Letter from Alice Hughes to President Harry S. Truman

3 235 EAST 45ᵀᴴ STREET ALL COMMUNICATIONS MUST BE NEW YORK 17. N.Y. ADDRESSED TO KING FEATURES SYNDICATE KING FEATURES SYNDICATE 71 Park Ave. OFFICE OF New York, N.Y. ALICE hughes - COLUMNIST "A WOMAN'S NEW YORK" July 25, 1949 President Truman White House Washington, D.C. 107 Dear Mr. President: H It is frightening to feel alternately the joy of being an American and the threat of losing that precious privilege. When a man of the Church-- Archbishop Spellman feels free to call Mrs. Roo- sevelt a bigot and an enemy to humanity because she spoke up against the proposed Barden Bill-- both our religious freedom and our right of free speech are in jeopardy. A country founded on no secular privileges is just that. It offers everything it has to all children who wish to avail themselves of democratic èduca- tion inpublic schools. Those who wish to differ may do so, but our avowed purpose is to keep schools free and non-parochial. Surely every man or woman has a right to free discussion over a bill, whether it is worthy or unworthy. If any deny that, then we no longer have the right to speak out on matters that deeply concern government and country. It hardly seems fair that a priest can also be a politician at the same time. Are we to have a return to the tactics of Cardinel Richelieu, with church and state one? How dare anyone accuse Mrs. Roosevelt of bigotry and anti-Catholicism or anti any humanitarian attitude? You yourself appointed her to the U.N. humanitarian relations. Knowing how well she has performed, you should defend her against this bigoted attack by a churchman who speaks in two tongues, priestly and political. Free- over alreetughes