Show I t We-M We We Must st Safeguard i v Our Elections Too L t The he first step in clarifying ying the right I of labor Jabor to freedom of expression expreSsio h has s I been taken A 4 federal judge in Wash Wash- J t ington h has ruled d' d that a i a section of the 5 4 Taft Hartley Hartley t-Hartley law Jaw banning political spend spend- t f ingby J labor bor unions Is unconstitutional because it lUs is of the freedom freedom free free- dom o of speech freedom of the p press and andi I i fr fi doth dom of ass assembly provisions of the ther r tC constitution J It was obvious that congress never 1 f intended that this section of the T Taft Taft- ft Hartley law should apply to the publication publication J tion ion of political opinion In a regular labor J publication Many members of congress and many outside observers believed the law Jaw was perfectly cl clear ar on the point but I the department of justice chose to interpret interpret interpret in- in it diff differently and bring it to a ai i p. p judicial issue Now the justice depart department ent plans to toT toI I T appeal the lower court decision to the supreme court This is essential in order j t to get a final ruling and ruling and the action actionS S should be taken promptly so that the Issue will be settled prior to the theand summer t and fall political campaign t It is doubtful however if a judicial j t decision will be enough If this s section c on ont t of the law Is entirely annulled by judicial judicial judi- judi p cial decision it will wiIl cle clear up any question j t as to the right of labor unions to freedom of expression but it will leave the the thedoor door I wide open to improper use of slush funds i for political purposes t p Freedom of f e expression is one thing It is a right aright of labor which h must be deI de- de 1 I fended But th the expenditure of huge sums BUms of money to b buy y elections is an- an other In no way can that be regarded as a aright right of labor lacor or of any other group 4 There will be need for congressional a action ac- ac tion to clear up this point It is just as t Important to safeguard the freedom of oft J t elections as it is to safeguard freedom of expression |