Evening star., 1948-07-26
Letters to The Star
NAM Not Campaign Contributor

4NAl moi campaign contributor
To t,:a Editor of The Star:
am writing you on behalf of the National
Association. of Manufacturers because OF certain
statements made concerning this organization
in the column of Lowell Mellett appearing in
The Star of July 10.
In his column of that date Mr.. Mellett pre-
tended to discuss the relative prospects of the
two major political parties toward financing
their current political campaigns. He referred
pointedly to the hostile reception given to the
appearance Of Morris Sayre, President Of the
National Association Of Manufacturers by the
Resolutions Committee Of the Democratic Con-
vention. He then ascribed to Mr.. Sayre, and
the NAM, a purpose or plan to raise funds
for the Republican Party, presumably in re-
taliation for the unfriendly treatment accorded
Mr.. Sayre.
That was the clear meaning of Mr.. Melletts
column, even though he avoided direct ac-
cusation by implying that he reached his
conclusions in the role of mind reader. rather
than as q reporter of facts or events.
The Star is responsible paper. Presum-
ably, it accepts responsibility for statements
it publishes. Permit me, therefore, to set forth
a few pertinent facts to indicate the grossly
misleading, unfair-even libelous-nature of
Mr. Mellett's references. These facts, incident
ally should be known to any writer prominent
enough to write a syndicated column, and
particularly to one who served rs an admin
istrative assistant to the President Of the
United States from 1910 to 1914.
Prohibited by Law From Contributing.
First: The National Association Of Manufac-
turers is a corporation 1t is therefore prohih-
tied by law from contributing or spending
money to elect or defeat candidates for Fed
eral ONCE. Raising funds for any political
party, as Mr. Mellett suggests, would obviously
place the association in violation of Federal
law.
Second: The association has not raised, nor
does it intend to raise or spend funds Tor any
political party, or to contribute or spend funds
to elect >or defeat any candidates for Federal
office. The association so declared in q state
ment filed under oath on June "a with the
. House Committee Investigating Campaign Ex-
penditures. Similar statements, reports and
oral testimony have been supplied like COM
mittees over a long period of years. AL Of
this was a matter OF public record available to
Mr.. Mellett long before appearance Of his
column of July 10.
Third: The membership of the NAM COM
prises more than 10000 manufacturing COM
panies of all types and sizes, located in nearly
every State of the Union. These companies
are managed and owned by Democrats as well
as Republicans. A moments thought by Mr..
Mellett should have indicated that. entirely
aside from any question Of legality. no business
organization of such diverse complexion could
possibly gain or retain its wide membership
if it engaged in partisan political activities as
charged by him.
Newspapers and columnists rightly enjoy
wide freedom under the Constitution and laws
of the United States to express any political
views they may desire, even to the point of
supporting or opposing candidates for elective
Office. May suggest, however that such free
dom is not promoted by the promiscuous pub
lication of irresponsible charges against organi-
cations or persons which the law, rightly or
wrongly bars from such political activity?
This would seem especially true during presi-
dental election year. when, to gain what may
seem to be partisan advantage, efforts may
be made to bring into the political conflict the
motives or activities of bipartisan non-
participants
RAYMOND S. SMETHURST.
Counsel NJ A, M.