THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
. . . THE PEOPLE'S FORUM . . . Liberals On The Spot Dear Sirs: I suspect that many readers of The Progressive will ask, where do .we go from here? One may feel _ reasonably sure that a new...
...When the people of the world grow up into knowing their power and their responsibility, when democracy functions as it should, then we may hold all the people accountable for what their governments do, but not now...
...The Communist-ruled areas are comparatively bleak and "poor" but no one is starving...
...then they fight to set up a Dumbarton Oaks...
...When he sought reelection two years ago, he was given strong labor support, but when the Smith-Connally Bill and other anti-labor measures came along, he ran out on the workers...
...he investigates to know...
...And having been well steeped in American schools Mr...
...Protests Howard Article Dear Sirs: I wish to voice protest and disagreement with Harry Paxton Howard's article "The Explosion In China," as being biased and misleading...
...eggs were selling at retail at that time for about 60 cents a dozen...
...I'll ,bet a pound and a shilling that Mr...
...Do we hold all the people of England guilty for the imperfalist crimes of their government...
...Foolish Cause' Dear Sirs: At times in the past we have greatly enjoyed your paper and felt that there was a real need for it...
...Frank D. Slocum New York, N. Y. * * * Pass This Paper On...
...I can't think we would do it clear-sightedly, but I fear we might be fooled into doing it...
...The answer is they did not prevent usurpation of power by an unscrupulous man, nor prevent their government from starting an aggressive war and they let themselves be used in that war...
...Lauderdale, Fku . . . THE PEOPLE'S FORUM . . . The Isolationist Herring Dear Sirs: The isolationist herring was, drawn across the course of the recent political campaign...
...Without this aid the families of these persecuted labor leaders would suffer great hardships and privations...
...They may be fighting for defense, but when that gets too thin, they are liberating some one...
...The little people end all wars...
...One may feel _ reasonably sure that a new political party will receive attention...
...Since when has it been understood that a people are to be held for the crimes of their government...
...It's a good investment...
...Can we be quite sure that if our Government should take part' in an unjustifiable war we would not support it...
...Howard ignores this vital aspect of the Chinese political problem and, in the best tradition of The Progressive, descends into the filthy streams of red-baiting...
...The first question is, what is the charge against these people...
...So, we may expect more "plowing under" and curtailment of production so that we may all enjoy the "more abundant life...
...One, from Elkton, Oreg., says: "Your paper is indeed an example of a truly free press and as such must be continued in every state and city of these United States...
...in prison now for over 10 months, solely because of their labor activities and political opinions...
...Is there a better way...
...Fair Play . . Dear Sirs: One of the greatest weaknesses in the struggle for the welfare of the many is the constant unfounded criticism within its own writers and ranks...
...Wes Frost Storrs, Conn...
...Most of these voters, I believe, are very critical of certain tendencies in the present Administration, particularly that toward a highly centralized government at Washington...
...The prewar Polish Government is striving toward resuming control of Poland, but the Polish people want no more of it...
...But before sentence is pronounced there are some things to consider...
...George F. Curry Martins Ferry, O. * * * 23 Million Reds Dear Sirs: The cat is out of the bag...
...Without exception they say most emphatically, that neither they, nor any other Greeks with whom they have been in contact, want any more of King George or any of his clique:" Numerous natives of other countries overrun by the Germans but now liberated, or in course of liberation, speak unanimously and emphatically along the same line...
...but it would involve drastic laws designed to control that small minority which only finds . pleasure in obtaining more than Rs share of wealth...
...Your readers may be interested in this comment by the Editor of Labor, the progressive newspaper of the Railroad Brotherhoods: "As a Senator, Ball is not impressive, although his newspaper friends give him an impressive amount of publicity...
...I realize all has not gone smoothly, or as planned, but I am certain the men running things did not know of all the irregularities in every locality, and could not, unless the people wrote or phoned and told them...
...It is surprising the Republicans did as well as they did, and it is very evident the people are either ignorant, or have a very short memory, in their desire to return to the good old days under GOP rule...
