THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
. . . THE PEOPLE'S FORUM . . . American Progress Dear Sirs: In the last paragraph of Harry Elmer Barnes' article, published on page eight of The Progressive of June 26, appear these two sentences...
...On the contrary, the letter by John G. King, complaining about Fred Rodell's article on Dewey, is absurd...
...Too Radical Dear Sirs: The Progressive is entirely too radical and disturbing...
...We have more money invested in our educational plant than the entire world has...
...infant mortality went down from 1,050,000 to 650,000...
...I hope Mr...
...Instead they went to Britain and Japan...
...THE PEOPLE'S FORUM . . . American Progress Dear Sirs: In the last paragraph of Harry Elmer Barnes' article, published on page eight of The Progressive of June 26, appear these two sentences : "If we wish the Russians to have respect for our liberties and to adopt them, then we must demonstrate them to be worthwhile and beneficial to all mankind...
...It can only lead to another World War, because whether the ruling classes like to admit it or not, the world is seething with revolution and will not give up its fight until all people are free and equal...
...Capitalism has, wherever it exercises its hegemony, meant a greater measure of freedom economically, politically, and socially for the common man.' In conclusion: To destroy American capitalism is to destroy our democratic institutions and thereby to revert society to a state of dictatorship, chaos, and anarchy...
...My predictions unfortunately have turned out to be true, and when the history of these transactions is reviewed it will be found that most of this trouble originated in the fact that the victors of the last war did not carry out the solemn pledges they had given in the treaty which they dictated themselves...
...Too many of them are a waste of your paper and my time...
...Some Englishmen realize these mistakes now when it is too late...
...Pure intelligence is a useless thing in itself, a vague and shadowy thing without substance...
...44,500,000 have savings accounts...
...Barnes would demand, but it would seem that we have demonstrated to the world at large that citizens of this country have fared very well, and that Western liberties do mean something more than the ". . . freedom of the few to exploit the many...
...Italy Will Live Again Dear Sirs: Strong are the fascinations of history, the names of men and the names of cities and nations, great in their time, and though their power has failed, yet they continue to live in the pages of human history...
...It deserves to stand with Walton Hamilton's "Whose Is The National Debt...
...No President ever had the opportunity F. D. R. had when he came to power...
...That is the reason we need hard-headed, practical 100 per cent Americans at the coming peace conference to protect our interests, instead of dreamers and visionaries, of some fantastic Utopia existing only in their abnormal imagination...
...I hope Mr...
...S. E., Minneapolis, at 8 P. M. July 21, as part of the petition campaign...
...During the Winter -of 1899 and 1900 I was in a little town in Wisconsin...
...at least it hasn't been beaten to date...
...It is a little over-balanced in some ways—too much of a tendency to tell about the bad things we have and not enough about the good things we could have and how to get them...
...Seneca, Cicero, Epictetus, are names of a few of Rome's great characters, and the one most kindly Roman, Marcus Aurelius, emperor 100 A. D. Then began the downfall of the great Roman empire...
...He gave a direct pledge to the conference that if Sudeten Germany became a part of Czechoslovakia— and the same thing applied to Hungarian Slovaks—the same autonomy would be given to them as in the Swiss Federation...
...Creason...
...For instance, there are only seven per cent of the people of the world living in the United States, and yet that seven per cent consume: One-half of the world's coffee, 60 per cent of the world's rubber, almost half the world's telephones, one-third of the world's improved highways, 60 per cent of the world's life insurance, and 80 per cent of the world's automobiles...
...Whither Progressives...
...Likes Health Feature Your new health feature by Jane Stafford is fine...
...He doesn't say to what...
...The fact that the President called Pearson a liar, appeared in all the daily newspapers...
...In Russia there is one automobile for every 252 persons...
...Churchill And 'Confederation' Dear Sirs: The difference between a "federation" and a "confederation" is as great as the difference between "omlet" and Hamlet...
...I voted for E. V. Debs shortly after World War I and then again for Bob, Sr., a few years later...
...To date, there has been more than three and a half million dollars spent by the churches on Civilian Public Service...
...John Gamper Medford, Wis...
...Morgenthau and his aides know what they're doing...
...You quote with approval statements of Churchill recommending "confederation" as the solution to Europe's problems, and then you make the comment that a "Europe united . . . into a federated entity would constitute by far one of the most effective steps toward enduring peace...
...For his information, I'll say that, in writing for the reading public, the most important consideration is not who writes, or how he writes, but what he writes...
...The world is out of proportion...
