"IF CIVIC PRIDE IS NOT DECADENT THOMAS WILL BE ELECTED," JOHN DEWEY DECLARE
Dewey, John
"If Civic Pride Is Not Decadent Thomas Will Be Elected." John Dewev Declar John Dewey has never been a member of the Socialist Party Yet in this campaign he is devoting his full energies...
...On both counts he is far the best man in the field...
...Pettyordinances must be obeyed to the letter...
...But a babe in politics knows that what they really want is a victory for the Republican party...
...The corporation period beginning in the era of the kingship of Croker made it necessary for the Hall to adjust itself to the needs of the new corporate powers...
...Blind partisans may vote for Walker or LaGuardia...
...He is one of the ablest, most highly trained and most truly publicspirited citizens who has ever been presented to the voters of New York City as a candidate for Mayor...
...Through the regime of the sainted Murphy, who also pocketed millions, and those who succeeded him, it is unnecessary to trace the story of the evolution of the Hall to its present power...
...So, many thousands of poor renters must stay in dirty and unsanitary firetraps because the funds that would be available for modern housing are used to pay nice salaries to the agents of the Hall...
...The Citizens Union atateil is the best qualified candidate sail endorses nobody...
...I support him on his own high merits of ability and character as a man eminently qualified for the highest and most responsible position in this city's life, and as a leader who in this crisis in the city's affairs can give us the independent movement that the city so sorely needs...
...crimes of violence have remained unabated and mostly undetected, and public scandal has followed upon public scandal...
...Its educational campaign in New York City, under the leadership of Norman Thomas, our candidate for Mayor, has brought increasing support since the campaign began...
...As for the children we send to the schools, their intellects are starved and the quest for a rounded knowledge and wide culture are smothered by the routineers and vulgarians...
...because ¦JfiB cities need a fighting *¦ and because we shontsajm duced to choosing b»W^H sputtering frying pen «***•¦ dia and tbe ansoaBBUjap™ Walkac...
...In no other nation would voters tolerate the low-grade incompetents in whose clammy hands children are shaped into mechanical dolls who go out into the world too often not equipped for the battle of life...
...For several generations the city has been run by an organization known .as Tammany Hall...
...All constructive and social measures would be subordinated to the interests of the party and the faction of it in power...
...City jobs are created for them, jobs that carry no useful or necessary functions...
...To make an intelligent choice ; between them the voter must approach each candidate with these j three questions in mind: 1. What does he promise to do [ if elected...
...He promises to do both...
...Measuring the Candidates Measured by these tests the choice is easy...
...London with its larger population is governed al an annual cost of $180,000,000...
...The Republican Party is hardly less disreputable than the Democratic Party in this city, and at present in a pitiable, almost laughable, state of disorganization...
...This is the type of man who is for Norman Thomas...
...A Measure of Progress The smug satisfaction of the parasites who fatten upon us in their maladministration of public affairs is challenged this year as it has never before been challenged...
...Earnest and high-minded Republicans are rightly as ashamed as they are discouraged at the present predicament of their party...
...Brothels swallowed up the unfortunates marketed in this horrible traffic...
...In other words, the great masses in New York City, who must in the final analysis bear th< burden, pay $345,000,000 more than the masses of London do for the adrahustratjon ot punuc affairs...
...Mayor Walker has a party, but he has no platform and is lacking in personal qualifications...
...President World's Christian Endeavor Union) I shall support Norman Thomas...
...No fundamental remedy can be hoped for from them...
...the old party principle is "The city for the politicians...
...Major LaGuardia has neither platform, nor party, nor personal qualifications...
...The masses pay the bills in neglect and exploitation...
...He has showljj unselfish citizen, spuaWaf ungrudgingly for his "JjS He is a man with a bep*J head—above all a men **'| clal conscience...
...His record is one of consistent and unselfish devotion to the people and of deep understanding of their needs...
...J Thomas an "UiaidHI Citizen^ Says Dr.wfl By HENRY SLOArttCfl Norman Thomas is *T Jj best fitted for the onV*¦JfM a thorough education JpJ first rate thinker...
