The Legislative Red Jitters
Lefkowitz, Dr. Abraham
The Legislative Red Jitters A Study in PoliticalHysteria Epidemic of Loyalty Oath Laws Sweeps Nation, Menacing Fundamental Liberties—Academic Freedom Is Democracy's Bulwark Against...
...The sentiment for repeal probably helped to "kill the Nunan Student Oath Bill...
...Either isolation or the old system of military alliances kjada to war...
...Wo...
...r" ^International Labor denounces in the strongest terms this wanton act...
...eurity—Representation of Parties in Spanish Parliament—New Zealand Labor Govt, to Nationalize Banks By John Powers H/E have already referred in this column to the resolution adopted w at the international Socialist snd Labor Conference held in London en March 19 and 20 to consider the international situation...
...j?REE inquiry and tolerance toward sew ideas are essential to orderly progress...
...SHitlar...
...The conference will examine the i J*yto^and developments of the intervening period and will lay down' IrhTpsaaj'i program and policy in the present situation...
...What a splendid weapon this measure placed in the' hands of law enforcing officers...
...Upor rereading it, my conviction is deepened that a debt of gratitude is due to scholars like Prof...
...mi ",rS*,lt,*r appeal to all workers to exert every effort to defeat fascism everywhere snd to promote Socialism throughout the world...
...This conference notes with satisfaction that the League «f'"Nations has condemned the breach of treaty...
...He permitted the opportunity to pass...
...The most outstanding of these measures are (1) the McCormick Military Disaffection Bill which makes it a crime to express a point of view that might indues * soldier or sailor to desert and (2) the Kramer Sedition Bill which makes it a criminal offense to advocate the overthrow of government by violence...
...Hitler ¦si* SMI be permitted to dictate what proposals should or should not -—"The peace of the world is threatened...
...Menacing Legislation In this article I shall stress the legislative disease produced by this hysteria known as - the "Red Jitters* or the attempt to destroy freedom...
...have their "innocents chaff For instance, a notorious shaV ¦apply outfit, the Sherweed B* tective Agency, is also ksstL euphemistically as the Bagh...
...Both are under fire from self-appointed super-patriots who seek to whip popular prejudices into a patriotic frenzy which may prove more menacing to democracy and to our Constitution than the propaganda of political extremists...
...Althoaa these two astute revol-utiossij crystal gazers have been toying with the problem prematsrtry, k may not be necessary after* su either to compensate or easaV cate when in Spain even a Scotchman shelled out voluntarily whs) he found labor conditions *JM trying...
...Abraham Lefkowitz Legislative Representative of the Teacher* Guild...
...Wanton aggression eannol be restrained by moral appeal...
...But the Daily Worker issk* npon kissing the foot that kkM the Communists ha the face...
...The strongest party on the Right is the C.E.D.A., the party ef GO" Hdbles...
...Beard wrote his "Economic Interpretation" so untrodden in this country was the path on which he was setting foot that he expressed the hope historical scholars would be encouraged to turn "from barren 'political' history to the study of the real economic processes which condition political movements in politics...
...The workers' representatives total 107 and the Republicans 155...
...which they waged their electoral campaign through the People's Mast which had been formed for the purpose...
...a The- resolution reads: "Once more the world is faced with a grave menace to peace...
...Let us hope it will be decided in the affirmative...
...The Legislative Red Jitters A Study in PoliticalHysteria Epidemic of Loyalty Oath Laws Sweeps Nation, Menacing Fundamental Liberties—Academic Freedom Is Democracy's Bulwark Against Dictatorship—The Duty of Organized Labor...
...The tragedy lies in the fact that some of the sponsors of this legislation are unable/ to see the implications of their own proposals...
...Organized labor should unite with liberal and intelligent radical forces to preserve academic freedom and...
...When Dr...
...The abolition of the private maai-faeture and sale of arms would render this security more effective still...
...Because of the importance of the resolution adopted at the London conference as a guide in the present situation and any crisis that may arise in the near future we print below the full text...
