Trainman News

Senator Morse
Wiretapping
Police State
Way: Morse

WASHINGTON - "Wiretapping is a police state method. We will do a poor job of defending democracy from the aggressions of Communists and other totalitarians, if in the process we adopt as our own the methods of our enemies."

Sen. Wayne Morse (Ind-Ore) had that reply in a recent Senate speech to a proposal by Attorney General Herbert Brownell that wiretapping by federal agents be legalized in national security investigations.

"Our Fourth Amendment was designed to protect personal privacy and security, and the sanctity of the homes of Americans from the assaults of impatient, over-zealous and opportunistic officials," declared Senator Morse.

Brownell has argued that wiretapping was justified in the interest of national security. In reply to that argument, Senator Morse pointed out that in a recent Supreme Court case Justice Jackson had stated that "security is like liberty in that many are the crimes committed in its name."

"In the name of security," declared Senator Morse, "the police state justified its oppressions. In the name of security we are asked to set aside our constitutional guarantees of liberty.

"At any time in history short-sighted leaders can use a national emergency as an excuse for precipitous actions. The strength of our democratic processes is in their proven ability to withstand the tests put to them in times of emergency."