Capital Comment

A quiet but thorough investigation of subversive propaganda activities in the United States has been launched by the Congressional committee headed by Representative John McCormack of Massachusetts. The committee has sent scouts into propaganda hotbed centers in leading sections of the country. The purpose of these investigators is to get the lowdown on the activities of the leaders of the propaganda mongers. All this started with the appointment of Thomas W. Hardwick of Georgia head counsel to the McCormack committee.

Attorney Hardwick knows the tricks in the game being played by those interested in promoting bitterness among racial, religious and political groups. He is an arch enemy of the Ku Klux Klan. A former Governor of Georgia, a former member of the House of Representatives, Attorney Hardwick undertakes his new task with a background of broad experience. He is opposed to intolerance and believes that there is a great public service to be done through the investigation.

The Society for Constitutional Security is opposed to Congress granting Dr. Albert Einstein citizenship. This organization through its president, Mrs. William B. Shelton of Leonia, N. J., has sent a memorial to the Senate remonstrating against the passage of House Joint Resolution 309, introduced by Representative Edward A. Kenney of New Jersey, to admit Dr. Einstein to citizenship. This is the first formal expression of opposition to such action made to Congress.

Representative Kenney intends to press for the passage of the resolution. He holds that a man such as Dr. Einstein “merits the high regard of any nation.” Representative Kenney points out that several European countries have welcomed Dr. Einstein and offered him their citizenship. “Certainly the United States, which he has publicly declared to and does love, beacon of liberty that it is, gladly will extend to Dr. Einstein all the privileges and prerogatives of her citizenship,” the Jersey representative declared.

Letters which the Friends of New Germany sent to members of Congress inviting them to attend a mass meeting in Madison Square Garden, New York, on May 17, did not set so well with the lawmakers on Capitol Hill. The meeting is to be held to protest the boycott against imported German goods.

Representative George Foulkes of Michigan characterized the intended meeting as “but a part of the sinister, subtle, and scheming propaganda being conducted throughout the United States by Nazi agents. Both in military groups actually engaged in drills with arms and in groups using camouflaged names and pretending altruistic purposes, the Nazists are seeking to build up a terroristic army in this country that can some day be used for the establishment of an American Hitlerism.”

The reported statement of James G. McDonald, High Commissioner for Refugees, made in London before the council of the High Commissioner for Refugees, that Palestine offers the only immediate area for shelter to refugees from Germany, may stir the United States to be more liberal in extending asylum to these people.

High Commissioner McDonald’s statement, coming on top of reports submitted to Secretary of Labor Perkins by two committees recommending more liberal application of the principle of asylum to refugees from persecution, appears quite well timed.

During the last few months there has been much talk about extending shelter to those forced to leave Germany. But as yet there has been no action. Secretary Perkins and other members of President Roosevelt’s cabinet are favorable to the idea. In spite of this favorable sentiment there is a hitch somewhere. It is understood that the Labor Department has been drafting a set of regulations liberalizing immigration restriction insofar as refugees would be concerned. These regulations were to have been submitted to the State Department for final approval. With all the reports, recommendations, and suggestions, something should happen soon.

The Committee on Interstate and Foreign Commerce has reported favorably to the House on a resolution introduced by Representative Herman P. Kopplemann of Connecticut, calling for a nation-wide investigation of practices of milk distributors. The investigation would be made by the Federal Trade Commission. Representative Kopplemann believes that there is too wide a spread between what the farmer gets for milk and what the consumer has to pay. He, along with a number of other Congressmen, would like to know why. Passage of the resolution is practically assured in the House.