...the Radical Party of Sehor Lerroux, with only 8 seats as against the 102 it held two years ago...
...It is a preliminary to the Certification of the demilitarized zone and the establishment of ah* bases as part of the preparation for an attack on peaceful States, Bast and West...
...These risks are far less than those of say alternative policy...
...Thus far the efforts of the Teachers' Guild to bring about the repeal of the Ives loyalty-law have proven abortive...
...The ridiculous lengths to which legislatures have gone and seek to go indicate clearly that academic freedom and free discussion are in serious danger...
...or to the system of free and orderly government therein ordained or which advocated the overthrow or destruction of government by-force...
...to shoulder the risks snd responsibilities of such collective organization of peace...
...By inspiring fear and hysteria, Hearst and other reactionaries hope to prevent any basic criticism of the "status quo," the system by which they continue the exploitation of the workers of the nation...
...The fate of the new Left government depends obviously upon the ability¦ -of the People's Front coalition to continue the cooperation of robaomponent parties and groups...
...Any teacher who failed to comply with its provisions, would be guilty LAUGHTER on the LEFT Claudia* Nero Sddied-PnaS Delano fished...
...The measure has the .support of the great majority of "public opinion in New Zealand, including virtually the entire agricultural community and many business men and industrialists...
...The United Affront In Milwaukee the CossasHs were pursuing their leprous Bp to plant the "kiss of death" is the unwilling cheek of Sorhlft Mayor Dsn Hoan...
...In Bilbao, Spawns Highlander named John Msrlssd presented the largest iron oraproducing mine in the vicinity t».tat ew Spanish government and to hh 360 employees...
...Such a breach of International good faith would, if condoned, destroy all confidence in international agreements and the whole system of collective security...
...Its adoption in New Zealand will unquestionably stimulate the application of the principle in other countries, particularly in Britain, where the Labor Party demands the nationalization of the Bank of England...
...that the movement for the Constitution was initiated and carried through by certain groups—money public securities, manufacturers and trade and shipping — whose economic interests were adverse] j affected by the legal arrangement...
...Hitler renewed in 1933 JhS'fim acceptance by his predecessors of the jurisdiction of the Permanent Court of International Justice at the Hague...
...A Stroitjacket Another measure inspired by the "Red Jitters"-is the famous bill by Assemblyman Stokes which would withhold state aid money from schools and educational institutions, such as colleges or universities, which permit "the teaching of or the giving of instruction in doctrines or principles of government subversive of or contrary to the Constitution of the United , States or of the State of New York a^oS^aS^^^ood^of A fitting climax to the legislative "red jitters" in New York appeared with the Whitney BID (reluctantly introduced) which provides that all basses transporting children be painted red, white and Uml Mow if some member of the legislature will provide that all texts be covered by red, white and blue covers and that teachers wear red, white and blue uniforms, then the world ought surely to be made immiiHlilil proof 1 Lest oho think that only the State of Row York is suffering from this disease let them ponder the many "gag bills" that have been introduced into the aSSJeoal legislature...
...T-ab-Strongest single party is that of Gil Robles, the reactionary Qataplic leader...
...SbotweU's Potshot This week's prise for prime h* oney goes to Professor JsatfiB Shetwell of Columbia Uniisia% Denying that the United 8aSP went into the war to sslugaaj credits, he said: "This nation am on the task which history esmpf* to as...
...a" situation extremely dangerous and holding out the possibility of parlamentary difficulties such as fascists and reactionaries have utilised to good advantage in other countries, notably Germany...
...The representation is divided as follows:—Left: 262, Centre: 64, Right: 142...
...The pretext for this breach of a solemn pledge is that the Franco-Soviet Pact conflicts with the Treaty of Locarno, sftst "There is a simple means of settling this...
...Beard's hook first appeared, it represented s pioneering contribution, the author writing at the time that "not even a beginning has been made" to survey the distribution of property in 1787 for economic as well as political history- Since then, thanks to the efforts of Dr...
