THE DECLINE OF THE CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION                                                              287

unique in that it is the first one in the United States whose sole
function _is to collect money from the general pubhc and to dis¬
tribute what it raises in defense of the Bill of Rights.

During its first year the Bill of Rights Fund gave financial as-
'sistance in more than fifty outstanding court cases involving
important constitutional issues. It made grants, for example,
towards the legal expenses of defendants prosecuted under the
Smith Act, the Internal Security Act, the Immunity Act and two
CaHfornia Acts requiring loyalty oaths or affirmations. It assisted
a number of persons indicted for invoking the First or Fifth
Amendment in refusing to answer improper questions put by a
Congressional committee. The Fund rendered aid to several
American citizens illegally denied passports by the U.S. State
Department. And it supported two religious groups in their re¬
sistance to unconstitutional actions.

There is today such a tremendous amount of work to be done
via the preservation of civil liberties that actuaUyJittle^oyerlapping
{takes place among the different organizations active in the field.
And I cannot envisage a time in this countiy when some such
groups will not be needed to keep alive the spirit of the Bill of
Rights, to combat violations of it and to help break new ground
in the expansion of inteUeetual and cultural freedom.
 

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