Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-06-03
REPORT ON SECURITY
Public Climate MeIIows
But Programs the Same
BY L. EDGAR PRINA


Many experts have noted a
significant shift in the climate of
public opinion on the loyalty-se-
curity problem since President
Eisenhower launched his contro-
versial Federal Employe Security
Program Just three years ago.
But If the climate is more relaxed
than in the incredible days of Nc
earthly, Cohn d Schilie, why are
we still jolted by new disclosures
of unfair treatment Of Government
workers caught in the security web?
The answer is simple: Neither
the administration nor Congress has
acted to provide basic changes in
Executive Order 10450, which set
up the program. or in Public Law
1888 of 1850, its legislative under
pinning. Nor has the administra-
ton moved to relax or clarity in
any great degree the programs
procedures and criteria. Hard ex-
perience has shown that these
things must be done If the accused
is to be assured fair treatment and
speedy justice.
Attorney General Brownell is Mr..
Eisenhower's chief adviser on Sc
curity matters. Since he circulated
to all agencies a memorandum on
March 4, 1855, listing seven i'm
provements" in the program he
has remained silent. Meanwhile, it
was clear that even these improve
ments were not needed in all pro-
ceedings as one case after another
was exposed by Senate commit
tees, the press and by former Re-
publican Senator Harry P. Cain,
an Eisenhower appointee to the
Subversive Activities Control Board.
Time Log Continues
No one in the administration
has taken steps to see that the
extraordinary lag between COM
pletion Of a security hearing and
q final Neutrality-suspicious. eight
months in some agencies-is cut
down.
In another area, Mr.. Brownell
has ignored a recommendation by
the Senate Internal Security sub
committee that he compile hand
book on the Attorney Generals
so-called "subversive" list wherein
q brief history and evaluation of
each Of the prescribed organiza-
tions would be given.
According to the subcommittee
and Mr.. Cain. the original advocate
Of the idea, such handbook would
be Of inestimable value to Fed
eral security officials and to State.
local and private groups who have
seen mt to use the "subversive" list.
The Attorney General has made
1t clear that he believes member
ship in a "subversive" organiza-
ton is only one factor to be con-
sidered in determining whether a
person is security risk.
But security officials, it seems
apparent, have not been given
SUFFICIENT guidance for interpreting
the all-important criterion cover
ing membership. afflliations and
associations. 1t is precisely in this
area that the bulk of abuses has
occurred.
Justice Department officials have
often said that the security pro-
gram itself was not to blame for
the controversial cases which found
tnelr way into print. They blamed
It on the persons who Administered
tne program In the particular
agency.
Guidance Missing
Much was said, too. about conn
mon sense. For example. the Civil
Service Commissions handbook for
security hearing board members
cautions: There can be no sub
Stltute for good judgment" No one
VIII argue seriously with that. But
the administration has not provided
adequate formal guidance for its
security officials so that the chances
OF poor judgment being exercised
might be lessened.
The Army, which is obviously of
critical sensitivity so far as the ma
tional security Is concerned, has
met the membership association
problem head-on. In what has be-
come known as the "Brucker direc-
tive" the Secretary of the Army
on October II. 1855, set new stand
ards for interpreting security risk
criteria in connection with the mill
tary personnel security program.
The directive established. or at
least clearly defined, the doctrine
OF personal guilt. 1t outlawed auto
matte guilt-by association, guilt
by-hnship and guilt-by character
reference.
The order. which curiously was
not made public until The Star pub
lished text Of it in late April,
was hailed in Congress and in the
press as the most common-sense
approach yet to the problem OF
balancing the requirements of ma