Norman Thomas' Views

...And if i t m e a n s t h a t I a m free To live a n d l a u g h w i t h God a n d m a n As It i s g i v e n m e to s e e . , . T h e n s u r e l y , I a m p r o u d t o b e . . . A m e r i c a n ! • * * F o r one, I h a v e n o t j o i n e d in t h e n a t i o n a l p a s t i me of booing a n d g o o - g o o l n g a t H e r b e r t Hoover, our p a t h e t i c P r e s i d e n t . This column h a s a t t e m p t e d to be a b n o r m a l l y t o l e r a n t of a n a b n o r m a l l y i n t o l e r a b le p e r s o n a l i t y . I h a d hoped to c a r r y t h r o u g h a g a i n st all provocation...

...Hark From the Tombs— HE R E I a m a n Old F o g e y , M u m b l i n g m y toothl e w j a w s , I a m to s t a n d u p b e f o r e WOR, on...

...W h e n a n y o n e s t a t s " d o n 't you w a n t t o ? " I t ' s t i m e to duck...

...Stocks will go booming...

...T h e r e is no r e g i m e n t a t i o n . " A n d a m o m e n t l a t er t h e y a r e s a y i n g to these l i b e r a t e d p e r s o n a l i t i e s, " N o w don't you a l l w a n t t o r e h e a r s e t h e p a g e a nt of P o c a h o n t a s a n d C a p t a i n J o h n S m i t h ?" I t ' s t h i s "don't you w a n t to...

...This reads a lot b e t t e r t h a n it w o r k s , a s t h e d r a w n a n d h a r a s s e d exp r e s s i o n s on t h e f a c e s of t h e t e a c h e r s in " P r o g r e s s i v e Schools" b e a r ample t e s t i m o n y. W h e n you l e t F r e e d om r i n g a r o u n d t h e l i t t l e r ed school-house, you a r e j u s t t r i f l i n g w i t h y o u r luck, a t least In m y opinion...

...T h e r e is a b o u t aa m u ch s e n s e in l e t t i n g a h e a l t h y , h u s k y t e n - y e a r - o l d do w h a t he o r s h e w a n t s t o d o a t a n y p a r t i c u l a r m o m e n t of t h e s c h o o l - d a y a a l e t t i n g t h e h y e n a s in t he B r o n x Zoo l o o s e in t h e m o n e y - h o u s e . B e c a u s e i t u s u a l l y w o r k s out t h a t l i t t l e A d o l p h w a n t s to e x p r e ss his p e r s o n a l i t y a n d u n l e a s h h i s libido by d r a g g i ng l i t t l e E m i l y a r o u n d t h e floor by t h e h a i r of h er head...

...B e s t i l l , m y e x c i t a b le h e a r t . . . C a n I t r e a l l y come t o p a s s , t h a t t h e l e g e nd Out of V e r s a i l l e s , w i t h Marie A n t o i n e t t e on t he b a l c o n y s u r v e y i n g t h e h u n g r y m o b a n d . t h e f a m o us q u e s t i o n s h e a s k e d , h a s b e c o m e a h i s t o r i c a l r e a l i ty h e r e in A m e r i c a In 1031 . . .? " W h a t do t h e people w a n t , " q u e r i e d t h e p e t i te B o u r b o n n e , " T h e y w a n t bread, a n d t h e y have no b r e a d , " a n s w e r e d h e r m i n i s t e r . " I f t h e y h a v e no b r e a d , t h e n w h y d o n ' t t h e y e a t cake...

...The Chatter Box New Word* for Old Song* The Internationale . , , , , American {Dedicated I* the D. A. R , the American Legion, the Hational Security League, the National Civic Federation, the Boy Scouts, and sundry other super-fatriotic 100 per centers...

...T h e s t e e l mills, t h e l u m b e r a n d t e x t i l e a nd rubber mills will s t a r t humming...