...The Left Republican parties have returned to parliament '¦with greatly increased strength and are now constituting the government -with the support of the workers' parties...
...The first of these measures is the bill of Assemblyman Devany which provides that...
...liberal organizations, among them the Citizens Union, The League for Women Voters, The Ministers Union, The Kind«rgarten-6B Teachers' Organisation, colleges and a host of other groups, indicated clearly that, the sentiment for repeal is growing despite the bludgeoning efforts of William Randolph Hearst who hurled the epithet of "communist" at all who favored repeal...
...There is the -Party of PorteUa Valladares, the last prime minister, which has 24...
...In.vain we have argued (1) that teachers resented being singled but in having their loyalty questioned...
...The measure is similar to the one under consideration in Canada and in line with the policy applied .under Socialist control in Sweden, where it has served as an effective instrument for economic stabilization and the promotion of the general social and economic welfare...
...The Mac-MUlanCo., N. Y., $2...
...with 95 seats...
...Oriee again the Nazi dictatorship seeks to gain its ends by breaking fta pledged word...
...Beard's Volume On Constitution Is Pioneer Work By Charles Solomon An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States By Charles A. Beard...
...In March 1933, President Roosevelt had a great opportunity to accomplish this for the United States when the counter's banks were saved only by vigorous government intervention...
...We must place civilization Wpotia sul'ulu basis...
...the Catalan League, 11 seats...
...We must refuse to sanction the enactment of legislation that makes thinking a crime...
...While the Socialists have increased their representation from S8 to'38, they are not the strongest single party in the chamber, as they is^eitafter the general election of 1931, when they captured 114 seats...
...Bank Legislation in New Zealand The Labor Government recently formed in New Zealand under the premiership of M. J. Savage has announced its determination to carry through immediately a measure for nationalization of the Reserve's Bank of New Zealand, which is equivalent to the Bank of England...
...The principle e» <tke Locarno Pact should be strengthened and extended, and be applied through the League of* Nations as widely as possible...
...We mast resolutely organize collective security...
...Let this dis-pnsal uansf inn be submitted forthwith to this tribunal...
...N«&rtc come the Republican Party, headed by Azana, with 81 seats, aidH Republican Union, of which Martinez Bario is leader, with 3Bf seats.' Added to these groups are the Catalan Left with 20 seats end ;*h> Communists with 15...
...The Devany Bill was folio wedhy the McNaboe flag bill which provides that every school room in the state should have an American flag on display in the mannerpr escribed by the Commissioner ofE ducat ion...
...The machinery of the League of Nations should be developed, so as to provide for the free and systematic discussion of these economic problems and fo* effective action to raise the standard of life of the workers throughout the world...
...Bearr for their labors in this important field...
...seats...
...The Centre seats are divided among two parties...
...All most rally unhesitatingly to the support of any State attacked by an aggressor, and an agreement most be made to this end...
...The New Zealand Labor Government is of the opinion that government ownership and control of the financial system is necessary to the realization of its immediate program of restoring and extending social services, improving education and guaranteeing of prices for farm products, as well as ef its larger program of social and economic reconstruction...
...It gomdsjaaS babies around without ever IssS to see whether the pan try av m This heresy did not go unhaahdg Promptly, Monsigaor Fzafl Thill, chancellor of the local diocese, went gunning anil judge, and called him a aastpjtffl control propagandist...
...CoBaasaH^B Judge Stanley Struble wsatdsS ning for the fabled, featkeaaU stotrician...
...Under this bill our college students would not only be denied the right to discuss communist Russia or controversial issues generally, but even the New Deal because it too has been charged with being contrary to the Constitution of the United States...
...The remaining 22 seats are' divided ansong twelve workers' groups and other Left elements...
...When Dr...
...Eventually, it may even move American minds to the realization that there can be nc economic stability without control of the nation's banking and financial structure by the community...