...There was a certificate of the Ambassadors to say disarmament was complete and we did not carry out our bargain...
...Arthur G. Cromwell Rochester, N. Y, Lloyd George Remembers Dear Sirs: Lloyd George, speaking in the House of Commons, May 9, 1940, said: "We gave, not merely in the treaty itself but in a document signed by M. Clemenceau (then Premier of France) on our behalf a solemn promise that if Germany disarmed we would immediately follow her example...
...P. A. McNabb Portland, Oreg...
...high school students went up from 2,000,000 to 4,500,000...
...which you published several months ago, among the best of the more realistic studies on fiscal affairs...
...Since the institution of capitalism (which dates from the dissolution of primitive tribal society) the his tory of the human race has been a continuous process of development and progress...
...We must show the Russians that Western liberties mean something more than the freedom and ability of the few to exploit the many...
...When he has accomplished this and has his feet firmly planted, then it is his duty to reach back and down and give a helping hand to some other person who is struggling to reach a higher development...
...But the untimely magnanimity of our leaders prohibited our acceptance of anything concrete in line of recompense or security...
...I suggest more careful editing of "Letters to Editor...
...He could have refused to do business with all dictators, including Russia, and thus aid other peoples to throw off the yoke of tyranny by the privileged class...
...Morgan Harris Inglewood, Calif...
...J. C. Thompson in your July 3 issue regarding Roosevelt's left policy is 100 per cent correct...
...The failures of British diplomacy, its tragedies or crimes, whatever term you prefer in the past 20 years, began immediately after the last World War...
...Minneapolis, Minn...
...However, he didn't tell all the story in that answer...
...R. C. Thompson in Ms excellent letter, "F...
...Superiority exists only in visionary form for the Marxists, Stalinists, Socialists, etc...
...Clarence Eyles Santa Monica, Calif...
...Creason obviously wants these writers "kicked out" because they write articles which disagree with his notions...
...And what was the experience of the United States with "confederation...
...Material and spiritual science have agreed that the aim of each individual should be, first, to develop himself, to have an aim in life and to strive to reach his goal...
...It Will Make New Friends...
...The same thing applies to minorities...
...Germany was ready...
...One of them was, "What is this life all about and why are we here...
...How much longer can we go on talking about democracy in this truly great country of ours without doing something about it...
...That was not carried out and there is no government more responsible for that than the present National Government which came to power in 1931...
...As we are supposedly fighting for democracy and freedom, the shabby treatment accorded the heroic Finns by our Administration because they are fighting for their own democracy and freedom is appalling to all Americans who truly believe in democracy and freedom for all...
...Johnson is "convinced that the capitalist system has long since outlived its usefulness...
...We must also get conscious of part of America outside our geographical boundaries...
...Jo Cantjne Woodstock, N. Y. * * Better Editing Dear Sirs: I appreciate your fearlessness even when we disagree...
...J. D. Adams New York, N. Y. F. D. R.'s 'Reactionary Way' Dear Sirs: It is a pleasure to learn that at least one person is wise as to F. D. R.'s position...
...Dear Sirs: Now that the Elephant Circus which took place in Chicago is over, and the Donkey Circus is coming up, where do we go from here...
...This is not the picture of a Simon Legree cracking the whip over a nation of slaves...
...His birth, education, and business connections have tended to keep him true to his class, the profit-takers, and all of his acts have proved it...
...I wish to add a bit of praise to criticism made above...
...We must, as a nation, learn to hold what we have bought with our blood, and wherever we plant the glory of our standard—there is America...
...Myra M. MacDonald Denver, Colo...
...Leon Coloutes Struthers, O. Help Our Fellows Dear Sirs: I have been reading The Progressive for several months and think it is the best paper for the common people who want to know "what is what" and "who is who" to read...
...They had their opportunity...
...But to a nation beaten and crushed by armies, we withheld adequate food for months and so sentenced many children to death and many others to starvation and disease...
...I believe, however, it would be helpful to those who read and support The Progressive to know whether the fact that you publish these views means that you favor them or whether The Progressive has become an open forum for all intelligently expressed views...
...It reached its apex with the invention and development of the power-driven machine: this enabled man to solve the relentless problem of supply...
...While there I met a man who was wise beyond his years...
...Well, I do not know what kind of a measuring stick Mr...
...In the case of those unable to pay their own expenses, the cost has been borne chiefly by the churches mentioned...
...Louis, Mo...
...That is the reason for its success...
