THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
THE PEOPLE'S FORUM Peace and the Press Dear Sirs: I have read with interest Dorothy Dunbar Bromley's article "Peace and the Press" in the September Progressive and I am entirely in sympathy with...
...Bevan's criticism of American and British foreign policy covers a wide variety of points...
...But I suspect that further examination would show that the full texts of the documents were more widely published than she learned...
...I don't ask for or suggest any correction because it may well be that a letter of inquiry came in from her and was not adequately answered (I have been in Europe for several weeks) and, like her, I am a little ashamed of our profession if we did collectively as badly as her survey indicates...
...That puts money above man, lucre above life, and gold above God...
...Then read some of it again...
...It is worth recalling, in the light of the present situation, that even though the Chinese Nationalist Government under Chiang Kai-shek was known to be one of the most corrupt in the world, it received our wholehearted support in arms, untold wealth, and other forms of assistance...
...Dorothy Dunbar Bromley New York, N. Y. Persuading Caesar Dear Sirs: I want to do my duty fighting militarism, and would refuse to pay taxes if the net result of so doing would help the cause...
...Americans wonder why foreign policy lines up on the side of corruption...
...Would that make a stir...
...spending them today in America is everybody s responsibility...
...It may be that in the case of the Minneapolis Tribune I was guilty of an oversight...
...Apparently she tried to get the accurate information...
...Chicago 21, 111...
...Pen Friends Wanted Dear Sirs: We want to correspond with pen friends in other countries and would be greatly obliged if you would kindly introduce some to us...
...THE PEOPLE'S FORUM Peace and the Press Dear Sirs: I have read with interest Dorothy Dunbar Bromley's article "Peace and the Press" in the September Progressive and I am entirely in sympathy with its purpose and the point it seeks to make...
...Half the Democrats join with them and after some weeks of anguished resentment the Administration yields...
...Alton L. Hall Huntington Beach, Calif...
...Let us spend at least approximately as unstintingly to produce citizenship and leadership on the...
...The same hysteria infects a large part of the Republican Party...
...Bunche for State Dear Sirs: After reading "More Powerful Than the A-Bomb" in your October issue, I declare flatly that I will vote for any man of any party for President who promises to name Ralph ]. Bunche as Secretary of State in his cabinet...
...The answer, when it comes from the non-voters who trust you, is simply that they are convinced there is no use in voting...
...Bob Repas Labor-International Affairs American Friends Service Committee Philadelphia, Pa...
...And suppose that we who hate war would remark as we hand over the cash, "I hope you folks won't spend this money for war...
...There is already evidence to back up this viewpoint...
...Seymour's interest in the survey I made...
...The Russians have a more comprehensive idea of the Asian revolution than we...
...It is not the common people we are aiding in Greece, nor in Turkey, nor, it seems, in Korea...
...It follows then that democracy must depend for its continuity upon its source, the people...
...McMahon had a brilliant idea when he suggested that part of the money proposed for armaments be used to assist the backward people of the world attain a better life...
...So while we are building only weapons of destruction they are advocating land reform, national independence, and in some cases giving material assistance...
...They feel that the outcome will be the same, whether or not they participate, for those that are elected too soon betray the people who sent them to office...
...This is the condition war creates...
...The Progressive helped me greatly...
...civilian level, the very foundation of our political system...
...Progressive Abroad Dear Sirs: Working in Algeria during the past year, I found great difficulty in explaining America to the people there...
...I quite agree with Mr...
...Communism can never be bombed out of existence...
...Raymond Mostek Chicago, 111...
...it is the abuse and mismanagement of capitalism by those dominated by greed and selfishness that lie at the heart of our economic ills the world over...
...Sending armies against these desperate people will but make their condition more unbearable, turning potential friends into bitter enemies...
...We are trying to stop poverty—called Communism—with bombs, bullets, and battleships, thus creating wider areas of poverty and Communism...
...3) Offer Russians peace proposals and a World Mutual Aid program...
...And, believe me, many are in real need...
...Telling our President and our Representatives could not be misunderstood, as nonpayment of taxes might be...
...So what...
...We do not seem to be able to see or understand the deep, silent hate that is rising in Asia...
...therefore war creates Communists...
...We cannot save the world through might or even with dollars alone, but only through human sympathy, understanding, and help...
...I am now compiling a supplement and request every peace organization, peace committee, or peace-active individual to place me on its mailing list, so that such bodies will be included...
