-
ployes occupying positions which
permit them access to confiden-
tial material. Regardless of the
nature of the information dis
closed concerning an employe, all
cases are given the same routine
treatment. The case of an en-
ploye suspected of being an
espionage agent, with daily access
to highly confidential informa-
ton, is given the same routine
treatment as the case of an ele-
vator operator who is alleged to
be affiliated with . suspected
front organization. Obviously
each case must be handled on its
merits. Serious charges of dis
loyalty and charges against en-
ployes in sensitive positions must
be handled eXpeditiously.
4. Applicants for Federal posi-
tions are still appointed prior to
any investigation whatsoever as
to their loyalty. This is true
even in the cases of appointees
to important. sensitive positions.
UndH the present system dis
loyal appointees may be in Office
for a period of at least 100 days,
and there is no provision for the
suspension or dismissal OF such
an appointee until the entire in
vestigative and adjudication pro-
cedure has been completed. Dur
ing this period, presumably. the
employe has access to confiden-
tial material. This means that
an espionage agent appointed to
a sensitive position in the Fed
eral Government is assured of
at least 120 days in which to
exploit his position The sub
committee strongly urges that at
least preliminary investigation
of the loyalty of all applicants
for Federal employment should
be made prior to appointment,
and no applicant should be ap-
pointed to q sensitive position
unless his loyalty has been clear
ly demonstrated or has been SUBJ
jected to thorough investigation.
Agency heads must determine
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Delays in Operation
OF Loyalty Program

Under Executive Order No. 1895
the Loyalty Review Board is mad,
responsible for promulgating rule.
and regulations concerning employ,
loyalty, dissemination of pertinent
information concerning the loyalty
program and generally, the CO.
ordination of employe- loyalty poll.
cleS and procedures. The Loyalty
Review Board was not established
until December. 1947, over 8 months
after the issuance of the order. The
hrSt regional loyalty board was moi
established until June %. 1948. Il
months after the issuance of the
order. AS of August 6, 1948, only
10 OF the proposed IA regiona
boards, responsible for the handling
OF sppointee loyalty cases. had beer
established. Some agencies have
not as yet complied with the first
directive of the Loyalty Review
Board, dated December II, 1947. re.
quiring each agency head to submit
TO the board for its approval, proce.
dures for the adjudication of loyalty
cases on incumbent and excepted
employees. Although the incumbent
program has been in operation fol
over 10 months and the investiea
ton stage has been virtually COM
pleted loyalty procedures of MANY
agencies have not as vet been an.
proved and the subcommittee has
been advised that some agencies
nave not even submitted proposed
procedures for approval by the 10y
atty Review Board. This delay NAV
possibly be attributable to the fail
ure on the part of the Loyalty Re-
view Board to issue sufficiently def
mite standards and instructions to
the agencies. Regardless of the
cause, further delay cannot be
tolerated..
Another serious delay involves the
failure to report case dispositions
to the Federal Bureau of Investiga-
ton. When the bureau forwards
investigation reports to the employ
ing agencies in the case of incum-
oents. and to the regional loyalty
boards in the case of appointees,
the letters Of transmittal request
that the bureau be advised of the
final determination of the cases. It
is imperative that the Federal Bu-
real of Investigation, which is
charged with the overall RESPONSE
blllty of investigating subversive &C.
tlvities in this country, keep its
h!es up to date on suspected persons.
The subcommittee understands that
in no single loyalty case to date
has the bureau been advised of the
final action taken by an employing
agency or by the Civil Service Com
mission. This condition must be
corrected.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Weaknesses of
LOyalty-BOard System

The agency loyalty boards are
appointed by the head OF the agency
from among the agency employees.
In most instances the members of
the boards are selected from among
such agency representatives as per-
sonnet directors, solicitors, assist
ant counsel, etc, who undertake
their duties as board members in
addition to their ordinary agency
duties.
The weaknesses Of this system
are obvious. The members of the
boards, being employees of the agency
and having been appointed by the
agency head, are apt to be under his
domination. The subcommittee has
observed that under the present
system the dismissal of an employe
determined to be disloyal by the
agency loyalty board rests in the
sole discretion OF the head of the
employing agency, thus placing him
In the position either removing the
employe and thereby discrediting
his own agency to that extent or
retaining the employe and thus
overruling his own loyalty board.
The subcommittee does not consider
this system satisfactory to the en-
ploye, the agency head or the Gov
eminent. $50
The subcommittee is of the opin-
ion that serious consideration should
be given to separating the loyalty
boards from the agencies, to estab-
fishing the boards on a full-time
basis, and to affording greater
weight to the decisions and recon-
mendations of the boards.
Under the appointee program the
functions of the adjudicating body
are divorced from the EMPLOYING
agency, thus reducing the tendency
to "whitewash." To this extent it
has q marked advantage over the
incumbent program. However, it
has the other weaknesses of the
agency loyalty boards. The same
individuals who act as accusers sit
In Judgment on the accused The
members do not devote full time to
their board duties. Serious consid-
Grafton also should be given to the
advisability OF combining the func-
tions of the present agency and
regional loyalty boards under an in |
dependent board system.
The weaknesses existing in the |
subordinate agency and regional
loyalty boards are also found In the
Loyalty Review Board. Based on
the information presently available
to 1t. the subcommittee considers
that the present organization Of the
Loyalty Review Board deserves fur
ther study. Consideration should
be given to the establishment of an |
Independent, full-time review board.
to be appointed by the President, i
and to exercise supervisory and CO.
authority over che sub /
ordinate board system.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
DisIoyoI Elements Must Go, Senators Say

