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Proteste d to Truman Elmer A. Benson, chairman of the National Wal , re mm . e l i i today said he has asked President Truman to ‘avestigate the “intimidating peo: cedure” of Washington police who have planned a check of local Walla rs” for Communist activities. ?-- Mr. Benson wired the Presj- dent that such an investigatigh, revg4led yesterday in The Neys, eans that the equivalent gf a estapo is now policing the capi- tal of our nation. ... “We expect that you will demand of the Commissioners of the Dis- trict of Columbia and the Senate District Committee an immediate investigation of this intimidating _ procedure and its threat to funda: ‘ mental civil liberties.” : Police Chief Robert J. Barrett late yesterday declared he has had noth- jng to do with the plan to investi- - gate local Wallace supporters. NO AUTHORITY Maj. Barrett said no one has au- thority to make such an investiga- tion and he did not know one was planned. “j'@ like to find anyone who is making such an investigation,” he paid. . . ; Maj. Barrett said he called a con- -erence of detective bureau. head - yesterday immediately after readin The News that an investigati was planned by Lieut. Harry Black- man’s special investigations squad. He said he met with Lieut. Black- _man, Inspector Floyd Truscott, act- ing detective officer and Detective : Bureau chief, and Capt. Robert Bry- ‘ant,,acting detective chief. He said thyf told him they had made no an- ‘ puncement about the investigation. The police chief did admit that police “have nad a file since before the war.” In the file are lists of ' . questionable gatherings and groups, persons attending their meetings t .and speakers at meetings. On the list of speakers, it is un- derstood, are the names of the late President Franklin . welt, Mrs. Roosevelt, former Police ¢ Chief Ernest W. Brown, and sev- } eral querabers of Congress, in addi- -tion to local ministers, business men ¥ and labor leaders and other respect-. ‘able citizens. ~- ; Mai, Barrett said he was “emba _rassed” to read in The News ‘members of his department w, investigating ministers and bust mess men. .? ~ a oe e ~ ara rey RNPORMEATION CONTAISE ee nay oe,