...Laura McAllister Carver Berkeley, Calif...
...Result: Russia is gaining control of the vast Asian continent while we are listening to the military and dreaming vague dreams of world domination through vast armaments...
...These endowrrfents should be developed and trained by a system of education which has as its goal a nation of people capable of functioning worthily, and of progressively improving its political system...
...The rates are: single copies 5c...
...Sen...
...We ran the entire text of the President's address, of course, and as she notes the Star ran the text of the Presidium's resolution...
...Resist UMT Dear Sirs: Permanent military conscription has not been accepted and Congress is as free as ever to reject it...
...There is nothing wrong with capitalism itself...
...Edith Simester Delaware, Ohio Blundering Policy Dear Sirs: Our foreign policy, which seems to consist of blundering from one mess into another, demands closer scrutiny by Americans than ever before...
...Militarism has wrecked the old world, and has its wrecking crew in motion in Washington now to wreck the United States...
...But I am in grave doubt about the accuracy, and therefore the validity, of her survey...
...E. J. StOLLEY Grand Island, Neb...
...The Bevan program is not just one of negative criticism but calls for the following steps of action: (1) An armistice and then a negotiated settlement in Asia...
...Gideon Seymour Vice President and Executive Editor The Minneapolis Sfar and Tribune Minneapolis, Minn...
...Committee Against Militarization 6329 S. May St...
...Finally, let us have institutions, comparable to West Point and Annapolis which will train for statesmanship and for diplomacy...
...I heard tardily from the Los Angeles Neivs that it had published one of the texts, raising the known score, with the Minneapolis Tribune, to 13 papers that published one or both texts...
...The morning Tribune, which she does not mention, ran the entire text of President Shvernik's letter—and the only reason the Tribune did not also run the text of the Presidium's resolution was that the Star (which, having the bigger circulation, reaches almost all the readers who get the Tribune) had already done so...
...We spend billions to train for, to glamorize, and to insure our military power...
...Quite the contrary, the more tanks, planes, armies, and ships used, the more numerous the Communists...
...Sam Bartlett Canon City, Colo...
...2) Atlantic alliance without German rearmament or pact with France...
...We are students of the Tohoku University...
...I'm just trying to get my mind stimulated—to get it out of the rut...
...must be made to realize, before it is too late, that the greatest fight for "our American way of life" is not being fought on foreign shores, but right here, now, on the home front...
...Spending taxes in Caesar's day was Caesar's responsibility...
...F. E. Spicer Abilene, Kan...
...But when I read the piece I checked back to see what the Minneapolis Star and Tribune had done because my recollection was that we had done better than she gave us credit for—and I found we had...
...No longer can leaders, educators, and ministers—in fact, no one today has the right to be silent...
...4) Reducing armaments to release labor and resources for World Mutual Aid...
...As I write, my working notes are in the country, and I can only explain how I made the survey, handicapped by the fact that the New York Public Library no longer makes available to readers recent back issues of the nation's press...
...It must not be left for history to record that in the year of 1951, the United States of America, through the adoption of a permanent conscription bill, passed from a free democracy to a fascist military dictatorship...
...The UN has recently stated that the British economy is suffering from increased strains because of rearmament...
...If I want them to go with me, I mustn't run too far ahead: and paying taxes, even to a Caesar who was spending them for war, was definitely enjoined by One whose teachings we try to follow—whose teachings if practiced would foil militarism...
...100 or more 4c each...
...Our names and addresses are: Shinichi Miyazaki (Age 21) 21 Nakasugiyama-dori Sendai, Japan Toru Hanzawa (Age 22) 116, Minami-Gojuninmachi Sendai, Japan On Reading Mayer Dear Sirs: When I get The Progressive I glance hurriedly through it, then settle down, lean back and read—Milton Mayer...
...There is much controversy over the proper methods of flood control—and nothing is done...
...Bevan's Program Dear Sirs: The pamphlet One Way Only issued by Aneurin Bevan and his supporters in the British Labor Party who recently resigned from the Government in protest against the present rearmament program, is now available in this country...
...Easy to do, and friendlier, too, than seceding...
...8 editions of such newspapers as I could get from my own paper's exchange desk, from back copies sold in the basement of the Times building, and from flies in advertising agencies...
...Copies of One Way Only can be obtained from the Labor-International Affairs Program'of the American Friends Service Committee...
...Communism feeds on misery, poverty, and ruin...