III an ntTOductl0n to the in
terim report OF its Investigation
OF the Federal employees loyalty
program, Senator Ferguson sub
committee states:
The loyalty of Federal employees
is of vital importance to the pres
ent and future security of the
Nation. This subcommittee recog-
nizes that the loyalty of the vast
majority of Federal employees is
beyond question. However. the
presence of disloyal or subversive
persons in the Government is
threat to our internal security
that demands the constant vigil
lance of all branches of the Gov
ernment. While we are spending
hundreds OF millions of dollars in
other countries for food, clothing
and goods of all kinds to combat
and offset ideologies and infiu-
ences inimical to our traditional
principles of free government, we
must not permit such ideologies
and influences to exist and be
fostered within our own Govern
ment.
Disloyal and subversive ele-
ments in our Government con-
stitute dangerous and malig-
f1ant growth which must be
promptly and effectively removed.
The public and the Congress have
the right to expect and demand
that every Federal employe be
loyal to his Government. AS was
pointed out by the President in
his Executive Order No. 1895,
each employe of the Govern
ment is endowed with a measure
of trusteeship over the demo-
cratic processes which are the
heart and sinew of the United
States" Communists and others
who adhere to or advocate prin-
ciples which are diametrically op-
posed to our democratic form of
government cannot be tolerated
in Federal positions. Those re-
sponsible for the administration
OF our Government have
solemn duty to prevent such in
dividuals from obtaining or re-
tanning positions in the Govern
ment. Any failure on the part of
a public official to carry out that
duty Is ineXcusable.
The establishment and admin
istration of an effective loyalty
program Tor the United States
Government is most important
task. In the past decade we have
seen what happened to other
governments whose apathy pre-
vented them from removing SUBJ
Verslve elements from positions
OF power and influence. Only
the naive could be satisfied with
our present loyalty program. BY
the cooperation of all branches
OF the Government immediate
and constructive measures can
pt TAKEN 10 improve what to
date has been tagging and un-
certain effort.
In our zeal to rid the Govern
ment of subversives We must
constantly be alert to protect in
dlvidual rights. While fighting
to preserve our democracy we
must not forget to practice de-
mocracy. The subcommittee de-
sires to stress how important it
is that all of our constitutional
safeguards remain inviolate. We
must be mindful, however, that
Communists clamor loudest about
constitutional guarantees in their
efforts to undermine our democ-
Evening star., 1948-09-05