...Life should be in proportion, a laughing, joyous, satisfying thing, real and unafraid instead of what it is to most people—a flop...
...The estimated cost of a man's living at one of the camps is $35 per month...
...Don't sit around all your life waiting for God and your fellow man to do something for you...
...J. F. Frank St...
...Mr...
...Why not...
...American capitalism has led the world in the political and social as well as the economic field...
...It had been the boast that all roads lead to Rome, but the roads led to other places, and today Italy is all that remains of the greatness of 2,000 years ago...
...He could have granted land to all the homeless...
...In the matter of health and education—in 10 years we cut the deaths from tuberculosis in half...
...From the latter viewpoint...
...Our last war will serve well as an object lesson...
...Your statement is probably true, but the implication that it is similar to Churchill's proposal is utterly false...
...The American worker earns seven times as big a market basket of groceries as the Russian worker...
...He could have de-centralized government, giving to the communities the responsibility and initiative to govern themselves...
...Just because a false idea established by implication is worse than a direct falsehood, so Churchill's statement is worse...
...Milton Mayer's article jabbing the war bond appeals was the final straw...
...Go out and grab a few subscriptions for The Progressive as a starter...
...7.5 pounds in America...
...Negro school teachers increased from 35,000 to 55,000...
...In short, he could have made the U. S. A. a model country and there would have been no Hitlers, Musso-linis, Stalins, etc., able to compete with such an example, especially if we gave wide" publicity to our new freedom and offered refuge to ail who wished to escape their tyranny...
...The three Punic wars, climaxing the destruction of her enemy, the great Carthage city and state, made Rome the ruler of western Europe, northern Africa, and Asia Minor...
...I am now 70 years old and have never heard a better answer to that question...
...He said, "The peoples of Europe can find the solution to these problems through a confederation of states upon the basis of the experience of Switzerland and the United States...
...Judging by the number of favorable comments on Thomas written to the People's Forum, there must be some who will want to help in the petition campaign and they can contact me immediately...
...Pass This Paper On...
...She has been fighting for her very existence against the brutal and unprovoked attack launched four and a half years ago by her gigantic neighbor, Soviet Russia...
...If you were unaware of this fact, I suggest that you check it yourself with your Washington correspondent...
...His convictions and slobbery assertions anent the decadence of capitalism are as ill-founded and mendacious as those of the Utopian and imbecilic Karl Marx...
...P. D. Grant Washington, D. C. Support For CO's Dear Sirs: May I mention a fact not stressed by William Henry Chamberlin in his excellent article on Conscientious Objectors and Civilian Public Service Camps, namely, the support given these camps by the historic peace churches—the Friends, Men-onites, and the Brethren...
...The idealist thinks "All is mind" and ignores matter...
...Now 25 years later our young people are washing them with their blood in order to possess them...
...He said, "We are here to find out what is worth while and what isn't...
...Defends Capitalism Dear Sirs: I write this letter in protest to a letter, "Outworn Capitalism," by one Al Johnson in your July 3 issue...
...The Progressive's staff can't be beat by anyone...
...Good And Bad Dear Sirs: In my opinion the article by Mr...
...The Clergy And The Draft Dear Sirs: I am sorry that at times I find The Progressive most carefully avoiding issues that are important to the subject under discussion...
...On the other hand, there are many national figures among our candidates who have what we may term a "world perspective" appearing under different forms, such as Russophiles, Anglophiles, and some that are obsessed with fantastic notions of a world confederation of nations—with themselves playing the leading role, of course...
...Samuel B. Wasserman New York, N. Y. * * * Plea From Minnesota Dear Sirs: If people in Minnesota are to be given the opportunity of voting for Norman Thomas rather than F. D. R. or Dewey, it will be necessary for us to get at least 2,000 signatures on nomination petitions between July 11 and July 31...
...Even Japan that did not fight at all was around at the peace conference for gains...
...Under the circumstances, your quotes from Pear-son become smears...
...A friend of mine, a Christian minister and professor in a German college, said to me: 'It was hard to forgive you, when, having won the war, you would not stop torturing us...
...Barnes, whose political affiliations I know nothing about, seems to believe, as the state socialists down in Washington dp, that we have been doing nearly everything wrong in America, that foreign lands, especially Russia, seem to manage so much better...
...America was ready...
...E. H. Barrett Lansing, Mich...
...No economic system in the world has proven itself superior to the capitalistic system...
...And why cannot we become just as eloquent in demanding that Joe open up a second front against Japan, as he was in demanding that we open up a second front in Europe...