...And the duty of every true American, before that time comes, is to let his representatives know how much he fears the passage of this freedom-damaging bill...
...20 S. 12th St., Philadelphia 7, Pa...
...No, I don't agree with everything he says...
...The Republicans harry the Administration...
...Reds and Roots Dear Sirs: William O. Douglas, associate justice of the Supreme Court, has come in for a generous amount of criticism from "the powers that be" in Washington because of his ideas regarding the Asian revolution, especially in reference to the attitude of our country toward the most important event of our age...
...Martha Z. Williams Rio Hondo, Tex...
...7 and Aug...
...I should like to point out that of the 29 papers I queried by mail, I had answers from all but five up to the time the October issue went to press...
...It is one of the most stimulating magazines I receive...
...There is also much strong feeling about the failure of the federal government to develop a Marshall Plan for the relief of the stricken of Kansas...
...But I cannot influence people to go my way if they think I am daft...
...Douglas...
...The ability of a people to govern efficiently, wisely, and justly is determined by its physical, mental, and moral fitness...
...Kansas Is Critical Dear Sirs: Well, old Kansas had another flood recently, doing further damage to river bottom farms...
...O. M. Thomason Willernie, Minn...
...Of the newspapers queried by mail, including a number of large circulation, only four reported publication of one of the texts...
...Peace Directory in June...
...Gold Above God Dear Sirs: Why do 55% of the eligible voters in the United States fail to vote...
...Dear Sirs: I appreciate Mr...
...I hope so...
...Then I addressed letters of inquiry to the 29 papers that I had not yet examined...
...Sometime soon UMT will again rear its ugly head to molest a very reluctant Congress...
...He argues that the Soviet Union's main gains have been made not by military force but by use of political and economic weapons and that the rearmament program cannot effectively combat these non-military ones...
...In fact, he says the rearmament program may further the growth of Communism if the standard of living of the free countries is reduced by armaments expenditures...
...Have the American Legionnaires, in their mad quest to Prussianize America, so soon forgotten why they fought two wars with Germany...
...and those of us who don't want them spent for war should say so...
...Point Four is along the right line but we quibble about spending a few million in this way while we spend billions on armaments...
...It lists 340 peace committees and gives references to over 3,000 additional committees...
...5) More equitable allocation of raw materials between the United States and Europe...
...Dewey Short in his recent address to Congress said, "Are we going to keep this a free country...
...It takes ideas and sympathy, not bombs, to defeat Communism...
...Peace Directory Dear Sirs: I released the pioneer edition of the U.SA...
...We are unaware of the overwhelming desire of the peasants of Asia to throw off the poverty, disease, and squalor that has engulfed them for centuries...
...Or are we going to make it a slave state to goose-step to the commands and strutting of arrogant men, who like to exercise power...
...I checked the Aug...
...The good people of the U.S...
...Our greatest danger is from within, not from outside aggression...
...It started people thinking, and that, I believe, is one of the crying needs of today...
...As to the over-all accuracy of the survey...
...Albert Bofman U.S...
...Every individual from the primary grade upward should be trained to realize that he is a part of his government, and that he should share the responsibilities, which are inherent in its unequalled advantages and privileges...
...Dear Sirs: While I was in Brazil The Progressive served me better than anything else to keep me alert on national and world affairs...
...I very much regret that I did not credit the Minneapolis Tribune with having run the text of President Shvernik's letter, but am glad that I correctly reported the publication of the Presidium's resolution in his company's other paper, the Sfar...
...Regarding the method by which American foreign policy is determined, One Way Only says: "A wild anti-Communist crusade to be conducted by every means from witch hunts to atom bombs is preached by the extreme elements on the American Right...
...The people of Kansas are rather critical of the government for being so easy at sending money abroad to help others when there is real need here at home...
...We need an aroused citizenry if UMT is to be defeated...
...From them alone must come whatever vitality and dynamic power it possesses...
...W. Brinton Whitall Philadelphia, Pa...
...A recent ECA memorandum says a "great wave of labor unrest is to be expected in the immediate future" in western Europe because of reduced living standards...
...F. G. WlNKELMILLER Sheboygan, Wis...
...Training Citizens Dear Sirs: Democracy as a political system has been incomparably defined as "Government of the people, by the people, and for the people...
...But of course his idea was snowed under by the many military-minded senators...
Vol. 15 • November 1951 • No. 11
