Evening star., 1949-02-11
Constructive Work
In Exposing Reds
Held Possible Now
Closer FBI Lioison,
Avoidance Of Smeors
BY House Group Seen
Bv David Laurence

By David Laurence
Evidently the House Of Rep
resentstives heard from the coun-
try that II didn't want to see the
House Committee on Un-American
Activities abolished. President
Truman, shortly after the election,
intimated that the committee
should be terminated. The House
hy an overwhelming vote-353 to
2e-has voted to give the COM
mittee q fund Of 100000 to con-
tinue its investigations.
This is a larger vote than the
committee has ever received be
fore. Another way Of saying 1t is
that the votes cast in opposition
are smaller than on any such Is
sue heretofore.
This Is the committee which Mr..
Truman said was drawing a RED
herring" across the political scene
last summer when it was investl-
eating Communist spy rings and
collateral matters. The President
did succeed in using his influence
to have certain members removed
from the committee, and there
have been signs that the COM
mittee will revise its procedures.
But there is nothing to indicate
that the committee will relax its
vigilance in getting after subver-
sive activities in the United States,
Support Is Extraordinary"
The political power or rather
the bipartisan strength back Of
the House Committee on Un-'
American Activities is extraordi-
nary. It has been considerably
under Democratic control OF Con-
eress in the past as we'll as under
Republican maiorities. In fact,
the committee started when the
Democrats were in command OF
Congress.
Behind the committee are a
number of organizations which
have felt that the f1oodllght OF
publicity should be focused on
various associations and enter
prises which hide under innocent
looking names and deceive we'll
meaning persons.
The American Legion. the
American Federation Of Labor. the
Daughters of the American Revo-
luton and various patrlotlc
societies, as we'll as many church
organizations opposed to COM
munism, have supported the
idea of the House Committee on
Un-American Activities. There
Is unquestionably definite move
ment in America which seeks TO
have Communist operations ex-
posed and apparently congress
sional committee is the only ef1ec-
tive way to get the job done. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation
can prosecute violations OF Spe-
cific laws, but many Of the associ-
ations and So-called front Or
sanizations do not violate any
statutes and vet perform services
in the interest Of Communist gov
ernments abroad.
The Congressional Committee
can ferret out these acts and, by
use of the subpoena power. bring
witnesses to. testify. The mistake
in the past has been in failing
to make sure in advance just what
the witnesses we're doing. and 1t
has been contended that the
names of innocent persons have
been dragged. into the hearings
and given damaging publicity.
Closer FBI Ties Possible.
One way to avoid this is to pro-
vide for the closest kind OF lialson
between the committee and the
FBI. Under the Republican con-
troll of Congress. the Administra-
ton was reluctant to allow any OF
its own investigators to cooperate
with the committee. No such eau
ton would appear to be necessary
now. II the new personnel on the
committee will make sure OF its
informa ton in advance and then
use it's powers of publicity. some
constructive work can be done to
expose fifth-column activities in
America.
Sooner or later Congress will be
asked to legislate on the sub
ject of Communist organizations.
Where it can be proved that they
are financed by or related directly
to some foreign government. the
LEGISLATION could provide for
withdrawal of citizenship and
punishment for any who join such
organizations. 1t could even pro-
vide deportation for those aliens
who misuse their privileges on
American soil.
But to legislate against any or
eanization which merely Is po-
litical and simply espouses po-
litical views that are distasteful
would not be in accord with the
doctrines of freedom of thought
and freedom of speech which are
basic in the American system of
democracy. 1t may be expected
that Congress will draw the line
between legitimate and illegiti-
mate activities. Once this is
done. it will be easier for the
handful of Americans who pro-
fess to believe in communistic
principles to stand up and be
counted without fear of persecu-
+;oo paaralv for their heliefS