Evening star., 1951-09-09
Alice in TroubIedIond

Il see," said Alice, looking up from her Star,
that General Macarthur agrees with President
Truman, or vice versa"
"An incredibly stupid observation, the White
Rabbit replied
But" said Alice, 'it says here. in The Star
paper"
1T says no such thing" growed the White
Rabbit
But liSten." Alice persisted. Here is what
General Macarthur said in Cleveland in that fine
speech. He was talking about the disturbing out
look and the things that worried him and he
said
Possibly one of the most pernicious is our
steady drift toward totalitaran rule with the sup
preston of those personal liberties which have
formed the foundation stones of our political,
nomic and social advance to national greatness :"
You are confused" said the White Rabbit
"You are thinking about what President Truman
said the other day to the American Legion"
That's what mean," said Alice.
well if that is what you mean, keep quiet, for
heavens sake, and don't get Mr.. Truman mixed
up with General Macarthur any more than they
are mixed up already" the White Rabbit shouted.
That's not what mean," Alice explained.
"What Mr.. Truman said to the American Legion
was this:
terror of being denounced and slandered. Nobody
dares stand up for his rights
"'The growing practice of character assassina-
ton is already curbing free speech and is threaten
ing all other freedoms daresay there are
people here today who have reached the point where
they afraid to explore new idea. How ~many
of you are afraid to come right out in public and
say what you think about controversial issue?.
SANDER lies character aSSaSSination-theSe things
threat to every, single citizen everywhere in
IlanFl Annnr ffhn hoe
done nothing wrong-is forced by fear to shut his
mouth, then all Americans are in peril"
Il thought you were talking about what
General Macarthur said in Cleveland" the White
Rabbit scolded. why do you read what Truman
said in Washington"
Here is what Macarthur said in Cleveland"
Alice replied. Listen to this
"This drift toward totalitaran rule is reflected
.. in the violent manner in which exception is
taken to the citizens voice when raised in criticism
of those who exercise the political power. There
seems to be determination to suppress individual
voice and opinion which can be regarded only as
symptomatic of a general trend toward thought
control It challenges the concept of free speech
and is an attempt at direct suppression through
intimidation of that most vital check against the
abuse of political power-pubc criticism. If long
conference.-the free men it can but lead to those
controls upon conviction and conscience which
tradtiona1ly have formed steppngstones to dicta-
torial power"
Maybe he is right" said the White Rabbit.
who is right?" asked Alice.
'Mr. Truman" said the White Rabbit. at
was only the other day that he told the American
Chemical Society that
Freedom is in more serious danger today than
at any time In our national history . Reckless.
irresponsible criticism, if it goes unchecked.
could soon confine us to mental strait jacket. ~"
uyhot GanaroI Moe ArfI caoroc to
think" said Alice.
General Macarthur was talking about Mr.
Truman" said the White Rabbit. "And Mr..
Truman was talking about another Mac-what's
his name-McCarthy.
Whatever they were talking about" said
Alice, they scare me half to death"