...National armaments shoaid now be regulated with this end in view...
...Beard acknowledging conversance with the theories and writings of Marx "in common with all students who profess even a modest competence in modern history...
...One of the favorite devices employed by our "super-patriots" is the utilization of respect for the flag as a cloak to undermine freedom...
...The only hope of securing s -substantial reduction in this oppressive harden Iks in perfecting the system of collective security...
...The three conflicting tendencies in the Socialist Party, Left, Right and Centre, will try to adjust their differences at the conference in an effort to make the party a more effective instrument...
...The question of participation in the government will occupy a leading - place in the discussion...
...He can only prove the sincerity of his proposals if he is prepared to join with oyer nations in limiting armaments by international agreement and submitting them to international inspection and supervision...
...The stork is wTmtm bird," he said...
...It should be general and open to all, in con-foranfty with the principles of the League of Nations, and consequently •seat, not include any discrimination against Soviet Russia, such as ? *e"Tbe International Labor Movement declared in the dispute be-twejaa-Itely and Abyssinia, and declares once again, that it is fully pre-aared...
...The government proposes to utilize the machinery of the nationalized Central Bank for the financing.of a broad program of economic reform, and particularly the financing of farm produce contracts to insure an adequate return to farmers...
...Among the highly paid jMfg executives is Marion - 1 ^m0~\ Douras who receives |104^atj| president of the CoemosnnWm Corporation, according to tke of corporation salaries luismfmg the House Waym and Means Om mittee...
...The writer is opposed to dictatorship or violent revolution but he refuses to...
...As in other countries where Labor and Socialist parties play an influential role, the realization is growing that' the control of the financial structure and machinery of credit must no longer remain in private hands and that this control must be transferred to the community as an essentisl step to a wider socialization of economic life...
...Beard and ethers, 'the thesis advanced by him has been widely accepted, in academic circles, at least...
...The most menacing legislation that is sweeping the nation, is the loyalty oath movement...
...In rebaffkf their sickening advances the ?8-wsukee Socialists were comsellei to dissipate some of their slejaw funds on newspaper advenBjpg to tell the local workers and cfc-izena that Communist support it disastrous and unwanted...
...r-jTbe' attitude of the Socialists will be determined at a national JMMfcBssafafssss* to he held soon, probably in Asturias, the main tahPtre of the revolt of October 1934...
...Frank I. Cobb sought to remind our hysterical patriots that there "is revolution in reaction as well as in radicalism" and toryisn*, speaking the jargon of law and order may prove a greater menace, to liberty than the mournings of Communists...
...Peace is indivisible...
...Not only has the Treaty of Versailles bean continuously broken, but also the Treaty of Locarno...
...But this cannot be done without a powerful, effective political organization of labor sad farmers...
...s~ 11 f n fiA oaaverution for collective security by means of mutual aid {and disarmament should form the basis on which the League of Nations ahjngd Jnvite Germany to negotiate on an equal footing fOr the con-enawsi of a general agnssnent, a refusal being- held to indicate the persistent intention of disturbing European order and peace...
...now seeks to conceal his aggressive intentions under pro-fessiens of goodwill...
...and five other groups holding a total of 21 seats...
...It was not to protect oSfH pocketbooks, bat it was thSjM time spirit of America that, ska the flag was attacked on thsffB seas, this conatery does aajJB to respond.'* Besides beingahSg ed professor of history, Shswal is president of the League of Bf» tions Association, as well as s-w rector of the Carnegie Endowsaw for International Peace...
...Here is good news for some aft ob-hunter who wants to sit MK ind rest his weary legs...
...JB Irving the Stark rhs tkttl Out in Cincinnati...
...If we deny people the right to evaluate ideas, than violence becomes the only way oat...
...Hitler claims to be a peacemaker...
...and opponents of the Cons tit utior in 1787 "from the nature of then property," Dr...