...Joe Ball's Record Dear Sirs: To those of us who know Joe Ball as a hard-shelled conservative, it is more than passing strange to find him so warmly embraced by those who once called themselves liberals...
...My personal belief is that we are going to accept more and more "regimentation...
...This may be necessary to avoid a complete breakdown of our economic system...
...A note to the big boys on top explaining conditions returns big dividends...
...Both Dewey and F.D.R...
...It must never be forgotten that part of the Finnish adventure occurred while Herbert Clark Hoover was chairman of the Supreme Economic Council after the last war, and later chairman of the American Relief Administration...
...Can we reform our educational system...
...This unity is an imperative to the United Nations...
...But when it comes to showdown, when the people get tired, the thing stops...
...Rodell's Roasting Dear Sirs: , . - After the beautiful roasting that Fred Rodell gave to Max Lerner and PM, I think that he should be elected Head Chef...
...Dewey deplored this method and promised that, if elected, there would be no more of such nonsense...
...These same ehiselers schemed and contrived to get the United States in this war and now criticize F. D. R. for his promise to keep our boys out of foreign wars...
...Howard's ideal of China is one in which the Tu Chuns hold a free and independent hand...
...Please send your contribution to the Civil Rights Defense Committee, 160 Fifth Ave., New York...
...It Will Make New Friends...
...The "true-to-principles" Socialists in Bridgeport refused to endorse the New Deal Democratic candidate, Miss Margaret Conners, so the reactionary candidate, Mrs...
...Deerfield, Mass...
...Such writers as Howard and Chamberlin are using The Progressive as a political football...
...11, prints an article by Edgar Snow and captioned "Eastern Europe Swings To The Left," which every reader of The Progressive should read with care...
...The American public has been continually misinformed and confused regarding the facts of the Finnish situation...
...On Aug...
...But, that "Real Story of China" leaves me cold...
...J. K. Windsor Philadelphia, Pa...
...Let's hope that, just so long as we have fascistic-minded people like Max Lerner, we'll also have a liberal to give him the lie and to present the truth to us who sit on this side of the ropes...
...Whether righteous judgment is rendered concerns not only their, but the world's welfare...
...Pass This Paper On...
...Claire Luce, won by 2,000 votes...
...It does offer an insuperable obstacle to any Communist-conceived plan, to secure in advance American support jn a third World War...
...has informed us that "price control" will be maintained as long as it may be required...
...And that purpose is not to enlighten the electorate: The purpose is to smear all opponents of an alien-minded group in our midst, the Communist-minded...
...Suggested Reading Dear Sirs: Noting recent articles in The Progressive and the press relating to conditions in China now being disclosed, I might suggest reading Sharks, Fins, and Millet by Ilona Ralf Sues, published by Little, Brown & Company, which recounts conditions relative to China as now being exposed in The Progressive and the press...
...The politician will make every excuse on earth not to end wars...
...Frank S. Hart E. Lansing, Mich...
...The Chinese situation is of worldwide importance, and can have international repercussions...
...With front page space they can be effectively answered...
...Perhaps, instead of the word "doubtful," I should say, is certain they are not...
...Must Germans Be CO's...
...Obstructionism serves no purpose of free government...
...Roosevelt's reelection for a fourth term shows definitely, according to recent campaign oratory, there are at least 23 million Communists in this country and abroad in the armed services...
...I believe, unless something unforeseen happens, the' GOP will get another shellacking by F. D. R. or some man picked by him and backed by him in 1948...
...Howard concluded that we must not "reward" the Chinese people by turning them over to the tender mercies of Joe Stalin and his Chinese agent...
...Stassen appointed him to the Senate to fill a vacancy...
...25 wherein I stated my opposition, with reasons therefor, to any attempts, contrary to the wishes of the people directly involved, to restore any prewar governments, now "in exile," to their former positions...
...I can agree wholly with the last...
...P. R. Davis Crown City, Oi The GOP Defeat Dear- Sirs: It is quite amusing to rea"d and hear the alibis offered for the defeat of the" Republicans in the election...
...I'm all tangled in something if it isn't haywire...
