The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1954-04-30
By RALPH McGILL, Editor
of Atlanta (Ga.) Constitution
In Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun

In Springfield (Ohio) News-Sun
"Th he Republican Congressman
leaned back in his chair and looked
his visitor in the eye.
INC, I'm not sure I'll run again,
he slowly repeated.
"You come from solid Republi-
can area; you stand in we'll with the
Party. Your whole record proves that
you're what President Eisenhower
called himself the other day: liberal
when it comes to human questions
and conservative when it comes to
economic ones. Why should you quit
now?"
"Well, frankly, I'm tired of being
called a communist when | go back
home," the Congressman replied. 81
don't mind it myself in politics you
have to get used to certain. amount
of mud-slinging; and realize this
comes from the lunatic fringe. But
nevertheless, every time | say pub
licly that there is danger to America
rising from the efforts of the extreme
Right to combat the extremism of the
Left, l don't like to see my wife or
my child almost in tears the next day
because somebody at the club, or
kid in school, or a friend of a friend,
has made a crack about how l must
be pinko or a procommunist 49,.
TYPICAL-"This is not a fanci-
full picture In a thousand varia-
tions, it is typical of what has hap
pened to the attitude of tens of
thousands of invididuals in the pro-
LESSONS, in academic life, in the
arts and sciences, in private and
public affairs and, of course, in
politics too.
"They are not gagged; there are
no new legal restraints. But there is
the consciousness that to stray from
the orthodox safety-zone is to invite,
sooner or later, open denunclatlon
or sly innuendo from the fanatics
who make an organized business of
intellectual vigilantism. Nobody likes
to be called a communist or a pro-
communist, no matter how unjustly; !
many people will trim their positions
in the desire to avoid the calumny of
the extremists. Some will do it con-
sciously; more, probably, uncon-
The substantial quotation is New
York Times article by John B. Cakes.
The Times was, and is, an effective
voice in support of President Eisen-.
hover
The important thing is that press
ures producing the atmosphere of
lear in the United States are great.
Even if they should end, the effects
will be felt for long time.
1t is difficult for many to under
stand that communist aggression is :
not the issue involved. The great,
{ ven overwhelming majority of
American people were united on that
before Mccarthy appeared. The
American people long ago determined
hey would tolerate no Reds in pub
ic schools, in public office, or in any
position of trust. Stain made US f
ear communism long before Nc d
Jarthy came along to exploit it. V
The real issue is that Sen. Nc f.
Iarthy has made the Star Chamber l,
ession policy; he has inundated Ii
nd abused and challenged the basic d,
lights of free individuals guaranteed /!
y the Constitution. Of
DAMAGE-The damage already OF
done is great. For example: as
A national columnist indicts Sen. 1
latter George as captivating to r
adical socialists and following the
propaganda line because e
2 seeks to lower income taxes r.
his is fruit of the Mccarthy tree. II