...A t t h a t t i m e r e v i e w e r s i n s i d e and o u t s i d e of t he S o c i a l i s t p a r t y r e p r o a c h e d Comr a d e T h o m a s w i t h lack of o r t h o doxy in t h o u g h t a n d m i l i t a n c y in s t y l e . So w h i l e t h e t o p i c s under d i s c u s s i o n a r e a b o u t t h e s a m e a nd most of t h e b o o k is o n l y a c o n t i n u a t i o n of t h e s u b j e c t s touched upon in t h e previous book, t he t i t l e lacks the positiveness of A m e r i c a ' s W a y O u t . I t is a s If C o m r a d e T h o m a s w e re s a y i n g : " N o w look h e r e , w h e t h er I a m o r t h o d o x o r h e r e t i c , w h e t h er I a m m i l i t a n t or c o n s e r v a t i v e, h e r e is w h a t I t h i n k a s I s e e i t, for y o u t o t a k e i t o r l e a v e i t ." I n t h i s book, t h e t w o o u t s t a n d i n g c h a p t e r s are "Reconsiderat i o n s , " full of t h e m o s t a w f u l h e r e, ales In M a r x i a n theology, a n d t he c h a p t e r before last, " F a i t h of My F a t h e r s , " which h a s h a r d ly a n y t h i n g t o do w i t h the movem e n t a t a l l b u t which is lyrical, s i n c e r e , a p p e a l i n g and b e a u t i f u l ly w r i t t e n ; t h o u g h some m a y object t o a Socialist delight in t h e a s p e c t s of t h e life and f a i t h of h is f o r e b e a r s . • » * But coming back to t h e fundam e n t a l s , C o m r a d e T h o m a s d o e s n 't s e em t o h a v e been much i m p r e s s e d by t h e c r i t i c s of his A m e r i c a 's Way Out...

...questioned' the royal Innocent . . . * • * P e r h a p s , H e r b e r t h a s been h e a r i n g about unemployed d e m o n s t r a t i o n s , and t a l e s of d e s t i t u t i o n a nd t r a g e d y in A m e r i c a . T h e r e m a y h a v e come to his e a r s s t o r i e s of a whole people a b o u t t o r e v o l t If t he p r e s e n t c h a o s c o n t i n u e s . I t m a y b e possible, I say, t h a t h e h a s h e a r d a b o u t s u c h t h i n g s. Then, a s t h e liveried c h a u f f e u r announces that His E x c e l l e n c y ' s c a r Is w a i t i n g for t h e m o r n i n g ride, a n d a s h e l o o k s out u p o n t h e g l i t t e r i n g machine, an idea s t r i k e s k e e n l y . . . " T h a t ' s It, l e t e v e r y b o d y b u y a n e w c a r . T h a t will s t a r t u p t h e f a c t o r i e s . T h e u n e m p l o y e d will g o b a ck t o work...

...On t h e t w o m a i n t h e s es of M a r x i a n philosophy, t h e economic I n t e r p r e t a t i o n of h i s t o r y a nd t h e class s t r u g g l e , h e r e m a i n s a d a m a n t l y unconvinced...

