Evening star., 1949-02-11
Assembly Committee!
To Act Soon on State
Ban on Subversives
By }. B. Zotmon
Stor Stoff Correspondent

Maryland legislative spotlight TO-
cused today on the Senate and
House Judiciary Committees
which are expected to act within
10 days on the so-called Ober
bill to outlaw subversive organi-
cations.
A crowd estimated by State po-
lice at approximately 1000 per-
sons yesterday filled the House
chamber and overf1owed into the
corridor at a hearing on the
measure.
Afterwards the House and Sem
ate held routine sessions and ad-
journed after less than an hour.
The Montgomery County dele
CATION sponsored a bill to increase
State aid to schools for physically
handicapped children from 5000
to $500 per pupil.
Delegation Chairman Anders R.
Lofstrand. jr., said the only such
school now is in Baltimore, but
that Montgomery education Off
Gals plan to open one in Sep
tember.
Hearing Remains Orderly.
Despite the partisan feeling of
those attending the hearing on
the Ober bill, during which sew
eral of the speakers were greeted
with mingled applause and boos,
the session was orderly.
The bill prescribes stiff pen
alties for subversive groups as
we'll as for those belonging to
them. 1t also provides for loyalty
oaths from State employees.
Spokesman for the opponents
claimed the measure would de-
stroy freedom of speech and Of as
sembly and predicted that ap-
proval would lead to similar re
pressive" measures against all
minority groups.
Ober Denies Charges.
This was denied. however, by
Frank B. Ober, Baltimore attor-
ney and chairman of the commits
sion, whose recommendations were
incorporated in the bill.
The case against the bill was
outlined in a 12-page statement
by I. Duke Avnet. representing the
Baltimore Chapter of the National
Lawyers Guild. He said:
/. 1t is unconstitutional because
it violates basic principles OF the
Federal and State constitutions
by 'impairing" the rights of free
dom of speech. press and assembly.
2. 1t would make criminals of
Maryland residents because Of
their political ideas.
Bill Called Unconstitutional.
3. 1t violates the due process
clause of the Constitution. since it
fails to specify what conduct will
make persons liable to the penal
ties of the act.
4. 1t is an unconstitutional "bill
of attainder" because its primary
purpose is to outlaw the Commun-
list Party.
Another speaker, George Mey-
ers. representing the Maryland
Communist Party. defled the legis-
lator to outlaw his organization.
The Communist Party OF
Maryland is here to stay" he
shouted. mo laws. no threats. nc
violence will ever drive us out"
Other opponents represented the
National Council of Arts. Sciences
and Professions. the Maryland
Civil Liberties Union. the Mary
land Progressive Party and the
Baltimore Chapter, Americans for
Democratic Action.
. Legion Leads Proponents.
Heading the list of proponents
was Kenneth r. Hammer. vice
commander of the Maryland de-
partment of the American Legion.
and spokesman for a score of other
organizations. including the Balti-
more Bar Associa ton. the Daugh-
tiers of the American Revolution,
Daughters of 1872, Veterans of
Foreign Wars and the Jewish War
Veterans of the United States.
Approval of the measure would
have no effect on labor's right to
strike, Mr.. Hammer said.
Mrs. Mildred Otenasek, repre-
senting the Maryland Chapter. In
ternational Federation of Cath
olic Alumnae, also supported the
measure.
Others speaking for the bill in
cluded Howard Jackson, former
Mayor of Baltimore and men,
Der of the Ober commission: the
Rev. Edward A. Roach of st.
Jerome's Church, Hyattsville; Mrs.
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