Progressive vs. Reactionary Coalition
Claessens, August
Progressive vs. Reactionary Coalition The Issues in the New York Municipal Campaign By August Claessens Executive Secietary of th. Social Demociatie t ederativn and memler *( the Stat* Krsculiv*...
...They made the aaa« sort »i sllisnre with the Mtsrmn Mayor Ha-ue of Jersey City...
...These are the prime questions...
...But the plain fact is that Tammany and its shady cohorts hsve been kept out of the control of New York City daring the last 12 years only because of coalition of force* that alwayt included the Republican Party...
...But never will it give up its independence' willingly...
...Atomic Bomb spoke for millions who ar* stunned into intellectual immobility when it remarked: "A true world federation...
...They are all good men...
...New York City as a corporation has no stockholders, nevertheless, its eitisens are member* of the corporation...
...In Summary ?-factional ies that if they attempt a coup they will be suppressed just a* the Coin munis ? KAM KLAS was laat December...
...To whom will they be responsible if elected...
...Christian Frcaters and Tammany racketeers were allies before...
...Thi* group, including Justice Owen J. Roberts and Clarence K. Streit, are ef the opinion "that simultaneously with efforts to attain a world federal gevernatent, the United State* should explore the possibility of forming a nuclear union with nations where individual Utterly exist*, a* a step toward the protected world government...
...made Imperative by tin atoinlaonrb...
...Roosevelt, l-ehman, and others, carried New York City only because of the ALP (before it was captured by the Communists) and the Liberal Party...
...SlNCE we can not divorce issues from candidate*, let u* examin* the leading candidates—Jonah J. Goldltein, William O'Dwyer and Newbold Morris...
...Universal disarm...
...Social Demociatie t ederativn and memler *( the Stat* Krsculiv* Committee of the f.iheral Parly StittK insist that the issues in the New York mayoralty campaign are ' routining Th* confusion is part of their temperament ana not in the issues...
...7,500,000 people...
...likewise in the 1932 and 1941 New York City elections...
...It must hasten progres* toward* the municipal ownership and operation of large public service* like electricity, gas, central beating, which are still in the possession of private corporation...
...The flash of the atomic bomb reveaia us defenseleas against ihr «mager* of apocalyptic war...
...Th* NAM News says that the UDA Is pigeonholing all applications for credit from Russia and her satellites until satisfactory political arrangements can b* mad...
...America Firaler...
...Their objective is rbao* and aerial *He*raer, m »hisrh iney proa per...
...Hefnre Hiroahlma it may have been very well to remark that "UNO ia better than nothing...
...Britain opposes continuation of the monarchy, hut wants th* Greek* to decide for themselves...
...Our city must embark upon a great slum clearing program...
...The Communists «? I· 1*41 bated Kooserelt...
...Pr?si-dent Roosevelt stood with us and against the Tammany candidate the sam* Bill O'Dwyer—and urged his defeat in 1911 This year the same coalition faces Tim many and it must win...
...vrn 11 this Is mail* necessary by th · gigantic armament* ol a totalitarian power, it remain* on* mare step along the path taken by Europe toward militarism and regimentation, and away from democracy...
...In an atmosphere ** t'aft, corruption and inefficiency such a* prevailed when rorrupt Tammany politician* governed us, cynicism, dejpair ¦** public demoralization i* bred...
...We alresdy have both UNO and chaos, bat we bare as* semblance of ¦nity among nations or international reoperation er even the promise ef an enduring Rig Three or Big Five alliance...
...Confldenre ha the .Ha» Francisco project in its present farm ia a sort of land-mine which mar at any moment ezplede in eur path...
...a iAi;AIN.ST thi* menace ia · coalition of force* that Inclode th* Liberal Party, the Republican Party, City Fusion, Citizens union and independent non-Tsmm*ny Democrats...
...Ptr-aonally there is no great difference between them in character, background, experience, honesty, integrity...
...Elections in some countries and in many of our 48 states do not concern as many voters as we have in New York City...
...One of the ironies of the stalemate in Java is that the defeated Japanese army I« bebl responsible far maintenance of order - a situation unparalleled...
...Th* most obvious lesson of the Pearl Harbor disaster 1* the ?,··· I for the unification of our armed forces...
...These are but a few things our city ran and must do...
...They sabotaged tax armament preparation*, fomented strikes, feagbt agaiaat the lifting ef the embarga, lead-lease, sad roasrription aad aerketted the While House...
...The same necessity exists in 1945...
...sud abolition of conscription U th* road toward pi-ace...
...lost because of the drop of the vote in formerly and usually strong democratic districts...
...He keeks political revenge through s petulant piece of spite work which might defeat the good government fotce...
...The City Administration must keep clean and in repair many miles of streets...
...It must maintain parks, recreation centers and playgrounds...
...Good government is not Social-ana, but it may be a step in that direc-"W In an atmosphere of efficiency and rfvte decency men and women can strive 'or further progress...
