Mayor of San Antonio; Former Congressman From Texas
I do not believe the Dies committee has been beneficial in any way. At the start considered a passing piece of demagoguery, it became a national nuisance, and now it has become really dangerous to democracy and constitutional government.
From the beginning it has been grossly unfair. It has engaged in a new form of accusation: "Guilt by association," mental torture, and conviction without trial.
Thus a person might be branded as a dangerous Communist, or as being unpatriotic and unworthy of citizenship, by his name being on a mailing list. There is the case of so-called "list" of the League for Peace and Democracy, whose members were branded as of Communist "line." Hundreds of people were named as being on the membership list, but read what the Philadelphia Record of October 27, 1939, said of the tactics used:
Condemns 'Smearing' Tactics
Then there is the case of a labor leader who came in and gave a "list" of some 300 "Communists." Of course, they were from an antagonistic or rival organization.
What happened in both cases? The press associations and special writers relayed it back to the homes of those listed, to hundreds of American cities. Surely being on a list did not make one a Communist; and besides, "list" is a mere word, the use of which is to "accuse by association," and to do injury without giving the injured party a fair chance.
But remember, once smeared, the individual is permanently injured. The offer of Dr. Dies to let anyone "defend themselves" was of course impossible because of the individual expense, and useless because each person was already smeared.
But still greater harm was the effect on the public mind. It stirred up mass hatred and prejudice. It caused fear and suspicions.
To save democracy one must not take up the methods of the Communist and the Fascist. But that, in effect, was what the Dies committee did, for the people were framed by propaganda and denied the dignity of due process of law in a court—as is practiced in the totalitarian countries.
Bad for Democracy
In dark days like these, with democracy failing everywhere, this is bad business. And worse, Mr. Dies, in making his accusations on individuals and large groups of people, used improper and unreliable witnesses. Yes, criminals, stooges, people with grudges, professional patriots, ex-Reds looking for money or publicity, soreheads. And what they said was not evidence, but suspicion and slander.
Take the consumer movement, Mr. Dies condemned the whole movement, lock, stock and barrel, as a part of the Communist "line." But all the organization wanted or tried to do was to get cheaper and better goods for housewives. This was condemnation of persons for the mere act of collecting data and making research, which is certainly legal.
I love democracy, and am deeply disturbed that it is being destroyed abroad. How did this destruction start in Germany? By cruel propaganda, accusations, unfairness, and putting fear in the hearts of the people. The German laborer, school teacher, veteran, were urged by Hitler to "fight the Communist;" getting their support, he first dissolved their organizations. In time, came his combination with the very Communism he claimed to oppose, and by which he had obtained the support of the German people. We must, therefore, conclude that a departure from democratic methods will lead to the destruction of democracy itself. Dies committee never tried to find out. They went further—they helped scare off any real reforms. They wanted the reactionaries to hold the whip.
Wants 'Constructive' Plan
Now, I'm for punishing and putting out of circulation, the "enemies within our midst." But I want to really GET them, if they really are enemies, and not just bellow in the press. So, since mere criticism is not enough, I offer what I hope is a constructive plan:
First, abolish the Dies committee. Stop it! It has gotten to the "furious pounding of the gavel" stage, with threats of contempt proceedings—and a contempt of its methods by growing millions of thinking people.
Second, if another committee is formed, let it adopt constitutional procedures. Such methods have been used by the senate civil liberties committee, and the results have been conservative and good. Certainly the smearing, unconstitutional practices and batting of people should not be a part of any new committee.
Third, if laws have been violated, let the department of justice prosecute. That is being done in the Christian Front case in Brooklyn.
But even in such prosecutions, a difference must be made between freedom of speech, and an overt act. Freedom of speech is a right, but an overt act or deed, however mild, is unlawful, punishable by fine, imprisonment, or death.
Prosecute for Real Offenses
If there is sabotage, treason, rebellion, riot, sedition, put the offender in jail; or for all I care, if serious enough, hang him, but do it for an offense, and according to constitutional practices.
Fourth, democracy must become militant in this country. It must attack the fundamental causes that lie at the bottom of so-called subversive activities. Let's quit blatting about "Communism" and correct the grinding evils of poverty and social injustice that make people listen to agitators. Remember, if people are to defend democracy, they must see it at work—they must get some fundamental life-enjoyments out of it.
What I have said is a positive program. It is a substitute for the negative, destructive program of Mr. Dies; indeed the rankest partisan of Mr. Dies does not claim his work has been constructive.
Indeed, let us be fair, use democratic methods, and stay within the sinews of constitutional government. Let us look to the future of our country with the thought of remaining free, and UNAFRAID.
