On the heels of Justice Department recommendations that legislative steps be taken to curb the flow of scurrilous campaign literature, Chairman Guy Gillette of the Senate Campaign Funds Investigating Committee announced today he was preparing two bills for introduction “within the next few days” which would meet these recommendations.
“The evidence we have uncovered in the 1940 campaign shows a well-established technique for the use of racial and religious prejudice in elections and there is every reason to believe that this shameful condition prevails to even a greater degree in State and local elections.” Senator Gillette declared.
An admittedly sketchy investigation of scurrilous literature and its sponsors by the Senate committee disclosed that most of it was on the anti-Semitic theme. Mushroom and generally anonymous “committees” and individuals flooded pivotal states with literature on such subjects as ” Jewish Communism” and the allegation that the Roosevelt administration was controlled by “international Jewry,” The writings of such anti-Semitic pamphleteers as the Rev. Gerald Winrod of Kansas. Charles Hudson of Omaha and William Dudley Pelley were circulated by many of these committees, according to evidence submitted by the Senate probers.
Reporting to the Attorney General on the Grand Jury inquiry into election law violations, Maurice M. Milligan, Department of Justice aide, recommended the following amendments to the Hatch Act which would have the effect of materially curtailing anonymous and scurrilous propaganda:
(1) A ban on expenditure of funds in behalf of any party nominee for President and Vice-President by any independent group without the specific permission of the national party committee. This would have the effect of making the national committee responsible for all activity by all groups working for a candidate and reduce the national committee’s permissible expenditures by the total these groups spend.
(2) A clear and all embracing definition of what constitutes a political committee within the province of the Federal elections law. Milligan’s recommendation calls for covering not only those seeking to influence the election of Federal officers, but also groups soliciting or spending money to influence Federal legislation. Legal action in line with the recommendation, Justice Department aides pointed out today, would require a complete report of receipts and expenditures, with the sources of income of practically all anti-Semitic and home-grown Fascist groups in this country, since agitation for or against legislation is usually one of the primary excuses for their existence.
(3) Prohibition of circulation through the mail of all literature designed to influence a Federal election or national legislation which does not bear the names and addresses of the persons responsible for its publication and circulation. This, too, is seen as striking a damaging blow at circulation of scurrilous literature in national elections and bringing full publicity to bear on organizations attempting to inject racial and religious prejudice into national affairs.
Senator Gillette said he would also attempt to contact interested individuals in all states with a view to launching campaigns for similar restrictions in state elections.
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