Evening star., 1950-09-24
Too Late to Stop 1t

The Presidents veto of the ti-Communist
bill was one of the best jobs done in Washington
recently Of locking the stable after the horse has
been stolen. The veto message was good one
1t was well expressed and carried real sense of
conviction that the law contains serious mis-
takes. But it had no effect whatsoever on stop
ping it, It was too late.
Senator Lucas, the harried leader of the
Senate majority, doubtless spoke for many of his
colleagues on both sides of the Capitol when he
announced his regretful conclusion that despite
the objections of the President he would vote
to override the veto For Senator Lucas, like
so many others, is about to go home and come
face to face with the voters. His chance Of re-
election undoubtedly would suffer by vote
against transating into law the overwhelming
sentiment in the country to do something about
and to- the domestic Communists In the end
the only choice was to do something or vote
to do nothing.
There probably were many mistakes made in
throwing this omnibus bill together. It was done
under the pressure of time and politics. All of
the mistakes may not be as serious or as danger
Gus as the President implies. If they turn out
to be real mistakes they will be corrected in
calmer atmosphere. It is to be recalled that in
another famous veto message, directed against
the Taft-Hartley law, the President also made
dire predictions of the dreadful things that would
happen. But outside the range of the believing
voices of the labor politicians these aarums have
failed to materialize and organized labor is
stronger today than 1t ever was.
The Communist bill may indeed prove
to be an unavoidable remedy and some of its
provisions such as the listing Of defense projects
for all to see, may do more damage than the
Communists who are to be banned from working
In them. In the hands OF unscrupulous agents and
judges, the law may damage wholly innocent
citizens But 1t would not be the first time that
the defects Of law must be revealed by experience
before they are recognized by the people. And
1t will not be long before Congress is back in
Washington, with the election over, ready to
correct at leisure what was done in haste.
But If many mistakes have crept into the bill
itself as finally enacted into law over the Pres
ident's veto the President and his administration
are not themselves without blame. The country's
anxiety over Communists at home has long been
evident. But the unfortunate impression has
been created that the administration has not
willingly acknowledged the dangers of Commu-
mist inftration, has only with great reluctance
been forced to act. 1t was not until after the
Korean war was underway that the President
sent his own set of recommendations for Congress
to tighten up the espionage laws and take other
steps which a long succession of unhappy revela-
tions of treacherous conduct by men in positions
of trust had shown to be necessary. And the
Presidents own recommendations, as sensible as
they were, seemed more designed to discredit
Republican-sponsored legislation than to evi-
dence vigorous leadership on the domestic front
against communism and its spread at home.
The result has been a seething discomfort
in Congress, rejecting sentiment among the
people, to take positive action. This action was
unfortunately left as piece of unfinished busi-
ness for a tired Congress anxious to quit and
get back to the hustings. In the rush to put 1t
through, the advantage Of the really careful
debate that took place over some of its provisions
was Offset by hasty addition Of others. The bill
is something Of hodge -podge to say the least,
but the votes which put 1t through, before and
after the veto leave uncertainty as to strength
of the sentiment, If not pure reason, which
supports it.