◆ SpookStack

oO E oe he ie ee RECORD By C. F. Byrns Nine Commemist leaders in alifornia who were convicted ore than five years ago on barges of conspiracy to advo- ate violent overthrow of the ernment were freed in a aliforala federal district court onday. These nine were among the 14 hose convictions were reversed by the supreme court last aum- mer, Five were freed by the . high court. The cases of the re- maining nine Were remand. ed to the ‘tria!! “court for new! trials. But no, new trials were « held, because! the federa! prosecuting attorneys said they could not convict them under the decision of the supreme court, So 14 Communists are free to go and sin seme more akainst people of the United, Slates. ial ‘This bizarre result is the di- réct fruit of the supreme court decision. The court held in sub- stance that it Is no crime to ad- vecats violent destruction of this 3 form of government ubless aome overt act is done te carry out the destruction. Since that decision, which; stirred wp quite a furor at the; Peiiiagu- a a ee on a en ale missed in other courts. ne’ cause the judges of those smal fe en the " ware . game time, the aupreme court held that state jaws dealing with espionage cannot be enforced be-| cause that field belongs to the, federal government, Therefore, following again the instructions; of the supreme court. no state court can try these Communists or others charged with plotting or actually carrying out plots against the American people. These court decisions have taken away the state's right to defend itself against spies and ‘ gaboteurs. At the same time, thel; federal authorities are material- ly restricted in their power to do anything about a conspiracy; unless some overt act is com-|* mitted. C $ € pene This is ane example of the de- struction of states’ rights, which is occupying the attention of 0), many people. There are many! others. i; x *« * £ People whe are In favor of concentrating all power in the federal government and narrow- ing the field of states’ rights! | often try to make it appear that), restoration of states’ rights will wipe out federal funds for many), activities and leave the states’, facing impossible mopey prob- Jems. Some have hinted at with- drawal of higbway funds, water resource development money, a0, cial security benefits, farm aid and other programs in which! the federal government neces- sarily must share, These are national problems related quite djstantly if at all to the rights of slates pehich are rapidly being er e€ rights to operate our own state and local institetions in accord- time, ether cases Involving the' “ance with the wishes of the sinie’'s oWn people, Preserving those rights is a vita: necessity if we are to maintain a demo- cratic rather iotaltarian government. RE; UNITED S"ATFS SUPREME COURT FORT SMITH TIMES RECORD SOUTHWEST AMERICAN -— ~~ SOUTHWEST-TIMES RECORD FORT SMITH, ARKANSAS 7 DATE /Z.4- a