...Not t h a t he s l i g h t s or r e p u d i a t e s t h e m . He is v e r y c o n s i d e r a t e i n m a k i n g i t c l e ar t h a t h e c o n s i d e r s both v e r y valu-, a b l e a s a n e x p r e s s i o n of h i s t o r i c al f a c t b u t n o t a s v a l u a b l e a s a s t r i ct d i s c i p l i n e of a c t i o n . F o r t h e first h e s a y s , " M y o b j e c t i o n t o e x t r a v a g a n t c l a i m s f o r t h e e c o n o m i c int e r p r e t a t i o n of h i s t o r y i s t h a t we c a n n o t w o r k in t h e l a b o r a t o r y of l i f e ' a s w e w o r k b y s c i e n t i f i c l a w s In c h e m i s t r y . Still l e s s c a n w e m a ke I t i n t h e s e t i m e s of r e v o l u t i o n a ry c h a n g e In s c i e n c e , p s y c h o l o g y a nd p h i l o s o p h y a s a t i s f a c t o r y metap h y s i c s . " A n d of t h e c l a s s s t r u g g l e h e s a y s : " T h e Idea of s u c h a s t r u g g l e Is o r m a y be a u n i f y i ng f o r c e in a s s e r t i n g the i n t e r n a t i o n a l s o l i d a r i t y of l a b o r b u t I "prot e s t w h e n c e r t a i n s e l f - p r o c l a i m ed M a r x i s t s a c t a s If to believe in t h e class t r u g g l e were a k i n d of m y s t i c a c t of s a l v a t i o n by f a i th w h i c h a l m o s t absolves t h e m from h a r d a n d I n t e l l i g e n t w o r k to org a n i z e l a b o r economically o r polit i c a l l y . . . . A c t u a l l y t h e I d e a of c l a s s s o l i d a r i t y of w o r k e r s of d lf f e r e n t races, colors, n a t i o n s a nd economic conditions, however m u c h It conforms to t h e d e e p e st r e a l i t y , Is a n e t h i c a l Ideal, n e e d i ng t o b e t a u g h t a n d e x p l a i n e d . A nd t h e wisdom to guide t h e r e s h a p i n g of our s o c i e t y doesn't come f r om mere affirmation of t h e diff e r e n t Interest of owners and w o r k e r s . " I n this book C o m r a d e Thomas d o e s n ' t dwell a s m u c h on t h e cons u m e r a s h e d i d i n A m e r i c a ' s W a y Out b u t h e believes t h a t u n d e r no c i r c u m s t a n c e s should we lose s i g h t of t h e " a p p e a l t o t h a t Imp o r t a n t m i n o r i t y of m e n a n d w o m e n who c a n t r a n s c e n d i m m e d i a te c l a s s or group i n t e r e s t for t he s a k e of freedom, peace and p l e n t y . " In s h o r t , t o T h o m a s , Soc i a l i sm is n o t a creed, n o t a dogma, not a t r a d i t i o n but a living movement which h a s t o a d j u s t itself t o t h e difference of conditions a n d b a c k g r o u n d In t h e different c o u n t r i e s of t h e w o r l d : "Let us n o t m a k e M a r x i sm a k i n d of slog a n of s a l v a t i o n w h i c h m e n m u s t a c c e p t in our p r e c i s e f o r m u l a bef o r e t h e y c a n m a k e Socialism t he a l t e r n a t i v e t o d i s a s t e r ." « » • T h a t m a n y of o u r c o m r a d e s will d i s a g r e e w i t h m a n y of his observ a t i o n s and conclusions, a s they p r e v i o u s l y did, t h e r e Is n o doubt...

...But m a n y Socialists b o t h Inside a n d o u t s i d e of t h e S o c i a l i s t P a r t y will e n t i r e l y agree w i t h C o m r a d e T h o m a s t h a t a t t h is t i m e Socialist o r g a n i z a t i o n i s m o re i m p o r t a n t t h a n M a r x i a n i n t e r p r e t a t i o n a n d t h a t S o c i a l i sm i n t h is c o u n t r y cannot succeed unless It d i s p l a y s u n d e r s t a n d i n g , of this c o u n t r y a n d t h e p s y c h o l o g y of I ts people...

...I t h a s b e e n t o n e d down a n d modified, of t h a t y o u m a y b e ' s u r e . O t h e r w i s e t h e p s y c h o p a t h i c w a r d a t Bellevue H o s p i t a l would have more " P r o g r e s s i v e " t e a c h e rs t h a n It h a s . M y g r i p e Is t h a t t h e m o d e r n schoolm a r m s s t i l l t a l k a b o u t it a s t h o u g h i t w e r e going on...

...T h e f u t u r e h i s t o r i a n , of t h e S o c i a l i s t movement and Socialist t h o u g h t In t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s will h a v e to a c q u a i n t himself w i t h t he t r e n d of T h o m a s ' a r g u m e n t before h e is in a position to'interpret t h e dominant s e n t i m e n t s of t he movement today., Oppose College Fees T h e senior and g r a d u a t e g r o u ps of P i o n e e r Youth of A m e r i c a have a d o p t e d a r e s o l u t i o n opposing t he proposed N e w Y o r k C i t y r u l i n g r e q u i r i n g t u i t i o n f r om all s t u d e n ts In w h a t a r e n o w f r e e c i t y colleges...