...In other words, our aim in life should be development for ourselves on the one hand and service to the other fellow on the other hand...
...What steps do you think progressives should take in this critical election...
...Pearson A 'Liar' Dear Sirs: 1 believe that you try to be factual in your opinion expressed in "The Last Column...
...All the other participants fought for gain...
...Frank Templin Brownstown, Ind...
...Who Is The "Rabble...
...We have two such institutions here in Rochester, and the great influx of students in the past three years has become an open scandal...
...We must accept the necessity of our time as a fact...
...Come on, Mr...
...Yet Italy will live again, in music, art, literature, social security, and peace...
...We all remember Romulus and Remus, the sons of the god Mars, the founders of the Roman city, that was destined to grow and develop into the great Roman state...
...I cannot understand the sort of friendliness which would make the President call Pearson a liar...
...And now we are doing exactly the same thing in Europe and Asia that Hitler and the Japanese military tried to do—occupying lands as fast as they are conquered and tying their economy to ours (which is state capitalism...
...Today the industrial power of capitalist America, which is the greatest in the world, is capable of providing hundreds of millions with all the material benefits of our age...
...D. R. Was Never Left," in your July 3 issue, said in a few words what others have fumbled in volumes...
...The people must choose: capitalism (freedom) or communism (slavery and, in the last analysis, anarchy and the destruction of civilization...
...If he had been the slightest bit interested in killing capitalism and establishing freedom and democracy in this country, he had the means at his disposal in 1932...
...We, and our leaders, must learn not to fool with the golden rule in a crowd that won't play fair...
...As Mr...
...I am one of those who believes that all public officials should be freely criticized, but I also believe, and I thought you did, that criticisms must be based on verified facts and not on rumormongerings such as prevail in the Third Reich...
...Romulus, a rough and uncultured character, marked the beginning of a movement in history that required 500 years to reach its high degree of national achievements...
...H. H. Ophus Erskine, Minn...
...G. H. Benton Pittsburgh, Pa...
...Now, using it as a means of keeping out of service, is so below the dignity of American manhood and principle that I think your columnist should write an article on it...
...Leonard Wilson Middleburg, N. Y. Protect America's Interests Dear Sirs: In this year of 1944, when the people through the national elections have the opportunity to use their right by the ballot to shape the national policy for the next four years, I believe the point of paramount importance is this: To choose, out of the available candidates who are known to have somewhat limited perspective, a 100 per cent American that will defend and safeguard our interest at all times, disregarding the cost...
...We refused to carry out our promise, for Germany was completely disarmed...
...We might know all the answers to all the problems of life but if we didn't put our knowledge to some use it wouldn't do us or anyone else any good...
...He very carefully notes all the various means whereby anyone determined to keep out of military service can do so,—except the one that has been used the most and by cowardly and dishonest draft evaders, namely religious schools and seminaries...
...Thompson says, Roosevelt was never a leftist...
...Weatherhead of London very recently stated, and we quote him verbatim, "A generous gesture to Germany in 1918 would probably have prevented this war altogether...
...I have found a great deal of satisfaction in helping the other fellow by getting him to read and subscribe to The Progressive, a sort of boy scout idea, as it were...
...But he chose the reactionary way which led to war, as could be expected...
...I would like to ask all Minnesota readers of The Progressive to contact us and let us know what way they can help in the petition drive...
...I believe your series of articles by outstanding figures is one of the finest things that has been done by any newspaper or magazine in the United States...
...All are invited to attend...
...Money Conference Dear Sirs: So far I haven't been able to make any sense out of the newspaper stories on the Bretton Woods monetary conference...
...Will it be wise after this cataclysm is over to hand them over to some other power and repeat our present experience 25 years hence...
...Yet your leading editorial of June 19th seems to offer the people "fried Hamlet" as a solution to the problem of war...
...Michael Castor Brampton, Mich...
...He could have closed Wall Street permanently...
...Will it be fair to hitch such a load onto the generation now beginning to be born as their heritage from birth...
...Russia has one for every 90 persons...
...The crude beginning of Rome began 100 years before Thales, the first great Greek philosopher, was born, he who is called the father of science...
...The citizens of the United States have one radio for every three persons...
...Rodell knows what he writes is correct...
...Switzerland, too, is not a confederation, as Churchill implied...
...The Pacific islands we could have had...
...So to derive any benefit from what we know, we must put it to work, make it a part of us...
...Rome reached its highest peak under the rule of the Caesars, great in political power and great in art, literature, architecture, and in law...
