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P - aera an euyens } C AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNTON Southern Calirormis Branchyetes- oMr. Louis Soughin American Civil Liberties Union -: National Office ~ 170 Fifth Avenue New York 10, New York - . Dear Lou: ; . I have already sent you a wire to report tersely our decision ~ Of last evening. Let me elaborate,- \ After a lengthy and Searching discussion, the Board concluded, but’ not unanimously, that it would be both fruitless and hazardous to press for an appearance before the Walter Committee, Instead, it was decided that we: should try to get our views before the public by way of press, radio, and television, although we recognize that -there- is little prospect of fair handling of our statement, If we _can find a small buried treasure we will buy advertisement in the “LOS ANGELES TDUES. , There will be here a First Amendment case. Gro of the people Subpoenaed plans ta oppose the Committee on pure constitutional _&founds.e When he is cited it is our present interest to shepnerd his case into court as a frontal test of the Conmittee's power. It , Would be helpful to us here to have Soon a review -ofACLU retatian- -. Ship in any of the other cases now going up on similar noints of contest of the Committee, Certainly, our ereatest sense last evening was one of frustration at finding ourselves here in the same futile corner we have occupied So many times. The Sommittée,- I am sure, has Spent more kours in Los Angeles than in any other city, except perhaps Washington, D. C. ‘This is old business for us, and it‘is indeed discomforting to find : that we are in no strouger position today respecting this Committee than we were 5 or 10 years ago. We feel strong need of National organization strategy and the confidence of knowing that a progran , 18 underway over the country to which we can relate our efforts. .§ "We have no such confidence at this time, We strongly recommend, “therefore, thai, at the earliest Possible time the National leaders of the Union address themselves to the task of organizing a project of the most _effective sort, aimed at the abelition of the louse . Committee.-"We can be counted upon to pitch in in every practice] “sway to Support and to participate in such a well-conceived and sub- ‘Stantial undertaking, ‘I enclose our ballot on Constitutional “evision, I will write 001426. yOu again soon concerning other matters, ENCLOSURE Cordfally yours, OI MOGEZ (1 Per Mesgoreey