...Or else B u s t e r ' s yen f o r c o m p l e t e freedom t a k e s t h e f o rm of m a k i n g a model of a s p e a k e a sy o u t of t h e wood w h i c h P e t e r h a s s p e n t t h r e e o r f o ur h o u r s s a w i n g u p f o r h i s m o d e l of a Y. M. C. A. h u t . I n s h o r t t h e whole t h e o r y w o r k s a b o u t a a well aa a n a r c h i sm a n y w h e r e . W h i c h la n o t a t all...

...I t h a s a r e g u l a r f o r m u l a of i ts own, It h a s i t s t r a d i t i o n s a n d m o r e s a l r e a d y set a n d n o t t o give It a b i g h a n d i s t o c o n f e s s yourself - a s o u t of d a t e a s a model T F o r d . On t h e whole, ol course, I g r a n t It h a s Its p o i n t s . A lot of s m a rt k i d s s e e m to b e s u r v i v i n g it f a i r l y well...

...W h e n it comes to r e a d i n g , t h i s is performed p h o n e t i c a l l y , when a t all...

...On t h e t h r e e quest i o n s mentioned, namely Russia, t h e A. F . of L. a n d P r o h i b i t i o n, o u r P a r t y h a s been and s t i l l is w i d e l y split...

...Yoy s e e , " t h e y tell you, " h e r e t h e c h i l d r e n a re t r e a t e d a s p e r s o n a l i t i e s a n d allowed u t t e r freedom...

...We a r e simply w a l l o w i n g In it here In N e w Y o r k . I t h a s b r o k e out on u s l i k e h i v e s . Most a l l t h e l i t t l e r e d r a d i c a l s a re being exposed t o It...

...If, a s W a l t e r L i g g e t t r e p o r t s In h i s book, H e r b e rt H o o v e r h a s h a d a v e r y s h a d y p a s t , h a s b e e n a labor h a t e r and exploiter, has m a d e millions by Ponzl m e t h o d s a n d w o r s e , I a m u n d e r s t a n d i n g e n o u g h of t h e s y s t em t h a t e n c o u r a g e s the u n s c r u p u l o u s and n i m b l e - w i t t e d t o g r a b all t h e y c a n w h i l e t h e g r a b b i n g is g o o d . . . I a m w i l l i n g a t all t i m e s t o d a mn t h e s y s t em a n d j u s t despise t h e m a n . . . So f ew of u s a s i n d i v i d u a l s h a v e gone t h r o u gh l i f e under t h e p r e s e n t order w i t h o u t h a v i n g sinned a g a i n s t o r d i n a r y h o n e s t y a n d e t h i c s . . . I h a d w i t h h e l d h e a v i n g a s t o n e then, u n t i l H e r b e r t s t o o d up o n t o p of t h e n a t i o n a l economic w r e c k a g e , a n d ever s o blandly a d v i s e d bis s t a r v i n g a n d n e a r l y bankr u p t e d f e l l ow c i t i z e n s , " B u y a n e w a u t o m o b i l e and e n d t h e d e p r e s s i o n . . ." " H i s t o r y r e p e a t s Itself," Is a household sophism...