...It would then be the duty of the other Governments snd peoples to organize peace without Hitlerite Germany and to take all measures of collective 4MJ§» aeceassry for maintaining peace...
...Any would-be aggressor must be confronted with aa overwhelming superiority of force...
...Steps to buy out the existing private shareholders of the New Zealand Reserve Bank at a fail valuation are being taken by the government...
...let fascist-minded reactionaries Joel him into acquiescing in the enactment of measures aimed at communists but which strike mortal blow's at freedom...
...The government's •program is based upon an agreement drawn up jointly by the Lejft -Republicans and workers' organizations before the election and upon...
...are reminded in the new prefsah that Theodore Roosevelt proposed to limit the power of the Supreme Court, saying it had become "a law making instead of a law enforcing agency" through "the abuse of the power to declare laws unconstitutional...
...BEN BELSlCCg...
...Reaction can only be fought successfully by the organized power of the workers...
...f^^[- Detailed Results of Spanish Elections t'\ -,While no official figures are available on the general elections held fn'Sparn on February 16 and the by-elections of March 1, it is not considered likely that the final returns will materially change the njefa^ Unofficial figures at our disposal show that parliament will coalwt of 474 members, with a majority of 56 for the left...
...There is only one means by which it can be safeguarded...
...S too...
...Beard's work: "A Survey fit Economic Interests -in 1787," "The Movement for the Constitution," "The Economic Interests of the Members of the Convention," *W Constitution as an Economic Bjfj| ment," "The 1 Process of Rating tion," "The Economic Conflict Qm Ratification as Viewed by Coatsjg poraries," etc The votumetol The Workers Abroad Trade Union and Socialist Internationals Declare for Policy of Collective Se...
...Hence our schools, training centers for a socially-minded citizenry, must traffic in ideas and stimulate discussion, however dangerous such discussion may seem to some proponents of the present social order...
...We sppeal to all friends of liberty and peace to conduct a vigorous persistent campaign against war...
...The Marxian impress is writ large upon this work, Prof...
...In this era of transition, critical social thinking is essential to the preservation of oar democracy...
...The last such national confer-QjSfWftwao held in October 1932...
...tjrbe Socialists, the leading party of the Left group, claim 88 seats...
...They could prevent public discussion' of basic questions by dispersing meetings because, hi' their Judgment, the flag was not "conspicuously" displayed.' _The measure should really be named a bill to kill public debate by any police busybody...
...Both of these measures are aimed ostensibly at communists, but in reality are disguised Attempts to throttle thinking and freedom of expression, especially of those who seek to establish a new social order...
...Though we failed to bring shoot the repeal of the Ives Law by the enactment of the Kaminsky BUI, the vigorous opposition made by many conservative, radical and...
...The wide diffusion of parties crpjjtes...
...h recently printed, with csienlstoi flattery, an item about tasSagp iently managed Socialist adwk-istration and yet it was only ys> terday that they (and aa isshat tor at the Worker's School) S» cased Dan Hoan of using % police (over which he has no eav trol) to club strikers...
...We urge our constituent sections to do all in their power to rally in a supreme effort all the forees of good will Presiding at the historic conference at which this resolution was adopted pare Walter Citrine, president of the International Federa-tfcn" of Trade Unions, and Louis de Brouckere, president of the Labor ajyjfcjrjeliiit International...
...At that conference representatives of the Labor and Socialist International and the International Federation of Trade Unions, speaking for 36,000,000 organized workers in fifteen leading eetmtrtsK adapted the historic resolution setting forth World Labor's attitude on the question of war and peace and its policy with respect to the threat of war emanating from the conduct of the Hitler regime, i e International Labor stands firmly for collective security and the collective organization of peace, preparedness to resist an aggressor hp mobilization of overwhelming force whenever aggression occurs, ifpLMBOaosnic and social reorganisation of the world through the League of Nations along'fines which would eliminate the causes of war...
...The purpose of this latest violation is clear...
...democracy...