...There is another point to be made about the late election...
...The Railroad Brother-" hood's paper, Labor, thinks it sounds fine...
...We would return to the good old days of rugged individualism...
...Why don't you turn a little of your hate on Hitler instead of Roosevelt...
...Poole and 20,000 British in north Finland, plus the British occupation < of Murmansk combined with Gen...
...They do not want 'any return of their prewar governments, most if not all of which are now "governments-in-exile...
...But none of them is so embittered by hatred toward Franklin D. Roosevelt and all his works that he is willing to entrust the future of the country in this critical time to a party whose hatred for Roosevelt has made it the obstructionist group to all measures proposed by the present Administration...
...I have a sneaky feeling that these uncompromising liberals are on the Wall St...
...Emma L. Smith Hayward, Calif...
...Readers of The Progressive who preserve a file of its issues, may refer to the Forum in the issue of Sept...
...What sort of economic program may we expect if a third party is born...
...No matter how he may dislike cartels and monopoly, is there a Chinaman's chance that he could legislate it out of existence...
...It is a big job to run as large a business as this Government, covering the territory it does...
...A typical example of this misinformation was the annual ballyhoo that received headline writeups in the press of the nation every time Finland paid its interest charges...
...here in Oregon he received so few votes that his decision is vindicated...
...Attempts to force reactionary, prewar governments upon the peoples of those countries as a reward for the sacrifices which they have made, and still are making, can result only in more trouble for the sponsors of such a program...
...Already over 350 unions and other progressive organizations representing more than 3,500,000 members have supported the work of the Civil Rights Defense Committee...
...the way we became great and strong...
...Now, let us see how his "free enterprise" plan functions, at this time of food shortage throughout the world...
...Ambrose Bierce, in his Devil's Dictionary, defines our economy of price and scarcity thus: Peace is a period of cheating between two periods of fighting...
...Ralph W. Olm-stead, deputy director of WFA's distribution division, stated that he then had on hand 5,000,000 cases of eggs (150 million dozen) which he had not the slightest idea in the world what to do with...
...That'is what we all would like to know...
...Bellingham, Wash...
...Upon my word, Mr...
...Last July the Los Angeles Times tells us that the Stiegel Act forced the conversion of 550,-000 sacks of edible potatoes—5,000 sacks were grade 1—into hog feed...
...We would welcome constructive criticism, but when you continually tear down everything done by the only liberal who has a chance of being effective in our national political and economic life—then we feel that you have taken a very narrow and foolish course and one that we are not interested in...
...It Will Make New Friend...
...As one who has spent many years in the areas under discussion, I know from firsthand experience that few writers have so great a grasp of the fundamentals involved...
...Pass This Paper On...
...Thomas evidently knows one thing: Politicians start wars but they never end them...
...Mannerheim, known throughout Europe as "Butcher Mannerheim...
...Small wonder that certain Finns, and others, did not like the peace terms offered by Russia, since this Petsamo region would be turned over to Russia...
...After all, facts are what count in the final analysis, so let's save our tears for a just cause...
...but they ask, "how are you going to do it...
...payroll, if not, they're being robbed...
...reason: protect the price level...
...It is time for a change from the hate-blinded obstructionist party it has been as the opposition party in the last twelve years, to the love of freedom, enlightened constructive party it was under its greatest leader, the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln...
...To apply it to the at least 80 per cent of the American people, who before Pearl Harbor were not following the Communist line at the time (the line changes so often and so quickly that a date must always accompany a statement of its policy), is to make the word "isolationist" stand for those Americans whose first concern is their own country...
...There are a few men I had followed for years, listened and read every one of their speeches possible, who today are called names by people that have never heard or read a word of their philosophies...
...John Gabriel Soltis Minneapolis, Minn...
...China needs its peoples, includ ing Communists, united against Japanese imperialism...
...Is this "free enterprise"?-Even a moron would understand the contradiction...
...Howard realizes the significance of Chinese unity, with respect to British imperialism in Asia...