...r H A T is t h i s w o r d . . . A M E R I C A N ? I s It t h e g a m b l e r a t t h e t a pe S n i f f i n g over loss a n d g a i n; Or t h e full a n d f a t t e d shape T h a t c o r n e r s cotton, coal a n d g r a i n . . .? I s it t h e o n e w h o s c h e m e s a n d s q u i r m s, And k n o w s t h e l e g a l t w i s t s a n d f l a w s? I s it t h e f i n a n c i e r who w o r m s And s l i p s b e t w e e n t a x a t i o n l a w s? I s it t h e n i g h t club s y b a r i te Who g u z z l e s while a n a t i o n b u r n s? I s i t t h e p a m p e r e d p a r a s i te Who s q u a n d e r s w h a t he n e v e r e a r n s? I s it t h e o n e w h o b r e a k s a s t r i k e ? i T h e g u n m a n w h o will s h o o t t o s l a y? Or t h e l e a d e r . . . J u d a s - l i k e, Who s e r v e s h i s people, to, b e t r a y ?. I s it t h e e d i t o r who s p e n ds H i s Godly g i f t s for c o m m o n d r o s s? I s it t h e C a i a p h a s who s e n ds N e w C h r i s t s to bear the a n c i e n t c r o s s? I s it a n y of t h i s crew, T h e n s u r e l y a s I a m a m a n , I ' d h a n g m y h e a d in s h a m e and rue Being called . . . A m e r i c a n? But if i t m e a n s , a s well I know, To h a t e t h e s t r u t of a r r o g a n c e, To s u f f e r for h i s n e i g h b o r ' s woe And h e l p h im t h r o u g h h i s c i r c u m s t a n c e; To c l e a n s e t h e e a r t h of blood a n d sword, And all t h e s t e n c h of w a r ' s remains, To rid t h e w o r l d of k i n g and lord, D e s t r o y i n g bonds and b r e a k i n g chains And If i t m e a n s t o w o r k a n d b u i ld F o r all t o o w n a n d e a c h to h a v e . . . The w e l d i n g i n t o common guild Of G o t h a n d C e l t a n d G a u l a n d Slav...

...Before y o u k n ow It, you will discover t h a t all t h e t i m e In y o u r s u b conscious, you h a d w a n t e d to g e t o u t of t h e e a s y - c h a i r a n d move the piano from the b a s e m e n t up to t h e a t t i c. I never notice a n y polls b e i n g t a k e n , b u t I have n o t i c e d t h a t by some process of d i v i n a t i o n on t he p a r t of the teacher, a universa l desire to do a p a g e a n t of P o c a h o n t a s and C a p t a i n J o h n Smith w a s sweeping t h e c l a s s - r o om a n d in a f ew m o m e n ts all hands were p a g e a n t i n g . Because, you see, y ou d o n ' t t e a c h h i s t o r y out of books in t h e s e modern schools, you m a k e it u p a s you g o along...

...Maybe t h e r e Is t r u t h in It...

...of these n e w - f a n g l e d r a d i o t h l n g u m j l g s a n d defend t h e Old T i m e E d u c a t i o n a g a i n s t Waldo F r a n k , t he b o o k - w r i t i n g feller, w h o f o e s down to Kentucky, w h e n t h i n g s h e r e a b o u t s g e t dull...

...P h o n e t i c r e a d i n g means m a k i n g s t r a n g e noises, s l i g h t l y r e s e m b l i n g the b u r b l i n g of epllepU, a t t h e s i g h t ' of w o r d s . T he c h i l d hisses, coos, moos, b a a s , bellows a n d genJ e r a l l y c a r r i e s o n in a m o s t a l a r m i n g m a n n e r before a p r i n t e d p a g e . I t i s t h e s o r t of l i p - r e a d i n g common to s u b s c r i b e r s to "True S t o r i e s " a n d " L i b e r t y ," r a i s e d to t h e n ' t h d e g r e e . T h i s Is t h e r e s u l t of t he a b a n d o n m e n t of t h e a l p h a b e t as a n o u t g r o w n device, s a m e a s t h e m u l t i p l i c a t i o n t a b l e . N o u s e c l u t t e r i n g u p t h e m i n d s of f r e e Individuals w i t h t h i n gs l i k e the a l p h a b e t , d a t e s und so w e l t e r . Let these d e a r l i t t l e c r e a t u r e s a b s o r b such m a t t e r s a s they do s u n s h i n e a n d a i r a n d V i t a m i n D. If, a t t h e a g e of t e n o r twelve, t h e y w r i t e l e t t e r s t h a t m a k e the e f f o r t s of a Fiji I s l a n d e r look like pellucid prose, w h a t difference does I t m a k e ? A r e n ' t t h e y express i n g t h e m s e l v e s ? And If no one e l s e on e a r t h c ab u n d e r s t a n d w h a t they a r e d r i v i n g a t , a g a i n whose c o n c e r n is i t ? Mc Alister Coleman...

