Constitutional Educational League
Encyclopedia
The Constitutional Educational League was an American anti-communist organization, originally founded in aftermath of the First World War.
In 1942, the organization was listed as one 28 organizations indicated by a special grand jury
as having conspired against the United States Army and Navy, being an instrument of the Axis Powers.
In the 1944 presidential campaign
, the organization published a brochure, Vote CIO and Get A Soviet America. A congressional investigation into the 1944 campaign expenditures sought to find out who the financial backers were of the League, as it deemed this brochure to be political. However, Joseph P. Kamp
, vice-president of the League refused to hand over this information. Because Kamp refused to act on a subpoena
, he was tried for Contempt of Congress
. In 1950, he was convicted, and sentenced to four months in prison. Kamp was tried another time for congressional defiance in 1952, when he failed to produce records for the House Lobby Investigating Committee. This time, Kamp was acquitted of the charge, as the House Committee failed to orderly disclose why Kamp was in default.
In 1942, the organization was listed as one 28 organizations indicated by a special grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
as having conspired against the United States Army and Navy, being an instrument of the Axis Powers.
In the 1944 presidential campaign
United States presidential election, 1944
The United States presidential election of 1944 took place while the United States was preoccupied with fighting World War II. President Franklin D. Roosevelt had been in office longer than any other president, but remained popular. Unlike 1940, there was little doubt that Roosevelt would run for...
, the organization published a brochure, Vote CIO and Get A Soviet America. A congressional investigation into the 1944 campaign expenditures sought to find out who the financial backers were of the League, as it deemed this brochure to be political. However, Joseph P. Kamp
Joseph P. Kamp
Joseph P. Kamp was an American political activist who was jailed in 1950 for being in contempt of Congress stemming from 1944 campaign activities. He was acquitted of a second contempt charge in relationship with the lobbying activities of the Constitutional Educational League.Kamp was a...
, vice-president of the League refused to hand over this information. Because Kamp refused to act on a subpoena
Subpoena
A subpoena is a writ by a government agency, most often a court, that has authority to compel testimony by a witness or production of evidence under a penalty for failure. There are two common types of subpoena:...
, he was tried for Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress
Contempt of Congress is the act of obstructing the work of the United States Congress or one of its committees. Historically the bribery of a senator or representative was considered contempt of Congress...
. In 1950, he was convicted, and sentenced to four months in prison. Kamp was tried another time for congressional defiance in 1952, when he failed to produce records for the House Lobby Investigating Committee. This time, Kamp was acquitted of the charge, as the House Committee failed to orderly disclose why Kamp was in default.
External links
- Strikes and the communists behind them another CEL pamphlet