Evening star., 1950-06-13
Probe Of Membership
OF Congress Inferred
By House Unit Work
Lobby Committee Is Also
Seen Planning FederoI
Propaganda Machine
By David Laurence

might be inferred from the new
activities of the House Lobby
Committee:
/. The American Congress il
about to be revealed as conduct.
ing the biggest propaganda ma.
chine in the world-with the pos.
sible exception of the one in Rus.
sia.
But it is too early to tel
whether these differences will bt
corroborated by committee pro.
ceedings.
Lobbying is like a two-way
street. If improper influence il
being used to sway members oi
Congress, then the committee
might be expected logically to in
terrogate its colleagues and de-
mand their files. The present Fed
eral statutes cover all attempts al
bribery or acceptance of bribes.
Legitimate in Itself.
But lobbying in itself is held
to be legitimate under certain
circumstances - depending on
whether it is done in behalf OF
the Democratic administration or
in opposition to its measures
When the lobbying is for the ad-
ministration program, it is sup
posed to be "in the peoples in
terest." When it is opposed. it is
held to be vicious and improper.
That's the Presidents own def1ni-
tion-though it was, to be sure,
said to a press conference in a
facetious vein.
The House Lobby Committee, at
the instance of President Truman,
has begun to delve into the matter
of expenditures for lobbying that
are not required to be reported
under existing law.
The right to investigate this
subject is clearly within the pre-
rogative of Congress-there is also
a right to congressional immunity
for any smears that are conveyed
1t will be interesting to see how
passionately the cleft wing
spokesmen will denounce this
smearing.
Businessmen are expecting an
other smear. They have been asked
to report what sums they have
spent for publishing pamphlets
sponsoring radio and televisior
shows, advertisements in news
papers and periodicals, and any
other acts that could influence
national opinion.
Such Spending Is Legal.
There is no law against such
spending. but the lobby committee
chairman says he wants to con-
slider amendments to the present
law so as to cover all public ex-
pressions that could possibly sway
public opinion on national issues.
Labor unions which use pamphlets
and advertisements presumably
would be exeinpted-at least, the
effort would be focused on busi-
nesses' conducted for profit.
It might later be held by the
Supreme Court of the United
States that to place any restric-
tions-even the registration Of
companies or filing of expenditures
in connection with the publica-
ton of opinions is contrary to
the constitutional guarantees of
free speech and the right of petit
ton. But congressional commit
tee has a right to explore a sub.
ject, pass a law and leave it to
the courts later to declare such
laws invalid. The Supreme Court
actually has ruled that impedi-
ments to the exercise of conStitu-
tional rights could flow from an
abuse of registration requirements
Business men have been re-
luctant to give out the informa-
ton about these expenditures
thinking it an unwarranted in
trusion in their affairs and an at.
tempt at intimidation. This is 9
mistaken view. The business mer
should help to assemble every BIZ
of data so that the American
people may know how trivial
comparatively speaking. is the to.
tai amount of money actually be.
ing spent to combat the socialis.
tic and quasi-communistic influ
ences which are trying to under
mine the free-enterprise system
in America. The businesses o
America might well consider hov
far short of a real insurance pre-
MUM they are spending to as
sure survival Of free enterprise.
Thought Control" Seen.
Socialistic propaganda come
out of the Government itself
Hundreds of millions of dollars o
Government money is being spen
to indoctrinate the people will
Government-made doctrines.
the Government can squelch op
position expressions. it will sub
ject America to thought con
troll" overnight. When the com
mittee reveals the information
about what the corporations ar
spending to defend their proper
ties against attack and destruc
ton. the American people wi
learn what a feeble effort reall
Is being made as against the ten
OF millions Of dollars of taxpayer,
money being spent to put owe
Government ownership and vari
GUS schemes that would lead t
naturalization of industry.
A study. for example, of the so
called free time" on the radi
and television given each week
Government officials would be re
! vealing. Also the amount of tim
and money spent by Governmer
officials in making nartisa