◆ SpookStack

aa ais a It is certainly no accident that eee anos “ve two dramatic decisions of the upreme Court upholding individual a even of admitted Commu- nists, were written by conservatives &@ j appointed to the court by President rd | Eisenhower. Surely the intent was eeeaa to remove both opinions from any me possible charge of fuzzy-minded by pdical authorship. The court had in ind something more important _! fn abstract principles. eee Ae RE, ; EDITORIAL PAGE WEDNESDAY, / COURT SEEKS A BALANCE Security and Freedom JUNE 19, 1957 In reversing the contempt of Con- gress conviction of John T. Watkins, Chief Justice Warren attempted to set modest limits on the investigative powers of congressional committees. In freeing five California Communist leaders and ordering the retrial of nine others, Justice Harlan tried to re-define the Smith Act to make it compatible for the First Amendment guaranteeing free speech. Both cases involved the delicate balance between governmental powers cessary for an orderly, and secure spciety and the freedom of the individ- 1 basic toa our political philosophy d religious faith. Clearly this bal- ahce is never perfect, never at rest, but like the poise of a tight-rope walker requires constant compensating movements one way or the other. kk What the court meant to say if simply that in our recent preoccupa- tion with national security we have teetered too far in the direction of increasing the powers of government. The balance on which democracy —_ - Stands may be lost if we do not vigor- ously resume concern with the rights of persons, particularly their right to speak or remain sflent according to their consciénce so long as they do not thereby injure others. Even go the court has been circum- spect. In neither case has it defined constitutional limits on congressional action, Congress may still provide broad suthorizations of power to its committees but must do so in clear specific terms, It may also reverse ; Justice Harlan’s reading of the Smith 63JUL3 1937 | Act but only by specific legislation -passed after public debate, In brief the court recognizes bo . that excesses have occurred in the st d that the present'climate of opinio changed. It therefore asks th branches of government to hew reading of the public will. ey z= ~~ ars ace WY alata f y von . ie _ Ale column; Tele. Room ____ Mr. Holiuman.,__ Miss Gandy