...T h e r e a rc f e a t u r e s of it, however, which s e e m t o m e highly o v e r r a t e d . F o r Instance, one of t h e s l o g a n s of t h i s " ' P r o g r e s. s l v e E d u c a t i o n " Is c o m p l e t e f r e e d om for t h e development of the Individual child...

...S. A. do Witt...

...T o be aure, h i s t o r y isn't d a t e s . B u t I t is s o r t of c o n v e n i e n t t o h a v e o n e o r t w o In mind, e v e n if o n ly f o r p e g s to h a n g p a g e a n t s on...

...S o r t of p l a y it by ear, i r r e s p e c t i v e of d a t e s , troublesome f a c t s and all t h e b o t h e r s o m e d e t a i l s t h a t d a r k e n ed t h e y o u t h of u s o l d - t i m e r s. As a consequence you l e a r n t h e m o s t I n t e r e s t i ng t h i n g s about h i s t o r y from the m o d e r n i s t i c lips of t h e y o u n g e r g e n e r a t i o n . F o r e x a m p l e , t h e f i r s t P r e s i d e n t of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s w a s H a r d i n g , t h e Mason a n d Dixon Line divided N o r t h and S o u t h A m e r i ca a n d t h e r e ' s no t e l l i n g h o w t h e Civil W a r c a m e out u n t i l next May when t h e y a r e g o i n g to h a v e a p a g e a n t of A p p o m a t t o x courthouse...

...Some of us who a r e politically m i n d e d m a y also question the wisdom of his i n d i r e c t endorsem e n t of P r o h i b i t i o n a n d h i s s o m e w h a t supercilious a t t i t u d e t o w a rd t h e A. F . of L. N e i t h e r is i t ent i r e l y c o r r e c t t o s a y t h a t "Russia Is disproving the fallacy of the n e c e s s i t y of the worship of the profit motive to m a k e men work a n d work hard,"—not after piece w o r k and special bonuses have b e e n Introduced by special decree i n t o all shops a n d f a c t o r i e s. B u t t h e I m p o r t a n c e of Comrade T h o m a s ' book lies n o t so m u c h in h i s opinions as In his a p p r o a c h. We m a y 6r m a y n o t differ with h i s opinions...

...Norman Thomas' Views A Review of "As I See It" By B. C. Vladeck TH E t i t l e of C o m r a d e T h o m a s' n e w book, "As I See I t , " by N o r m a n T h o m a s , The M a c m l l l an Company, N e w York, is e v i d e n t ly a concession to t h e c r i t i c s of h is A m e r i c a ' s W a y O u t w h i c h a p p e a r e d a y e a r ago...

...W o r k e r s will b u y n e w h o m e s . E v e r y t h i ng Will commence m a r c h i n g t h e r o a d of p r o s p e r i t y . . . Call i n t h e p r e s s . . , G e n t l e m e n . . . I h a v e i t . . . l * t e v e r y b o d y b u y a n e w c a r . . . " M a r i e ' A n t o i n e t t e , y o u m a y y e t h a v e a companion to classic s t u p i d i t y a n d Insolence...

...W a l d o la g o i n g to defend Modern E d u c a t i o n and I 'm g o i n g u p agin h i m for t h e benefit of t h e W a l d e n School, a " P ro g r e a s l v e " school h e r e In N e w Y o r k . This historym a k i n g event comes off t h i s S u n d a y a f t e r n o o n a t 3 o'clock, s o g e t y o u r e a r s t u n e d In, boys a n d g i r ls M a y b e some of y o u f o l k s out t h e r e In t h e s t i c ks d o n ' t k n o w w h a t "Modern" or " P r o g r e s s i v e " Educ a t i o n la...

...So I will e n l i g h t e n you...

...stuff t h a t g e t s m e . I t ' s j u s t a n o t h e r evasion...