Evening star., 1955-09-22
Citizen Par|ey
Hears Of Evils
Facing Nation
Burton Champions
Free Thought. Reps
Security Proqrom

This country's survival as .
free Nation depends upon free
thought, not its suppression. "
the National Conference on
Citizenship was told at its closing
session yesterday.
Other points brought out by
w. Cameron Burton, past presi-
dent Of the District Bar Asso-
citation, In q suInmarization Of
the conference discussions In
cluded:
Fear and mass hysteria thrive
on domination by others to serve
their own ends. The security pro-
gram has undermined the morale
of Government employees. After
all, big government alone may be
a danger in itself"
Peril to Liberty Seen
Mr.. Burton said all discussion
groups seemed to feel there were
at least some dangers to the
country's blessings Of liberty"
He cited one groups list as run
ming the gamut of expression:
Failure to take responsibility.
lack of personal integrity. lack
of active interest in Government.
indifference to carrying out JUS
tice, lack of mutual respect fSr
differing opinions, lack of knowl-
edge, apathy, indifference.
racial discrimination, corrosion
from within. lack Of interest in
education. religious intolerance.
greed for power. threat Of inter-
national communism, moral de-
cline and obscurantism."
Mr.. Burton said "the trend
toward guilt by association and
by kinship was noted. which
was said to create q general fear
among the people. However, it
was suggested that injury Of
the innocent appears ,inavoid-
able in our present day society
and that loyalty prorams are
necessary"
A disregard Of due process also
was singled out as q danger, Mr..
Burton noted, but he said there
was no unanimity as. to whether
an accuser should face an ac-
cused in a loyalty hearing.
Also mentioned in the sum-
mary was the problem Of edu-
cation, including an educators
feeling of restriction because of
fear Of criticism by parents ito
whom children report him as
having talked about commu-
nism, even though he may have
told them the evils of it."
Then there Is q problem of
pressure on schools and organi-
cations to prevent young and
old from obtaining books giving
both sides of a subject. Mr..
Burton noted.
Among the suggested remedies
at the conference was one that
due process be applied to ad-
ministrative and legislative pro-
ceedings and hearings. Others
included:
Programs in local communities
to promote good citizenship.
More and better teaching Of
American history without exclu-
sion Of international understand
ing, and more citizenship educa-
ton in schools. Better paid and
better trained teachers.
Discussion of "Isms"
Free discussion in the schools
Of foreign 'Hisms" and govern
ments as compared with Ameri-
can ideals and government by
properly prepared teachers.
A program of education for
young people in preparation for
reaching voting age.
Some channel tsimilar to the
Better Business Bureau to help
an individual intelligently to
eyaluate the organizations that
seek his time and money. 1t
was felt that the Attorney Cen
erals list may not be the an
Swer.
Finally. the Golden Rule and
the Ten Commandments were
adverted to as stating principles
Of right conduct which have en-
dured for centuries and which
can be relied upon now" Mr..
Qt.rfnsa AddaA