The Gold-Bricker

Some 250 Vigilant Women for the Bricker Amendment gathered in Washington, shook their heads sadly as Mrs. Robert Vogeler (wife of the freed prisoner of the Hungarian Reds) cried: "Men who serve their country now have fewer rights than men who betray it." Another orator made the Vigilant Women fairly squeal with delight when he gave his reasons for changing the U.S. Constitution, beginning with: "This is the 74th birthday of General Douglas MacArthur." The speaker was Clarence Manion, ex-dean of the University of Notre Dame's law school, now chairman of President Eisenhower's Commission on Intergovernmental (federal-state) Relations, and a man for whom the Administration has fully mastered its enthusiasm.

The vast and vital field of federal-state relationships would challenge a dozen "Pat" Manions--but has not been given the full-time attention of even one. Manion has been busy with other things; his proud boast is that he has spoken for the Bricker amendment in all the 48 states. Meanwhile, his commission has languished. Of 78 federal grant-in-aid programs that Manion himself believes should be studied, work has started on only three. With the commission's report due March i, an extension of time must be requested.

The Administration does not intend to fire Manion, despite his intemperate attacks on opponents of the Bricker amendment. But it is no secret that everyone from the President on down would like to see him resign or else get to work with his commission and quit gold-Brickering.

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