Evening star., 1953-11-12
Getting Into the Act

Few OF its absentee members and its
employed staff wanted to get the House Com
mittee on Un-American Activities Into the act"
They have succeeded. The committee has
got itself into the Brownell- Truman Harry
Dexter White act as a sort of witless buffoon,
scattering subpoenas in the air, reducing to an
abSurdity the important role of Investigation
by committee of Congress. It may be that
after the full committee meets, tomorrow or
some other day, the responsible elements in
It's membership will repudiate this nonsense,
disavow the subpoenas, make available to the
Senate investigating committee any relevant
material in its files and take steps to prevent
the repetition of such reckless procedure in
the future. That at least, Is what ought to
be done.
President Eisenhower has gracefully ex-
pressed the thoughts of many Americans,
regardless Of political creeds, in his gentle
assertion that had the responsibility been his
own, he would not have issued the subpoena
for Mr.. Truman. He also spoke like President
in making known his own view that his prede-
ceSsor in Office would not knowingly have done
anything in the White case to damage the
United States. He would have added had it
been necessary, the same comment concerning
the late Chief Justice Fred Vinson, for both
Of them were involved in the decisions affecting
IAIc employment OF marry DeXCer Wn1Ce.
The issues in this case do not concern the
patriotism of Mr.. Truman or Mr.. Vinson. The
issues concern the veracity and good faith of
Attorney General Brownell, who made grave
accusations; Mr.. Truman, whose character
istically off-the-cuff denials raised doubt as
to their truth, and what methods were
followed at the White House, where reports
OF the FBI concerning the loyalty Of Govern
ment employees in sensitive positions were
seemingly ignored
1t is highly appropriate that these issues
be made the subject of Congressional inquiry,
for the people are entitled to know the facts
Any such inquiry@ @however, should be conducted
with dignity beitting the gravity of the
implications flowing from the Brownell accusa-
tions. The political overtones of the Brownell
accusations should not be permitted to drown
out the substance of what he said. Nothing
could be more conducive to that effect than the
prec1pitate action of the House committee,
which, if the views of it's chairman and staff
were permitted to prevail, would make tawdry
political sideshow out of the whole incident
There may be circumstances in which it
would be appropriate for committee of Con-
gress to issue subpoena for former President
OF the United States and force his appearance
Tor questioning under oath. The immunity
which protects a Chief Executive may not
extend, as a matter of law, to predecessor
who has returned to private life. The principles,
in law and tradition, which protect the Chief
Executive apparently have not been tested as
to the extent which they may apply to a
former President There are good reasons, how
ever, why former President should not be
forced either by the judicial or legislative
branches of Government to explain the reasons
for decisions made while exercising the re-
sponsibilities of the Chief Executive However
that may be, there is feeling of instructive
repugnance by most Americans against the
mere thought of haling a former President
of the United States for questioning before a
committee of Congress. If he appears at all,
1t should be by invitation which may be
declined
The STAR for one, hopes that Mr. Truman
will make a voluntary explanation of his side
OF the dispute in the White case. He has not
been wise in his rather fippant and seemingly
contradictory remarks so far. If he does not
choose to make any explanation, however,
public opinion, and not committee of Con-
greSS, will have to be judge of his conduct.