...Before the present era of its pretense to being "new," it took illiterate bruisers and ruffians and made them district leaders...
...Vote Socialist...
...We propose to carry on the good fight to throw off this thing that represents only the exploiters of the masses...
...He should be repudiated by the voters of this city in the name of public decency...
...2. Will his political connections and commitments help or hamper ' him to redeem his promises ? 3. Does he personally have the will and ability to live up to his promises ? In other words the determining considerations must be the platforms, parties and personal qualifications of the candidates...
...Here election frauds are validated and given a legal sanction...
...The outraged man or woman beats his or rier fists against a stone wall, turns in anger from the scene, and goes back home to fight a hopeless fight against the parasites or to make an ignominious surrender...
...The same thing is true of housing and education and all other municipal issues...
...Educational institutions, particularly those of a residential sort, tend to become academic jails, or places where children may be kept safely insulated from modern thought and conduct,—Harry Elmer Barnes...
...The result is an alliance which recalls the epigram of John Randolph, "a union of the Puritan and the blackleg...
...The billions of property chiefly held by this upper layer of pseudo-aristocrats are safe in the hands of the Hall...
...He is bound to deceive one, if not both...
...Always in fear of a political revolt that will destroy the Hall's power, there is an undercurrent of terrorism of dissenters...
...The opponent must "get right with the Hall'' if he wants to make a living...
...The educatiton of our children is placed under the control of illiterate placemen who have no knowledge of the requirements of modern education...
...lis about it, you academic slaves...
...Education" is standardized like the mass production in a factory...
...His capital—and there is plenty to give him this capital—are the failures, corruption and Inefficiency of the Tammany administration...
...But that it will get a eke* which will stay put by meant of eat tions and promises made durtnr at paign is a childish dream...
...Norman Thomas runs on a definite program of thoroughgoing city reform and public welfare...
...Robert Burns...
...He and his running mates on the Socialist ticket have the full backing of a political party which has invariably given the people a clean, efficient, progressive and humane government wherever it has been entrusted with the government of a city, whether In Vienna or Amsterdam, in Milwaukee or Reading...
...The city pays the salaries of party parasites...
...To the Socialists the c^ty is first ai all the home of more than six million human beings working and living together and largely dependent on the city administration for their health, comfort, safety and education...
...If La Guardia were elected mayor, the non-partisan issues would be at once returned to the background of neglect, and the Republican party machine, either the old one or a new one, would come to the fore and take control...
...For these reasons and others Hal I am...
...It ought to go without having to be said that the importance and dignity of the office demand the type of man who measures up to them...
...He is few yond the average in moat* age and in his grasp of nasal tals...
...This is easy to understand...
...Thomas Best Man in The Field, Fosdick Says Bv Harry Emerson Fosdick (Pastor Riverside Baptist Church) I will vote for Mr...
...Poling for Thomas on Grounds of Principle Bv Daniel A. Poling (Pastor Marble Collegiate Church...
...He has not done or attempted a single thing tc benefit the workers of the city, tc bring a ray of light into their livet or to ease their burdens...
...It has become a hissing and a byword...
...He has proved himself a typical and loyal representative of Tammany Hall and remains such at this time when it has brazenly discarded all pretences of a sanctified "New Tammany" and triumphantly hoisted the old pirate flag on the old wigwarn...
...his training said ence have taught him tosaj a cfty is first and last...
...I do not propose to rest my reasons for supporting Norman Thomas for mayoralty upon a comparison of the personalities of candidates...
...It had the distinction of breeding the robber bands of Tweed who looted the city of hundreds of millions of dollars...
...They are on the public payroll as party agents and party workers...
...The workman who opens a small shop, the pushcart peddler, the newsdealer and even some who start in the professions, are the victims of petty persecution if they are known to be opponents of the Hall...
...Such influence as I have ia for him, because in personal character, in ability, and in fundamental patriotism, he represents those principles I would see accepted in politics and confirmed in the practice of the American people...
