The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-03-02
Legislative
KNICK-kMACKS
By GRETCHEN G. BILLINGS

than casual interest in the interim
un-American committee, in view OF
the fact the legislature has accepted
the evidence presented them by the
Legion Leadership as establishing the
need for one.
We have for we'll over two years
been in the firing line of their zeal
Gus efforts.
What is it like to be called I'M
American?
1t isn't much fun
1t makes you sick all over.
We had the commander and the
vice commander of the local legion
post march into our office convoy
ing the erratic Mr.. Gibbons. They
stood by while Gibbons insulted us
and called US unpleasant names then
marched out the door behind him.
| had to look twice, I'd have sworn
l heard housekeeping
Our baptism of fire.
After this meals don't taste very
good for few days; you lie awake
at night wondering, not so much
about yourself, but what about your
children; you fear for their future,
and the future of the country; you
see sinister and sadistic shadows cast
ing themselves beyond yourself unto
posterity. When you sleep you dream
of steel bands of oppression encom-
passing all ideas, all imagination,
eliminating anything in the way of
venture or political controversy; you
wake from the nightmare in the mid
die of the night glad to escape the
barbed wire fence and the murder
Gus faces of men you once called |
neighbor.
You calm yourself when you sit
and talk to the children. The things
the other kids are saying? The names
they are calling? You explain that
these things do happen, even in Amer
lea; you try to keep them from be-
ing bitter; above all you must not
let them lose faith in their family,
themselves and their country. If they
weather all this they will be strong
er men-so many people say-but
their cropping or understanding
makes you wish they didn't have to
become Strong men via this route.
Leo Graybill tried to amend the
committee motion to in
clude cross examination by counsel
of the person being investigated.
Rep. Wiedman said at would leave
the committee in a position to be
| could but groan,
We were told the years your fam
lily has spent building the country, the
services rendered as citizens and pub I
lie servants, the pride you feel, your
stake in your state and country {
nothing! {
You see, like savage animals they j
strip you of everything, chew you to
pieces, then gnaw at your bones.
You have no defense.
Cruelty the committee? In the first >
place if the committees cause is Just I
they surely have no reason to fear I
;rucifiction. Believe me kids, in I'M
udicious hands there can be a lot l
If nice people dragged through living g
1ell, the prospects of which make an l
entire nation of people timid. Many,
'or themselves, have little fear, but t
'or their families could not bear q
he trial by peoples court" the Y
publicity via daily press, with no re- .
course except that which will be q
It the discretion of the committee" .
lest the committee be crucified. Z
Do you believe the gains of the :
committee would be worth one I'M i
justified attack on fellow citizen? :
% you think it is right for all of us :,
0 have to accept the committees !
definition of "dangerous?" Just ex-
ctly what are going to be the sum-
ned up accomplishments of the COM
nittee? What can they be? The FBI s.
las at their finger tips every citi- y
en- in the state who may be con- II
idered risky. In a flash they would D
move in if it were necessary and in u
he meantime they keep their eye =,
n the fellows that need watching. u
Vow what else should be done? Must "
We stir people to an hysterical pitch
I1ch &C r,1iUht nrOpopt than, RI ha