Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1952-09-17


ploring its use in American poll
tics Ito reap personal or partisan
advantage" the President con-
tinued:
ut is a Big Lie. for example, go
say that we tolerate Comndnists
and other disloyal persons in our
Government. It Is a Big Lie to at
tack one Of the greatest generals
and patriots whom this country
ever had and call him a traitor"
Senator Mccarthy repeatedly
has accused the Administration Of
permitting Communists to infil-
trate into the Government. He
and Senator Jenner have been
harsh critics of Gen. George c.
Marshall, wartime Chief Of Staff
and Secretary of State and Secre-
tary Of Defense under President
Truman. Both Senators are up
for reelection this year.
Calls for Defeat.
"A man who uses the weapon of
the Big Lie is not a good man."
the President said. "He should be
rejected by all good citizens. re.
CARELESS of party" -~'''
The Presidents speech opened
the National Conference on
Citizenship in the Hotel Statler.
The conference. sponsored by
the Justice Department and the
National Education Association, IL
designed to emphasize the ituport-
ance of citizenship. sOpenihg ON
the 165th anniversary Of the sign.
ing Of the Constitutions date
designated by the last Congress for
the annual observance as Citizen.
ship Day-the sessions viii last
through Friday.
EIighlighting the occasion, IS
men and women from foreign
shores took the oath of citizenship
from District Judge F. Dickinson
Let's.
Mr.. Truman told the delegates
the Big Lie is one Of the things
that threatens the country from
within.
Technique Of Big Lie.
1.-THE technique Of the Big Lie
consists Of two things" he arnpli-
fled. at consists first Of making
Ia charge against ones opponents
which is frightening, and horrible
and so extreme that nobody could
believe that q decent person would
make it If it were not true. Hitler
explained this very clearly. He
said that. If a lie is bold enough,
people will think there is some
truth in it because 1t would never
occur to them. in their own expert
|ence. to lie on such an exaggerated
scale.
"The second part Of the Big
Lie technique is to keep repeating
the lie over and over again, ignor.
ing all proof to the contrary"
Ignorance Of American institu.
tons and apathy toward exercis-
ing the right to vote are two other
dangers to the welfare Of the Ma.
ton, the Chief Executive asserted.
In the latter connection, how
ever, he stressed that ut is not
enough just to 60 to the polls and
vote"
1.-THE point Of voting is to exer-
else an intelligent choice" he ex-
planned.
The President once more dashed
out against Communism as "the
great enemy of free government
today" but he asserted firmly
that Communism inside this
country has been badly beaten,
because our democratic society has
met the needs Of the people"
1.-THE danger that Communism
might gain political power here
through the ballot box, no longer
exists" he continued. 1.-THE hiT6
point Of the Communist Patty In
American politics was in,I932.
when people were so miserabie
that they would listen to any
quack who promised way out OF
the depression. In the presidential
election of 1882, the Communist
Party polled over 100000 votes.
Today its membership is less than