...where human beings UH A children are born, vibeeM*] and mothers need every'few community can offer a) |MH children the very best JaJJM has the vision of tbe Mtii and' at the same time UaJ practical sense needed tct m diate situations...
...Here girls of the working class disappeared to be carted a few years later to Potter's -Field while the scoundrels who sapped their lives for gain swined their way into public offices...
...And what of education under such a foul regime...
...The cards are stacked and the dice loaded against the citizen who seeks justice...
...Intelligent workers and progressive citizens can only vote consistently for the Socialist ticket headed by Norman Thomas...
...It is to vote for Thomas and to give him active and energetic support in his campaign...
...Tammany's Beginnings New York City under this hideous regime became the American port of entry for the .white slave trade...
...In the first place, the Socialist party is in such a minority that it cannot of itself elect a mayor...
...Sydney Smith playfully says that e—anon sense was in Tented by Soerstes, that philosopher bavins been one of its most conspieooos exemplars ia coaductinr tbe contest of practical seneity asmteat stupid prejudice and Hiasarj liDefs —WMpeaa...
...Fight it as you will, despollers of mankind...
...A traction system managed in the interest of the citizens instead of politicians, stock-riggers and the profits of highly watered corporations is opposed to the desires and policies of the leaders of the other parties...
...The chief democratic daily of New York City characterizes the democratic candidate as the "genial, if expensive and casual" mayor...
...Politics Is Tammany's Business Why the difference between the two largest cities in the world ? It lies in the fact that in this city the Hall has made politics a capitalistic enterprise...
...Thomas Best in Field Bishop McConnell Says By FRANCIS J. McCONNELL (Bishop, Methodist Episcopal Church) I am for Norman Thomas for Mayor because I believe in his personal abilities and because I believe in his policies...
...Read this article and see if you do not agree with him...
...Although Norman Thomas was nominated by the Socialist party, he is the only genuinely nonpartisan candidate in the present campaign, and the duty of those who believe that municipal issues and affairs should be separated from the meaningless slogans and machine manipulations of the national, state and city Democratic and Republican parties, is clear...
...The opportunity to support such a man for this great office I regard as a matter of public duty...
...But such a comparison would justify by itself alone the election of Thomas...
...Sometimes customers are driven away...
...The illiterates and vulgarians and their big corporation cronies are served by Hall politics...
...Dewey is the outstanding authority in the world on educational matters...
...Croker was a simian hulk of fat and bone and sinew with no more brains than a cow and yet he ruled New York City for a number of years as an absentee millionaire in Ireland...
...The $345,000,000 extra which we pay annually for administration of power by the Hall is sufficient to utterly root out the foul rookeries in which many thousands of poor families still live...
...Here's freedom f§ him that would read, Here's freedom to him that would write...
...The parasites sitting in easy jobs here carried elections by means that made the franchise a mockery of the hopes of an earlier day...
...It will pave the way for a powerful political movement like that of the British Labor Party which has won the admiration of the masses and thinkinc men and women all over the world...
...The boozing ken, and gambling hell, the house of prostitution and the dope joint, became the underworld strongholds of the Hall...
...Norman Thomas for Mayor of New York City because be is the best man in the field Thomas' TraimngFl] Him for City f By HENRY NEUMAN (Leader, Brooklyn Euuesl Cal Society) 1 I have known Norman Ha for fifteen years and in tat I my admirati ton for MB mounted steadily...
...In fact, London with an annual budget nearly two-thirds smaller than that of New York has already carried out a splendid housing program in a few of the boroughs which the Labor Party controls...
...I am for Norman tbnsjtj cause be is Norman IbawW has courage, capacity, w"M cause in the large I MQ program for the great IIJH community...
...So we pay a frightful price in permitting Hall administration of our educational system...
...The greatest crime is perpetrated against our educational system which is polluted and perverted into an agency for the support of the Hall...
...Thomas Fitted by Character Norman Thomas is not only fitted by character and intelligence to be the mayor of the city but he has definite and constructive policies to carry into effect...
