The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1950-09-29


is affiliated with an organization
which distributes or publishes, any
written or printed matter advocat-
ing Cor merely expressing belief I'M
the economic and governmental doc
trines of any form of totalitarianism.
This provision does not require an
evil intent or purpose on the part of
the alien, as does a similar provision
in the Smith Act. Thus, the Attorney
General would be required to de-
port any alien operating or con
nected with a well-stocked bookShop
containing books on economics or.
politics written by supporters of the
present government of Spain, of
! Yugoslavia or any one of q number
of other countries. Section % would
make the same aliens ineligible for
citizenship. There should be no room
in our laws for such hysterical pro-
visions. The next logical step would
be to burn the books"
This illustrates the fundamental
error of these immigration and ma
turaliZation provisions. 1t is easy to
see that they are hasty and ill-consid-
cred. But far more significant-and
far more dangerous-is their APP
parent underlying purpose. Instead
of trying to encourage the free move
ment of people, subject only to the
real requirements of national Sc
curity, these provisions attempt to
bar movement to anyone who is, or
once was, associated with ideas we
dislike, and in the process, they would
succeed in barring many people whom
it would be to our advantage to adj
nit.
Such an action would be a ser
ious blow to our work for world
peace. We uphold-or have upheld
till now, at any rate-the concept
Of freedom on an international scale.
This is the root concept of our eff
forts to bring unity among the free
nations and peace in the world.
The Communists, on the other
hand, attempt to break down in
every possible way the free inter
change of persons and ideas. 1t will
De to their advantage, and not ours.
f we establish for ourselves an ''iron
against those who can help
is in the fight for freedom
GIVES :. COMMUNISTS AN
ADVANTAGE"
Another provision of tn bill
which would greatly weaken our ma
ional security is section 25, which
would make subversive aliens eligible
or naturalization as soon as they
withdraw from organizations re-
Iuired to register under this bill.
whereas under existing law they must
vait for a period of 10 years after
UGH withdrawal before becoming
ligible for citizenship. This pro
osal is clearly contrary to the ma
lonal interest, and clearly gives to
he Communists an advantage they do
OF have under existing law.
| have discussed the provisions of
his bill at some length in order to
Xplain why | am convinced that it
'ould be harmful to our security and
to the individual rights of
ur people if it were enacted
Earlier this month, we launched
great Crusade for Freedom designed
/ the words of General Eisenhower,
} fight the big lie with the big truth.
can think of no better way to
make a mockery of that crusade
and of the deep American belief
N human freedom and dignity
which underlie it than to put the
provisions of II. r. 9490 on our
tatute books.
do not undertake lightly the
sponsibility of differing with the
aiority in both Houses of Congress
no have voted for this BILL We are
Americans; we all wish to safe
lard and preserve our constitutional
,erties against internal and external
emies. But ! cannot approve this
which instead of accomp-
hing its avowed purpose would ac-
ally interfere with our liberties
ID help the Communists against
lom the bill was aimed.
This is time when we must marsh
all our resources and all the moral
'ength of our free system in self
Tense against the threat of Com
mist aggression.
We will fail in this, and we will
estroy all that we seek to preserve,
we sacrifice the liberties of our
itizens in misguided attempt to
chieve national security.
There is no reason why we should
!. Our country has been through
ngerous times before, without los
: our liberties to external attack
internal hysteria. Each of us, in
vernment and out, has a share in