...But whom are they good for ? Whom do they represent...
...Secretary of the Navy Forreetal an I Admiral King oppose the Army plan for merger as "revolutionary and unsound " By the time World War III end* in calamity, the Navy may have derided in discard its obsolete uniform«, bell-bottomed trousers and all...
...Thi* would enable u> to obviate the curse of "perfectionism " It would relieve us of the charge of treasuring the booth »errat far imperialistic purposes...
...What ar* th* force* behind them...
...It must protect the health of its citiiens by proper sanitation, sewerage and garbage disposal...
...The main issues in this campaign ara simple and clear: the significance of the conduct of the affairs of New York City in the next four years and th" «·* 'iination of forces bidding for the control of our city, New York is an immense metropolis of, some...
...Thoae were the fact* in 1937 and 1941 and we of the progressive labor forces and the Social Democratic Federation, the Workmen's Circle, and other groups, worked together with a coalition in 1937 and 1941 that included the Republican Party of New York City...
...fol- the election of Prealdent Roosevelt and other New Deal candidates against Die forces of reaction and isolation...
...These constitute the "Executive Committee," the City Council is the legislative body...
...When we say that we want good government, we mean efficient, honest and Progressive government, such as only **en and women with social vision can "giv* us...
...It must run our transit facilities efficiently and plan more orderly arrangement and zoning for the accomodation of industry, commerce and dwellings...
...All progressive forces, from liberals to Socialists, should work lor the Liberal Party candidates, Goldstein, McGoldrich and rVttr, and for its councilman!!- candidates...
...The Republican Party is in this coalition...
...George in Brooklyn in 1942, when they nominated Bennett over the proteats of progressive democrats from Roosevelt down...
...Operating under the laws of incorporation, New York City is a mighty corporation with an annual budget of over $500,000,0(X...
...The business of our New York City administration is to provide services, maintain institutions and cater to the many need*, comforts, health, and happiness of 7,600,000,000 persons...
...Tinman urged on Congress legislation for one year ef compulsory military training far all American youths...
...The Liberal Party, we (»· · ?will eventually stand on its own fret and shun coalition* with elements of vastly dlffei -•nt ideologies However, In critical elr-I nmstances a coalition becomes necessai y. It was necessary In 19.16, 1940, and 1914...
...As to Bill O'Dwyer, the c»*e is clearer...
...It must raise ¦nance* through sensible taxation and Provide model standards of wages, hours, conditions and relations with our 1*0.000 **tv employees...
...This ¦* deadly to higher aspirations, an 00-*aeW to social progresa...
...There are great numbers of perfectly decent, New Deal Democrats in New York City but the official Democratic Party is neither decent or New Dealish...
...Thank* to Costello, Stand, Steingut, Hines, Kelly, Neal, Roe, etc., the Democratic Party, by itself, has lost every national and stale election since 1936...
...Victory will be a step In the detection of a future National Liberal or Labor Party that will develop independent political action on a broad platform of social and economic reform...
...On November ? they will elect a "Board of Directors," a mayor, controller, president of the council, and Ave borough presidents...
...The Tammany elements also include the vicious Christian Front, and anti-Semitic groups that carried on so disgracefully at the Democratic Party State convention in the Hotel St...
...Its objective is not profit or the enrich-ment of a few stockholders...
...As to Newbold Morris we can say little as to who and what i* behind his candidacy except Mayor l.aCiiardia's peeve...
...It has an imatenee responsibility in the education ef our children in our schools and collages...
...4 That atupid conservatism of Ih*Navy U marvelous...
...is beyond attainment at this stage of world history...
...He is the front for a most dangerous alliance of public enemies...
...1 can say very little about these three men...
...What these »»«rmpiluiK political adveatarera want in alliaarr with Tammany Hall ia not bard ?· 4i« rem...
...It is our foe...
...It is so little hotter than ¦•iking that Ihia sort of language baa been turned into fatuous nenaense...
...What we need ia a new start toward a new objective...
...The Republican Party in the nation and in our state is not our ideal of a party of social progress...
...And thi «•lomai* still pin their faith on bettl« ship*, despite the atom bomb...
...It is between UNO and chaos...
...lost because of sabotage against Roosevelt and l«hman...
...If an adequate global federation cannot be,quickly enough perfected, Ave of the Dublin conferees proposed an alternative...
...They are allies still...
...And it would be a practical step toward the larger union which I* our ettimate objective...
...Only th* threat of defeat forced lb-Navy to cooperate with the Army and Air Force in World War II...
...Only such a cumin nation with the support of alert apd enlightened citizens can the Tgmmnny-Communut Christian-Front alliance bebte ten...
...I naanHiU...
...But then it added: "The actual choice is not between UNO and an ideal world federation...
...Allied with this rahal are ike Commn-nisi*, not only Ihrengh their oaVriil organization bet also their American Labor Party...
Vol. 28 • October 1945 • No. 43