...Norman Thomas is a Socialist, hut he is far more than a Socialist...
...By John Dewey rTHE administration of the affairs of a great city, the largest city in the world, is second in importance to no other office...
...The Socialist slogan is "The city for the people...
...It has a host of parasites throughout the city as its agents and salesmen...
...as an independent in extstat 1 pontics, heartily tn favor of Hf Thomas for Mayor of the City a* York...
...The illiterates began to sport diamonds and spats, paid for by the agony, tears and death of the daughters of the poor...
...Perhaps the persecuted seeks redress before a magistrate...
...Hundreds of these offices could be nailed up and the parasites discharged without interfering with the proper and efficient administration of the city's affairs...
...hurl your nasty epithets, you vulgar politicians, and yet Socialism the Liberator will eventually conquer the world...
...This is true for two reasons...
...For there's none ever feared that the truth should be beard, But those whom the truth would indite...
...We are in earnest...
...It has the same problems to face and the same services to render...
...Tammany leaders and Tammany officials enriched themselves by the graft levied upon these unspeakable hells...
...The result is intimidated teachers with a minority of courageous men and women fighting against the degradattion that has come to our educational svstem...
...In the present state of apathy in New York City the chief reason that is given by many who intend to vote for him is, in substance, that he does not take either himself or his job seriously...
...On his own record he stands discredited and disgraced...
...Himself incompetent, utterly careless of the serious duties and obligations of his office, he is surrounded by political associates and influences which are the most disreputable of our time...
...avoid its issues, you cowards rxu* sycophants...
...This machine slowly acquired power out of the misery and degradation of masses of the poor before the Civil War...
...John Dewev Declar John Dewey has never been a member of the Socialist Party Yet in this campaign he is devoting his full energies to help elect Mr...
...Norman Thomas towers head and shoulders over his opponents in personal character, ability and practical idealism...
...The City Needs a Cleaning" The other parties do not even meet the issues in words in the campaign—to say nothing of what they would do afterwards if their candidate is elected...
...The "Education" has become a hissing and a byword...
...He has the backing of a clean, earnest and forward-looking party, and his political friends and foes alike admit that he is personally better qualified for the office of Mayor of <his great city than any of his opponents...
...But here he finds the magistrates' bench filled with low-grade parish beadles...
...Thomas to City Hall...
...Thomas Alone Meets Three Requirements Called For In A Mayor of New York City Thomas, Walker And La Guardia By John Haynes Holmes (Pastor Community Church) The candidacy of Norman Thomas presents a matchless opportunity to the public-spirited citizens of New York, regardless of party, to organize a great independent movement for decent government in this city...
...Labor Ground Down The same attitude is revealed by Hall politics in relation to workers employed on public improvements...
...L FTER decades of prejudices and misunderstanding the Socialist Party is coming to be understood by an increasing number of voters...
...To the old parties the city is an inanimate object, a huge business enterprise with plenty of incidental berths for the faithful and ample opportunities for patronage and graft...
...The faithful may ignore them...
...If he is not ebetell not be because the people of the dty 1 believe in his principles but beena are too lazy and supine to act tafe beliefs...
...It has cost New York City no less than $525,000,000 annually and the cost is going up...
...The republican candidate manifests a kind of explosive vigor but shows no signs of having thought out any constructive policies for the administration of New York City...
...What of Our Children...
...As for Tammany and its candidate, it must be admitted that it makes no pretense of being anything but a partisan movement...
...Prof...
...The minimum wage laws are ignored and violated in order that Tammany-favored contractors may get the difference between the legal wage and the sweated wage that in many instances has been paid...
...A positive reason is that the aims of the Socialist party are in line with the present needs of the city, in line with the requirements of its welfare instead of being opposed to them, as are the aims of the other two parties...
...It it sufficient to say that it adjusted itself in this period to the giant financial and capitalistic powers of the city, especially the utility corporations, so that the upper rich has become satisfied with the rule of the vulgarians...
...Thomas not only comes out now with a definite and intelligent policy about the issues, but all the conditions and forces behind him are such that his administration would make good with respect to them...