From the beginning it has been grossly unfair. It has engaged in a new form of accusation: "Guilt by association," mental torture, and conviction without trial.
Thus a person might be branded as a dangerous Communist, or as being unpatriotic and unworthy of citizenship, by his name being on a mailing list. There is the case of so-called "list" of the League for Peace and Democracy, whose members were branded as of Communist "line." Hundreds of people were named as being on the membership list, but read what the Philadelphia Record of October 27, 1939, said of the tactics used:
But the list given out by the Dies committee was not a list of members. The papers handed to the press were marked 'membership and mailing list' at the top. The committee ran a pencil through the words 'and mailing.'Is this fair or even honest? And even if the person "were" a member, it didn't make him a Communist.
Condemns 'Smearing' Tactics
Then there is the case of a labor leader who came in and gave a "list" of some 300 "Communists." Of course, they were from an antagonistic or rival organization.
What happened in both cases? The press associations and special writers relayed it back to the homes of those listed, to hundreds of American cities. Surely being on a list did not make one a Communist; and besides, "list" is a mere word, the use of which is to "accuse by association," and to do injury without giving the injured party a fair chance.
But remember, once smeared, the individual is permanently injured. The offer of Dr. Dies to let anyone "defend themselves" was of course impossible because of the individual expense, and useless because each person was already smeared.
But still greater harm was the effect on the public mind. It stirred up mass hatred and prejudice. It caused fear and suspicions.
To save democracy one must not take up the methods of the Communist and the Fascist. But that, in effect, was what the Dies committee did, for the people were framed by propaganda and denied the dignity of due process of law in a court—as is practiced in the totalitarian countries.
Bad for Democracy
In dark days like these, with democracy failing everywhere, this is bad business. And worse, Mr. Dies, in making his accusations on individuals and large groups of people, used improper and unreliable witnesses. Yes, criminals, stooges, people with grudges, professional patriots, ex-Reds looking for money or publicity, soreheads. And what they said was not evidence, but suspicion and slander.
Take the consumer movement, Mr. Dies condemned the whole movement, lock, stock and barrel, as a part of the Communist "line." But all the organization wanted or tried to do was to get cheaper and better goods for housewives. This was condemnation of persons for the mere act of collecting data and making research, which is certainly legal.
I love democracy, and am deeply disturbed that it is being destroyed abroad. How did this destruction start in Germany? By cruel propaganda, accusations, unfairness, and putting fear in the hearts of the people. The German laborer, school teacher, veteran, were urged by Hitler to "fight the Communist;" getting their support, he first dissolved their organizations. In time, came his combination with the very Communism he claimed to oppose, and by which he had obtained the support of the German people. We must, therefore, conclude that a departure from democratic methods will lead to the destruction of democracy itself. Dies committee never tried to find out. They went further—they helped scare off any real reforms. They wanted the reactionaries to hold the whip.
Wants 'Constructive' Plan
Now, I'm for punishing and putting out of circulation, the "enemies within our midst." But I want to really GET them, if they really are enemies, and not just bellow in the press. So, since mere criticism is not enough, I offer what I hope is a constructive plan:
First, abolish the Dies committee. Stop it! It has gotten to the "furious pounding of the gavel" stage, with threats of contempt proceedings—and a contempt of its methods by growing millions of thinking people.
Second, if another committee is formed, let it adopt constitutional procedures. Such methods have been used by the senate civil liberties committee, and the results have been conservative and good. Certainly the smearing, unconstitutional practices and batting of people should not be a part of any new committee.
Third, if laws have been violated, let the department of justice prosecute. That is being done in the Christian Front case in Brooklyn.
But even in such prosecutions, a difference must be made between freedom of speech, and an overt act. Freedom of speech is a right, but an overt act or deed, however mild, is unlawful, punishable by fine, imprisonment, or death.
Prosecute for Real Offenses
If there is sabotage, treason, rebellion, riot, sedition, put the offender in jail; or for all I care, if serious enough, hang him, but do it for an offense, and according to constitutional practices.
Fourth, democracy must become militant in this country. It must attack the fundamental causes that lie at the bottom of so-called subversive activities. Let's quit blatting about "Communism" and correct the grinding evils of poverty and social injustice that make people listen to agitators. Remember, if people are to defend democracy, they must see it at work—they must get some fundamental life-enjoyments out of it.
What I have said is a positive program. It is a substitute for the negative, destructive program of Mr. Dies; indeed the rankest partisan of Mr. Dies does not claim his work has been constructive.
Indeed, let us be fair, use democratic methods, and stay within the sinews of constitutional government. Let us look to the future of our country with the thought of remaining free, and UNAFRAID.
Maury Maverick, St. Petersburg Times, June 2, 1940
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