...fl Expropriating the Exprterffigfl According to a Tough, OUt gpje ish Customer It took a revolution to east h traditional tightness of a RkeSatf Scotchman...
...Our future voters must learn to evaluate new ideas and that implies a critical as -well as a friendly attitude toward change...
...While an absentee Hearst ajj utive draws 104 grand per saajW the jingo journalist refuse* tel his Milwaukee reporters a dsam wage—and, of course, refoshvj recognise their onion, the'--MM ican Newspaper Guild, n**jj| ducting the strike against the w consin News for better watBjp conditions...
...2) that such legislation was a step in the direction of the regimentation of thought and hence paved the way for fascism...
...The strike-breaking ageaal have torn a page oat of the naff mnnist manual of tactics...
...ThJjjw jffering a teat St the Nf^^B Znrh Exchange at a bargain pm t has been marked down to H)0„ a decrease of $11,000 fits he previous sale...
...Chapter headings indicate the nature of the contents of Dr...
...Labor has done much, but it can and should dc more...
...It will be up to the toiling elements of the •population to tackle the problem...
...I became all the more interested In Marx," writes Prof...
...Freedom was never in greater '#B^e«;ti^i|i^^aation than now beeSnse ox the hysteria en-baiting campaign of unconscionable journalistic character—assassins like William Randolph Hearst...
...under the Articles of Confederation...
...Shades of Thomas Jefferson, Ex-Senator Clayton R. Luck ought to be pleased with the broad scope of this measure which puts the teaching of the social sciences in a straitjacket...
...Beard, "when I discovered fn his work the ideas which had been cogently expressed by outstanding thinkers and statesmen in preceding centuries" and by some of the Fathers, notably [ J smes Madison...
...3) and that ft gave undue power 'to reactionary members of boards of education or legionnaries by which they could inspire fear in teachers and thus prevent courageous, critical and socially-minded teachers from dfscussing controver-jjal questions or deter courageous persons from entering the teaching profession...
...Br Dr...
...Such thinking depends upon the free play of intelligence...
...Determining the proponent...
...We, therefore, demand that a determined effort should be made to remove these causes...
...As the title implies, the economic note is sounded predominantly, and the basic causal relationship between economies and politics abundantly established not only as far as the- movement 'for the Constitution is concerned but, by inescapable implication, generally...
...v- "Permanent peace can only be based on social justice and the removal of economic causes of war...
...TrShMtionalists, 12 seats, and "Spanish Renovation," 12 seats...
...THIS book, published about ? * years ago, is now reissued with an extended new introduction at f time of probably unprecedented interest in the Constitution...
...dust rial Association aceoi-eWthe lettering on the office dot, Bepresentativs Bankkead Tfssm Congress WW Quit May 1. iStSs gress planning a May Day pM* do u-n Pennsyh'ania A venue m% Vito Marcantonio as grani SSS> ¦thai mounted on a "pink fiUpkmsfi * " » ¦»s It Congressman Marcantoahrfe net an outright fascist he eertaK is a wholehearted Fisfaist...
...all public assemblies of more than fifteen persons could not discuss public questions unless _an American flag 36 by 48...
...The remaining 47 seats are divided among seven 'parties, the strongest of which are the Agrarians, 13 seats...
...Thomas and Mm as to whether it should be cow cation or compensation...
...This treaty was freely accepted by Germany, and re-affirmed by Hitler himself as recently as last May...
...Soesjg the weasel ways of the Amerhst Stafinite...
...Beard conclude...
...We mast develop the sense of international solidarity...
...inches was "conspicuously" displayed...
...To this all nations most make an ef-.faatpisi rtsahilmliiiii, according to aa agreed plan...
...Bat in any dis-lalatans-with Hitler's emissaries it is the peaceful States within the League which determine the agenda snd the lines of procedure...
...Perhaps this is an answer jt the question that has been aft plexing Messrs...
...This agreement mast provide for prompt snd united support for any victim of • aggression...
Vol. 19 • April 1936 • No. 15
