Evening star., 1950-05-24
BarkIey Cites Need
For Big Government
As Conference Ends

Vice President Barkley today
defended big Government before
the final session of the Fifth Ma
tional Conference on Citizenship.
Asserting this country doesn't
want a Government ito tower over
the people," the Vice President
added that at the same time this
Government should not be too
small to protect the people.
"Yes. we have big Government.
We also have big busines. big la
Dor and big problems" Mr..
Barkley said. II doubt If our
Government ever will be much
smaller"
The conference last night heard
Attorney General McGrath declare
he believes that all Communists in
this country are known to the
Government and that none of
them is Federal employe. He
described as fantastic" stories
about inflltration or capture" of
our Government by Communists.
Demands Are Emphasized.
Mr.. Barkley said people require
more and more of their Govern
ment each year." and cited the
demands for flood control, social
security. soil conservation and
other projects which he said could
not be accomplished on a small
scale.
He said America is trying to
correct democracy's defects. Prop
er education to qualify persons for
active participation in Government
was one way the Vice President
suggested to improve citizenship.
He added that churches have an
obligation to preach in behalf of
righteous civic causes and higher
citizenship.
Opposed to democracy, said Mr..
Barkley. is the Goddess" theology
of totalitarian regime. He said
the democratic nations are in a
struggle to preserve their freedom.
The struggle, he added, "compels
us to tax ourselves in order to
keep prepared" and to encourage
all liberty loving people of the
world.
Mr.. Barkley is honorary chair
man of the citizenship confer
ence. About 1000 delegates at
tended from all over the United
States.
Forecasts Prosecution.
In his speech, Mr.. McGrath
said that if and when a Commu-
mist is found to be Federal em-
ploye. you may be sure that he
will be swiftly dismissed and
prosecuted"
The Attorney General said that,
while this country must be deter
mined to keep Communists and
subverSiveS out of the Govern
ment. I'VE are equally as deter
mined that there will be no
Gestapo witch hunts-that the
basic civil rights of the individual
will be securely protected and de-
Tended as guaranteed by the fun
damental law of the land"
Mr.. McGrath made no specific
mention of accusations of Senator
Mccarthy. Republican, of Wis
consin about Communists working
for the Government.
Respect for Other Views Urged.
To combat threats to democ-
racy from without and within,
the Attorney General declared it
is the duty of loyal citizens to
become well-informed about all
world events.
He said it is important that
"our democratic system harbors
no vulnerable spots" To assure
this, said Mr.. McGrath, citizens
must recognize that America is q
blend of many different races,
creeds and national origins.
Instead of "tolerating" people
whose ideas differ from our own,
Mr.. McGrath urged that we re
Spect" each others views.
Another speaker at the dinner
session last night was DR.. Andrew
B. Holt, president of the National
Education Association, which is
co-sponsor Of the conference with
the Justice Department. He said
citizens should think for them
selves, work to support the Gov
ernment, respect the rights of
others and vote. DR.. Holt sug-
gested the best way to make peo-
pie realize these obligations is
through proper education.
Truman Speaks Informally.
President Truman made an in
formal speech to a crowd of the
delegates from a white iron bench
on the White House lawn yester-
day afternoon.
He said he had just received a
post card from Los Angeles sug-
gesting the United States should
surrender to Russia because "it is
better to lose our freedom than to
lose our lives" The President
called that Patrick Henry in re-
verse;" and added:
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