...They attempt to present La Guardia as a nonpartisan candidate...
...His occupancy of the mayoralty office in New York, the greatest city not only of America but of the world, would be a joke if it were not such a tragedy...
...Parasitism becomes terrorism of voters in the leading city of the nation...
...In this campaign many petty issues have been raised by the spokesmen of the two old parties, but the real and fundamental problems have been ignored by all but the Socialists...
...The effort of Major LaGuardia to sell this thing to the masses of voters provides the one comic aspect of this notable municipal campaign...
...Necessity of Constructive Policies It is impossible for any administration dominated by a party to have constructive policies regarding housing, traction, the police, public health, and education...
...The boy or girl of exceptional ability is kept down to the standard of the lowest...
...n. And now what is the situation that faces the great mass of workers in the city, the renters, home-owners in the outlying boroughs, and decent men and women in the*humble walks of life...
...A Warning to PoUueJav If the respectable and "good" m of the city follow the example at If, Citizens Union they will get for tbj four years the administration nay¦ and they will deserve what they (ft civic pride and active civic tattmej not decadent he will be elected, ami tion would mean not only a mar aft intelligence, honesty and efficiency hi York City but it would serve uia to machine politicians over the wheal try and as an example and model ai citizenship everywhere...
...It would asa beginning of a new era in munldjeti' all over the country...
...The working class that does not seek to place Itself in the seats of governing power has itself to blame when that power is turned against it in the legislative, executive, judicial and military departments...
...Corruption and inefficiency are no positive things in their cause and oftpl City of New York badly needs a at up...
...Leaders of the Republican party like Ogden Mills plead for votes for La Guardia on the ground that municipal issues have nothing to do with national party questions...
...Bs-aaMB judgment and decided ability...
...By Morris Hillquit National Chairman of the Socialist Party ttN this election the citizens of Jl New York are confronted by a I host of candidates for Mayor and other city offices...
...i Thomas Has CtffeU^ Capacity and « Br PALL U. leVlMj ' (Editor, Tbe 9...
...We may begin with a striking comparison...
...Republicans Tammany Aides Meantime the Republicans, including the upper section of the silk-stocking leaders, have become a first-aid to the Hall...
...Major LaGuardia, with the lasi swing of the political pendulum finds himself once more allied tc the Republican machine of New York, an organization leas powerful than Tammany, but fully corruntHe cannot honestly serve his party and the people...
...During the first term of his office Mayor Walker has devoted his talents mainly to social functions...
...As this brood of political swine climbed upward they nestled like rats in secure niches of the city and borough governments...
...The district leader, or the assemblyman or the alderman, appears on the scene as a "fixer...
...Our readers will find a partial list of these gentlemen and their jobs on another page of this issue...
...The government of the city of New York would continue to be prostituted to party ends and to the distribution of party spoils at the expense of the welfare of the city...
...The old parties are totally blind to these needs...
...But the Hall is a profitmaking enterprise for its leaders and agents and the masses suffer neglect as a consequence...
...Nepotism, easy graft, useless offices created for them as their spawn increased, all enhanced the power of the machine and enriched the illiterates who served it...
...The a state of things will remain sad na long as policies are not ronstrueota) ceived and executed, based co tat t interests of the people of tot sjf, Thomas is the only candidate ofhnsj policies and the only one in caaab carry them out...
...The vote for Norman Thomas and his colleagues on the Socialist ticket will measure the progress made in undermining the Hall politics of capitalism served by mercenary parasites...
...Tbe administration has been saturated with graft...
...Mayor Walker is a disgrace to any city...
...The Socialist program calls for decent homes for the workers, clean streets, ample parks and playgrounds, efficient schools, cheap and comfortable means of transit, and humane care of the old, sick, jobless and poor...
...The city of London has a population even larger than New York City...
...Last week he observed his 70th birthday, and more than 3-000 prominent men and women from all over the world joined in tribute to him...
...We are determined...
Vol. 9 • October 1929 • No. 12
