The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1951-03-02

un-Am0TlCdIlS oIC. OlIIhG
of law, and despite the efforts
persons hailed before the com
mittee will not be permitted
the right to cross-examine then
accuSerS.
House approval of setting up ar
interim committee came on an over
whelming vote for House Resolution
No. 2 by Rep. Weidman (Lake)
Weidman had served as chairman of
the temporary committee appointed
by Speaker Armstrong to investigate
the need for such a committee.
The temporary committee when ap-
pointed was instructed to hold public
hearings on "un-Americanism" in
Montana, but, it wasn't until the in
term group was tentatively approx
ed Monday that many learned one
''public" hearing had been held.
At that hearing, it is reported, the
only people who appeared were rep
resentatives of the American Legion,
whose principal program during re-
cent years has been the establish
ment of such a committee in Mon
tana. Among Legion leaders pres
ent at the hearing were: Past Com
manders Vic Overcast and Eugene
Naegele, State Adjutant Herb Kib-
Ter, and James Morrow, Bozeman at
torney.
a.zHxzCnTaTr METZ, TuEV CAV
The temporary committee, in ask
ing the House set up an interim
body, stated g. we are convinced
that there is immediate need not
only to investigate such activities
but to examine the various laws of
the state with an idea of securing
passage of acts now before this leg
islature, and other necessary legis-
lation.
The committee also stated that be-
cause of press of other work it did
not have Sufficient time to make
thorough investigation. :. 4" But that
the committee is convinced 4" i
there are individuals and groups ac-
lively engaged in spreading COM
munistic, subversive and un-Ameri-
can propaganda. The activities of |
these people and these organizations |
have infiltrated into local and state
government and into various educa-
tional institutions. Other than |
these generalities, the committee did |
not elaborate, and the House did not
ask for substantiation of any asser-
tons made in the committee report.
CHIDED FEDERAL AGENCIES
The report chided Certain fed
eral agencies" (FBI?) for not open
ing their records to inspection by
law enforcing agencies of the state.
This. Withholding of information by
federal agencies was put forth as an
other reason why there is a need for
an interim committee to &c. prop
erly handle these necessary investi-
cations. Around capitol CORR
doris after the report was read a num-
Der of people entertained the notion
that, in so many words, the House
lacks confidence in the Fed
= a oOIOdu VI 1IN 6oClSdLlOH anu Cn6 |
of the McCarran- Wood
Act, in even suggesting that such
be set up in Montana.
AMENDMENTS SPURNED :
Minority Leader Graybill made t
pirited attempt to protect the rights I
# the accused by having an amend +
nent permitting cross-examination of +
witnesses written into the interim Y
ommittee procedure. He was vot- !,
d down 47-41. Forty-six Republi-
ans and one lonesome Democrat
oted against Graybill's cross-exam- n
nation amendment. Forty Demo- u
rats and one equally lonesome Re- I,
Ublican voted to keep the Bill of v
lights inviolate in the Treasure O
tate". "
In urging that this amendment be al
tied down, Rep Weidman, told the OF
ouse: al
The purpose of the amendment -
6 to cruelty the committee and the ~
ccusers"
To fbic =