Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-19
LETTERS TO THE STAR
Security Risks

Security Risks
The perplexing question of
the areas and degrees Of APP
plicability Of the terms 10y
atty" and security" in en-
ployment cases continues to re-
main a poignant issue for those
who strive to maintain the
principles inherent in what
we think of as democratic
ideals" According to Harry P.
Cain, President Eisenhower had
not, until recently, been aware
that there was not a clear
distinction being made be-
tween loyalty" and security"
cases. Surely it would seem
that If there were such a dis
tinction in this much-dis-
puted, vital issue, President
Eisenhower should know Of it.
The overall confusion, it seems
to me, comes from a lack of
Qualification, in the first place.
Under existing security meas
ures, as laid down by this adj
ministration, there has never
been any actual statement Of
the definition of terms. "Se-
curity Risk (A)" could be so
classified because Of "associa.
tion"-as, for instance, in the
case Of Mrs. John C. Duncan,
who was deemed a security
risk" and fired from her Job
with GPO because of the firing
of her husband from the Post
Office Department. Security
Risk OBJ" could be such a case
as William Henry Taylor, an
intermediary Fund official,
whose loyalty was impugned by
Elizabeth Bently on the basis
Of several vagarieS. Mr.. Tay-
Tor was consequently fired
from his appointment.
Loyalty" to this country is
q serious business and should
be spelled out in legal terms,
with the greatest possible clar-
ity. An individual convicted
Of disloyalty should be dealt
with to the fullest extent Of
the law as applied to each
specific case. On the other
hand, security" means "free-
dom from exposure to danger"
feeling Of assurance-of safe
ty or certainty" (Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary. The
present Interpretation Of this
Governments security risk"
cases has been so prostituted
as to have created for itself
q Frankenstein. The fear Of
fear" that reached its de-
moralizing peak during the
brief historical spell Of Nc
Carthyism seems now to be
on the wane, and that is en-
couraging. Perhaps the time
is ripe for the administration
to remove the word risk" and
permit security" to remain,
by dealing only with loyalty"
cases and by eliminating the
insidious program that is pres
emily in operation concerning
security risks"
Jessie b. Solomon.
American politics has always
produced self-seekers like Huey
Long, Joe Mccarthy and now
Harry Cain. Only when Mr..
Cain became a bleeding heart"
over Government employe Sc
curity risk cases, however, did
he receive a favorable press.
Before that he had been re-
garded as a political accident to
be defeated his next time UP,
which he was.
For politics and self-inter-
est, Harry Cain jeopardizes the
security program Of the Nation
calling his erstwhile congress
sional colleagues Fascists in
their methods Of attempting to
cope with the grave Commu-
mist infiltration into the ranks
Of Government employment.
In Mr.. Gains book, any doubts
In regard to a mans loyalty to
the United States and his work.
ing to bring about, eventually,
Communist domination Of the
Nation is to be resolved In
favor Of the individual-not in
favor Of the United States.
What Mr.. Cain expects to gain
further is doubtful. Mr.. Cain
must have given heart to Paul
Robson, because Mr.. Cain
made his statement about
Fascist congressional investi-
gators almost simultaneously
with Robeson's disgraceful out
burst at q congressional hear
ing Gains and Robeson's state
ments will be heard in every
country behind the Iron Cur
tain.
A. X. MiniseI.
4 -
The Star should be highly
commended for giving prom
inence to the efforts Of ex-
Senator Harry p. Cain to in
form the American people Of
a