Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-10-08
RooseveIt's Administration
Put Communists on Run

NVOSSVCsI , AUHItUSStTQtIOU
Put Communists on Run
From that day, the swelling
menace Of discomfort and COM
munism in this country began
to wane. President Roosevelt
brought to us a new spirit, a
new hope. The Government
acted swiftly and decisively-to
give the farmer a market-to
give the worker a job-to give
the unemployed a means of saw
ing their self-respect-to give
youth opportunity and hope.
Americas faith In itself was re-
stored. Under his leadership
the American people unlocked
from within themselves the
strength to drive out COM
munisrn.
This country was saved from
depression and despair. Com
munism in the United States
was turned back and as long as
we hold fast to the progressive
spirit Of human welfare that in
spired that leadership we need
never fear a Communist revolu-
ton in this country-and every
honest man knows that is true.
And where were the Republic
can leaders during this fight?
They cannot conceal the record.
They tried to block. to trim, to
obstruct. to prevent, the collec-
tive bargaining laws that mean
security to the worker. the price
support laws that mean security
to the farmer. the social insur-
ance laws that mean security to
the aged and the infirm-even
the deposit insurance laws that
mean security for the dollars we
put into q savings account. :.
We licked the Communist
hope for a revolution in the
thirties. But the years of mis-
cry. Republican years. had left
a heritage of fanatics and
agents in our midst. Commu-
nism was finished as a political
threat: it is survived as an in
strument of subversion and
espionage. Soviet secret agencies
and their dupes burrowed like
moles in the ground, trying to
undermine the foundations of
this and every other govern
ment in the world. -.
We must never forget the
dedication, tenacity and fana-
ticism of this inscrutable, ruth
less conspiracy. As Gen. Bedell
Smith, the director of the Gen.
trail Intelligence Agency, warned
us last week. we cannot let our
guard drop even for a moment.
The only safe assumption Is
that no place Is safe.
We must. to protect our
Government from infiltration,
combine vigilance with vigor.
This is a long and continuous
struggle-no single action can
win the campaign.
And the Democratic admins
tration has been conducting this
fight for q long time. In 1889
the Roosevelt administration
made it unlawful for Commu-
niSts to work for the Federal
Government.
In 1910 during the Roosevelt
administration there was passed
the Smith Act, under which the
Department of Justice in Presi-
dent Humans administration
subsequently convicted the 81
leaders of the American Com
munist Party.
During the war. the Civil Serv-
ice Commission and the FBI con-
Quoted a continuous screening
Of Federal employees. Over $500
men and women were denied
Federal employment because of
doubtful loyalty.
In 1947 President Truman set
up a new and tighter Federal
loyalty control program. Many
people have thought it was too
tight. fearing an invasion of our
ancient principle of innocence
until proved guilty. In the same
year the Attorney General
established the official list of
subversive organizations. In
1948 and 1949 the Department
OF Justice indicted and convicted
the Communist leaders.