...Norman Thomas will speak at the new Labor Temple, 117 Fourth Ave...
...For here is Europe's only democracy and one of the very few if not the only European country that has at all times fulfilled her obligation to us...
...I have pointed out over and over again that if they did not do so it would end in a great European war...
...This should be done...
...Also the article by Al Johnson of California...
...Herman Erickson 1516 Hawthorne Ave...
...Paul W. Howe New York, N. Y...
...We are too selfish, too self-centered...
...America fought for ideas and professed lofty ideals...
...It is a tragedy that we don't have the Progressive Party nation-wide in this most eventful year...
...By the way, what has become of the Atlantic Charter...
...Half of American families own the homes they live in...
...If Joe Stalin can impel us to break with Finland because that pleases Moscow, why cannot we at least demand that Joe cease carrying on trade with our Japanese enemy—trade that is certainly injurious to our cause...
...Then go on from there, helping the other fellow, your brother...
...The Huns and Vandals battered the gates of the great city, and the Roman state fell a victim to the law of change...
...I repeatedly called them to the attention of Benes (former President Eduard Benes of Czechoslovakia) in the conference in Paris...
...The experience was that confederation led to war...
...in America one for every four persons...
...Stuart Chase's 'Gem' Dear Sirs: Stuart Chase's article in the July 3 issue of The Progressive, "Balance What Budget...
...The thing that really worries me is that the Democratic convention will be just another farce too...
...The experience of the United States was that when confederation failed, they tried federation— a totally different form of union, which led to peace and prosperity...
...Just as in 1940, the American electorate will have no real choice on foreign policy...
...The materialist thinks, "All is matter," and ignores mind...
...Tell the readers of The Progressive just who these American citizens are that you (and certain others) so glibly call "the rabble...
...George F. Curry Martins Ferry, 0. Russia's Influence Dear Sirs: The Administration's recent diplomatic break with Finland certainly carries the implication that our foreign policy is currently shaped in Moscow...
...Chamberlin will have the courage to finish the article herein referred to in the July 3 issue of The Progressive...
...No Real Choice Dear Sirs: The GOP convention was a farce, and it was almost painful to listen to the radio announcers work so hard at dramatizing Dewey's cold reception...
...I am moved to protest after reading the article in the July 3 issue: "Prisoners of Conscience," by William Henry Chamberlin...
...He seemed to have, the answers to many things I wanted to know...
...However, your comments in the issue of June 26, are worthy of Goebbels and not of The Progressive...
...That was not carried out...
...68,000,000 have life insurance...
...Capitalism is a revolutionary and progressive system in its own respect...
...This writer thinks not...
...it is a federation...
...The destroyed cities will rise again, the fields will yield the harvests and the human spirit will make greater conquest than Romulus ever dreamed of...
...The Rev...
...He could have aided small co-op enterprises, both farming and industrial...
...You accept the statements of Drew Pearson as fact and quote them as made by "a columnist friendly to the Administration...
...A comparison of enrolments in the "Minister Factories" as with the enrolment in them in past years, as well as comparing with the enrolment in the other American schools of higher learning will furnish startling, enlightening information...
...Johnson is, of course, parroting the sayings of numerous other malcontents...
...Before the war, when neither wages nor prices had risen, one hour's work would buy 1.9 pounds of bread in Russia...
...Unfortunately, some Americans today do not believe enough in their own form of union to want to see it used by the entire world to produce world peace in the way that it has been used by these 48 states to produce peace on this continent...
...college students increased from 360,000 to 1,-000,000...
...In these chimerical obsessions lies the danger of our future, for the simple reason that it is impossible to realize those lofty aims as long as the outstanding inherent traits of men are selfishness and greed...
...Dear Sirs: As an American citizen and a reader of The Progressive, I should like for Walter Creason, Tulsa, Okla., to state definitely, specifically, and unequivocally, just what type, group, class, or segment of American citizens compose what he is pleased to call, in The Progressive of June 26, the "rabble," and which he accuses certain writers of "rousing," or trying to "rouse...
...Bruening (Chancellor Hein-rich Bruening) was in charge...
...D. G. Conway Chicago, 111...
...George Washington, who lived through it, summarized it well in these words: "The Articles of Confederation are a rope of sand, which can bind no one...
...It was a cowardly and dishonest act that was passed that ever permitted this class of citizens to be exempt from military service of their country...
...was a gem...
...So try to do something for someone other than yourself...
Vol. 8 • July 1944 • No. 30