felt his privilege to work as
cashier of a bank If he constant
ly associates with known thieves;
'3) under our Constitution a per-
son has right at any time to
refuse to answer any question as
to his conduct if by answering he
would incriminate himself. If he
is a Federal employe and he re-
fuses to answer questions as to
his loyalty obviously he forfeits
any privilege he has to continue
working for the Government. 1t
is analogous to the case of
cashier who, when questioned as
to a shortage in his books, re-
fuses to answer on the ground
that his answers would tend to
show that he is guilty of a crime.
In refusing he has exercised
right guaranteed by the Con-
stitution. But when the presi-
dent OF the company revokes
the privilege of the cashier to
work for the company by firing
him he, too, has exercised his
right under a free government.
Certainly our Government must
exercise at least as much care
as the operator of a private busi-
ness in employing persons it can
trust.
Our Government. then, should
guarantee the rights of all it's
citizens and should be jealous to
prevent any diminution of these
rights. On the other hand, it
should be equally as vigilant to
see that the privileges of citizen
ship are not abused by the very
persons who seek to destroy all
rights and privileges.
Stated in terms of loyalty, the
program of our Government
should have this aim. Commu-
nists and other subversives, their
sympathizers and their intimates
should be forced out of Govern
ment and kept out of Govern
ment. Considering the insidious
cunning and deceit of a Com
munlSt any reasonable doubt as
to the loyalty of a person should
be resolved in favor of the Gov
ernment. There are a sufficient
number of persons whose loyalty
is above question that self-inter-
est alone should demand that the
Government not employ persons
of doubtful loyalty. To date this
aim has not been accomplished.
The function of this Subcom-
mittee is to examine into the eff
cheney of the executive branch of
the Government. The purpose of
this report is to point out the de-
ficiencies in the employees loyalty
program within the executive
branch and to make recommen-
dations for the elimination of
these deficiencies. The subcom-
mlttee desires to point out that
this is not final report. 1t plans
to continue its study and to rec
ommend Such legislation as it
deems necessary. 1t must be re-
membered that the subcommittee
has had very limited access to
information about the loyalty
program so this report must, by
necessity, be incomplete. The
purpose of filing the report at
this time is to bring into focus
obvious weaknesses in the pro-
gram which need to be corrected
and can be corrected at once. 1t
is hoped that the conclusions and
recommendations made herein
will receive thoughtful considera-
tion and that action will be taken
at once which will be in the
public interest.
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Nonuniformity in
Agency Procedures

AS previously noted, the Loyalty
Review Board is charged with the
coordination of employe- loyalty
policies and procedures. However
the subcommittee has found an alb.
sence OF uniformity in the loyalty
procedures established by the variou.
agencies and departments. This
absence of uniformity stems basic.
ally from the failure of both the
Executive order and the implement.
ing regulations of the Loyalty Re.
view Board to pin-point respon-
sibility. The subcommittee has
found that the agency heads are
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Lack of FOllOw-Up
Loyalty Checks

Once Federal employe has been
checked for loyalty and cleared, he
apparently is considered cleared for
the balance of his governmental
career, regardless of a change in
the sensitiveness of his position or q
change in the nature of his loyalty.
The subcommittee has been unable
to discover any planned procedure
whereby subsequently discovered
derogatory information in the hands
Of an investigating agency. cover
ing a once-cleared employe. Is
brought TO the attention of the en-
Evening star., 1948-09-05
Summoryof Conclusions

the sensitive positions within
their agencies and investigations
of applicants for such positions
must be expedited.
5. The procedure for notifying
employing agencies of the exist
ence of derogatory information
concerning an employe during
the course of investigation and
loyalty adjudication is made
quate. and results in dangerous
delays in administrative action
by the head of the employing
agency in cases warranting such
action. The subcommittee be-
lieves that a timely disclosure of
the derogatory information de-
veloped concerning an employe
should and must be made to the
head of the employing agency as
soon as the information is dis
covered, to permit the agency
head to take such administrative
action as might be necessary for
the security of his agency.
s. Once Federal employe has
been checked for loyalty and
cleared. he apparently is consid-
cred cleared for the balance of
his governmental career, regard
less OF a change in the sensitive
ness of his position or change
in the character of his loyalty.
Some system must be devised for
follow-up loyalty investigations.
so that the loyalty program, at
least in the case of sensitive po-
Sitions. will be maintained on a
current basis.
!. The Civil Service Commits
sion and the various agencies
have failed to advise the Federal
Bureau of Investigation of the
final action taken in loyalty cases
where the bureau has made a
full investigation. The bureau
should receive this notice so that
Its files will be complete.
3. The procedures established
for the determination of loyalty
under the present system are in
compatible with an entirely OBJ
jective approach to the loyalty of
suspected employees. The tend
ency of agency heads and of fell
low employees to minimize charges,
the joint role of prosecutor and
judge, and the fact that board
members do not devote full time
to their board duties, are all fac
tors diminishing the fairness and
effectiveness of the present 10y
atty board system. Serious con-
sideration should be given to
divorcing the Loyalty Review
Board from the Civil Service
Commission and the establish
ment of an independent full-time
board appointed by the President
within the executive branch of
the Government. Consideration
also should be given to divorcing
the agency and regional loyalty
boards from the agencies and the
Civil Service Commission and as
signing their functions to inde-
pendent full-time boards.
3. The present policy of the ex-
ecutive branch of the Govern
ment of refusing to furnish in
formation to this subcommittee
concerning the handling of 10y
atty cases has made our task
most difficult. If the subcom-
mittee is denied the right to ex-
anime the facts in specific cases
where there apepars to be a
breakdown in the loyalty pro-
gram, it cannot make a COM
plete appraisal of the program.
The subcommittee will continue
its efforts to obtain that infor-
nation which it believes to be
essential to the furtherance of
this investigation.