St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-06-23


There seems to be an argument as
to the source of inspiration for
FEPC. l submit that the testi-
mony of those great churchmen,
backed up by the testimony of
DR.. Cavert, of the Federal Council
of Churches of Christ in America,
indicates in clear language that
the moral, theological inspiration
Of this proposed legislation is not
to be found in the venom of COM
munism, but is to be found in the
doctrine of the Christian faith it.
self.
Because of that, have some re-
sentiment regarding the associa-
ton of a worthy piece of legisla-
ton with what consider to be
the composite and the compound
of all evil. the Communist totali-
tartan doctrine. 1t appears to me
that it is appropriate for one who
is interested in this legislation to
feel deeply and sincerely that real
wrong has been done in this de-
bate, wrong which hurts my own
personal feelings, and which dam
ages the faith in which l believe;
and l am not going to stand idly
by, either on the floor of the Sen
ate or off the floor of the Senate,
and hear that faith associated
with Communist doctrine.
had hoped that that was not
the intention. However, l can as
sure the Members of the Senate,
my distinguished colleagues, that
this proposed legislation has its
antecedents in the Christian faith,
the Judeo-Christian faith, the
teachings of the Catholic and the
Protestant spiritual leadership.
Therefore, to associate this bill
with everything that is in COM
plete opposition to the moral
standards of this country, to my
mind, is unfair and inexcusable. 1t
represents the kind of argument
that is extremely distasteful, and
one that does not have merit.
Mr.. President, l had a brief
concluding statement, and 1 wish
to make it:
have tried to summarize the
argument about the lack of hear
ings and the argument that FEPC
supposedly caters to a minority.
have tried to summarize by
fact, not by fancy, the other inn
portant bills which have been be-
fore the Senate and which have
been passed despite the lack of
hearings.
l have tried to point out what
consider to be the philosophical
background of this proposed legis-
latiOn.
l wish to say that it seems to
me it is more appropriate that we
should discuss legislation in the
philosophical background of Holy
Scripture than in the propagan-
da background of Joe Stain and
the Daily Worker.
Yesterday on the floor of the
Senate the Daily Worker was
brought into the debate again and
| again. Mr.. President, I am amazed
that we would still refer to the
Daily Worker. At that time / said
that l preferred to take my in
spiration from the writings and
literature of the Federal Council
of Churches of Christ in America
and from the leaders of the Jewish
and the Protestant and the Cath
olic faiths, rather from the moth
eaten ragged pages of the Daily
Worker and its insidious philoso-
ply.
Mr.. IVES. Mr.. President, will
the Senator yield?
Mr.. HUMPHREY. I yield.
Mr.. IVES. Is the Senator from
Minnesota acquainted with the
fact that the Senator from New
York knows it to be a fact that
the Communists really do not
want this legislation
Mr.. HUMPHREY. I am very
happy to have that observation
made, and I recall that the SEN
ator from New York pointed that
out in the initial address he made
during this debate on this parti-
Cular subject.
Mr.. IVES. The Senator from
| New York would like to state that
upon the occasion of the hearings
on this subject in New York State
prior to the passage of the Anti
| discrimination Act which now is
in force in that State, Communist
representatives appeared; and in
their appearance before the tenn
porary commission which was
holding the hearings, of which the
Senator from New York had the
honor to be chairman, they were
very vehement in their objection
to anything of the moderate type
which now is under consideration
by us. They wanted extreme pen
alties, penalties impossible of en-
forcement, penalties which, if inn
posed, would ruin the whole effort
and upset our whole social order.
l happen to know from ex-
perience at that time that no
Communist is really in favor of
this particular type of moderate
legislation.
Continued next week.