Milford chronicle., 1962-02-16
POLITICS IN SECRET

POLITICS IN SECRET
Many persons have been curious about
the political strength of the rightist groups.
The question arises: Can secret organiZa-
tiOns sway elections? November may tell
the tale.
At least three times previously the ques-
tiOn has arisen. A century ago the Ameri-
can party, hostile to Catholics and immi-
grants, entered the field, gaining some at
tOnishing victories. One reason may have
been the death of the Whig party, whose
members were left with three choices: they
could join the Americans-or Know-noth-
ings, as they were nicknamed; they could
vote Democratic; they could stay home.
When the Republican party was formed soon
afterward, it goes the votes of most of the
temporary KnOw-nothings, and their party
soon withered away.
In the COS the American Protective AS
sOciatiOn, with much the same stand as the
Know-nothings, operated by endorsing eX-
isting candidates instead of running ticket
of it's own. That party's life was short, too.
Still remembered is the Ku Klux klan
of a generation ago. 1t had great strength
in the South and Middle West. The nomi-
neeS whom it put into office were mostly on
the shady side. Indiana achieved the un-
enviable record of electing in succession two
governors who wound up in the penitentiary
voters then learned that they might pay too
high price for the pleasure of indulging
their prejudices.
AS the other secret society incursions
into politics came about generation apart,
perhaps we are due for the repetition of this
experience. There have been indications of
move to merge rightist groups into po-
litical entity 1t wouldn't be the first time.
THE GRAVE DIGGERS
The meeting of the American States in
PUnta Del Este was sad reflection of the
weakness of our neighbors in South Amer
lea.
Many Central American countries, alarm
ed by Communism and the Communist
threat in Cuba, favored sanctions against the
regime of Fidel Castro. The United States
favored such sanctions.
But some of the larger U. S. neighbors
to the south, including Mexico, Brazil and
Argentina, blocked a vote for economic and
diplomatic sanctions against the Communist
regime in Cuba Some large and some small
nations to the south refused to take stand!
After President John F. Kennedy's bill
liOn-dOllar aid plan to our Lation neighbOrs
has been inaugurated after Castro has come
out in the open with his Marxism and after
his military buildup has become a threat to
several countries in Central America, two
thirds of the members of the Organization
of American States still refuse to vote sane
tions.
The sanctions as favored by the United
States, would not mean war. They would not
involve the use of troops or armed forces.
They would merely reflect the reaction of
the democracies in the Northern and South
ern Hemisphere to the threat of COmmun-
ism, and the threat to peace.
The weakness of governments in some
of the larger South American nations is
pathetic and reveals an official guilt con-
science over the social and economic systems
under which the peoples of these countries
live, and have lived for so long. President
Kennedy has advised the various govern
ments to the South to institute programs to
benefit the people and if more of this had
dissenting countries would feel strong
enough to act against Cuba.
~S~So~SS
RATIONAL ATMOSPHERIC
One heartening thing about the inquiry
into alleged "muzzling" of military officers is
that Senator Stennis has thus far been able
to conduct his subcommittee hearings in an
atmosphere of calm nationality. Let us hope
that this atmosphere can be maintained.
The points at issue should be dealt with in
telectuay rather than by the exercise of
unbridled emotion.
Thus far the hearings have produced two
highlights-the statement sent in by former
PRESIDENT eisenhower, ana Ine testimony Oh
several top military men who do not seem
to feel that they have been muzzled. Though
General EisenhOwer's views will deservedy
receive thoughtful attention, his statement
did more to confuse than to illuminate the
matter His position is in sense retreat
from that of year ago, when he warned
against the danger of domination by mill
tary-industral combination.
Eisenhower further obscured the issue
by opposing censorship" of speeches by
military leaders yet then declaring that they
should speak "always under properly estab-
lished policies and the general-not petty
ri, Acid