The Omaha guide., 1948-09-11
Daniel West Says:
in My Opinion

country, you get a powerful
impression Of people at work
and at play. In spite Of the or
deal Of the war, in spite Of in
flation and postwar overcrowd-
ing, you have the sense Of a
nation moving forward with
vigor and confidence
Then you read the headlines
in the newspapers. They con-
vey the idea Soviet Russia has
this country by the throat;
that the nation is in deadly
peril from a conspiracy into
which many Americans have
entered.
That idea is, in my opinion,
false. To spread such an idea
is to do a disservice to the
country. It is to spread fear
and doubt far beyond any pus-
tification.
The moving spirits of the
house unAmerican activities
committee and the agitators
allied with seem never to have
thought how their behavior re-
fleets on the country itself.
Thy behave as tough Ameri-
cans might actually persuaded
in large numbers that Russian
Communism was superior to
the American system.
This is, of course absurd.
Our way of life in this country
offers infinitely greater rewar-
ds, both on the material and the
spiritual and intellectual side
than Russian Communism, des
pite the many shortcomings
we have. And the great mass
of the American people have
the common sense to know it
| believe if Chairman Thorn
as and other men who seem SO
frightened would get out in tc
the country, away from the
overhated atmosphere of Wash
ington, they would recognize
that fact. They would see Am
erica in the full tide Of road
building, Of home building, Of
work, of play.
Certainly, what has ben un-
folded so far does not justify
this freight. Eccentrics, vision
aries, idealists with a childish
love Of conspiracy have gone
mysterious and conspiratorial
Apparently this has satisfied
some impulse that the ordinary
person does not feel.
But if they have given infor-
nation of any value to the Sow
let Union or if they have succ-
eeded IN undermining the faith
Of any substantial number 81
Americans, then the paprs that
| have seen have not printd it
It has been on the level Of sup
position, accusation, rumor and
hearsay.
| Part Of the harm it does, in
my opinion is to undermine
belief in the basic American
freedoms. When a man can b(
accused Of disloyal action on
the statement Of single indiv-
idual, with apparntly no sub.
stantiating proof, and the char
ge proclaimed sensationally tt
the world, then we are jeopar
dizing the fundamental guar
antees on which the American
system rests.
| do not mean Dy this to dou
BIT. that Soviet Russia has al
piona a ge network in this
country. But the way to un-
cover that network is not by
sensational hearings that pro
duce sensational headlines anc
charges and countercharges.
There is an agency authori-
zed by law to protect the cour
try from treason and sabotage
That agency is the F. B. l. un-
der ]. Edgar Hoover.
Canada found a way to com
bat communism without scar
ing its people ont Of their wits
When our Canadian neighbol
discovered a Russian espionage
network at work seeking to
undermine the country, a roya'
commission was appointed.
The responsible and respected
citizens on that commission
held long, careful, painstak-
ing inquire in secret. The com
mission published a long care
full report and where evidence
justified it, individuals were
prosecuted. The names Of tho
Sc not guilty were not dragged
into the record.
If the F. B. I. needs greater
powers then it should be given
greatr powers and larger ap-
preparation. Perhaps someth-
ing like the royal Canadian
commission is necessary in this
country in order to carry out
an inquiry thoroughly and WI
tn Recommendation rather thai
with movie cameras and head
| Iiuac