...Every idea started for the benefit of the people at large was bucked, sabotaged, ridiculed, and in many cases abandonment was compelled by the ehiselers, who had been instrumental in bringing about the conditions left by the GOP and did not like the idea of being taxed...
...I have numerous letters from friends and relatives in different parts of the world...
...conclusions are that the people of the nations which have been liberated from German brutality, largely by the achievements of the Russian Army, do not want any return to status quo ante helium...
...When I know the people of California pay the taxes that pay the state guards to stand over mountains of food with guns to see that that food rots, well I should be prepared to know any American is haywire...
...have come out openly in defense of "free enterprise...
...Banks were allowed to accept their money, fail, and keep it, and not a banker convicted for the GOP term...
...The imprisonment of these 18 under the vicious Smith "Gag" law makes the Minneapolis Labor Case the most important civil liberties issue in recent years...
...It is time for a change of heart in the Republican Party...
...Charles K. Chilberg Portland, Oreg...
...Now turn the page to the next 12 years...
...J.' C. Coons Ft...
...It is puzzling why the scholarly Mr...
...Warren G. Johnston Philadelphia, Pa...
...Education could discourage and eventually discredit that type of man, but it would not come the Eric Johnston way of education...
...Being haywire U. S. citizens we have to support the Nationalist Party and Mr...
...H. J. Shea Bronx, N. Y. * * * The Politicians And War Dear Sirs: In the Oct...
...Snow were obtained by him "on the ground" firsthand...
...The Minneapolis Labor Case directly involves you and your democratic rights...
...You are doing a fine joh of confusing the people...
...We do not...
...Editor, is it just possible that the erudite Mr...
...It Will Make New Friend...
...The Finnish Soviet Republic was overthrown while World War I was still in progress...
...A few years ago even the press was cautious about attacking them...
...I said, by way of a feeler, "You want King George to come back and rule your country, do you not...
...Dear Sirs: The implication contained in your editorials and offered by certain contributors that a liberal who compromises with another person to achieve the defeat of reactionary candidates as the lesser of two evils, is a terrible "so-called liberal" is certainly unreasonable and unfair...
...And that change is the condition that independent voters make to their support of that party...
...There can be no verdict but guilty...
...He promptly exploded with a very emphatic "No...
...These men had constantly fought for the common cause...
...H. J. Harlowe Minneapolis, Minn...
...Millions were unemployed the latter part of the 12 years...
...Inasmuch as this description has been applied to millions of Americans, ranging from America's most distinguished historian, Charles Beard, to America's most notorious rabble-rouser, Gerald Smith, there can be no doubt of the purpose of those who use it so indiscriminately...
...Count-Rudiger von der Goltz and 30,000 of the German army in south Finland, accompanied by Gen...
...The Socialist vote totaled 2,400...
...The liberals and progressives are On the spot...
...For after all, Mr...
...Petsamo, Finland, has provided Germany during this World War II with over 70 per cent of her nickel, over 30 per cent of her molybdenum, and over 12 per cent of her copper...
...You will have to make up your minds...
...What...
...Mrs...
...The other letter, from New York City, is doubtful-of letters-to-the editor being barometers of public sentiment...
...Effort was made to alleviate the conditions through the NRA, WPA, PWA, etc...
...Laura Kuhns 2211 Douglas Ave...
...Louis Peterson Newton Falls, O. 'Lies About Finland' Dear Sirs: I would like to present a few facts for the benefit of Milton Shra-der, Sr., whose letter on "Cruelty in Finland" appears in the Oct...
...I wonder if these alibiers think all the people are dumb except them, and with no capacity for remembering late history, 1920 to 1932, when there was no effort made to protect the farmer or the workers or their savings...
...This attitude of the Polish people is the chief obstacle standing in the way of any agreement relative to a postwar Poland...
...Certainly it demonstrated that it is time for a change in the Republican Party...
...The liberals whose compromise produced Social Security, AAA, TVA, etc., as actual facts or the likes of Norman Thomas, Oswald Villard, etc., whose "true-to-principles" policy would produce absolutely nothing but wearying pious speeches and unending reactionary victories...
...A guarantee of a free press, made by this small, yet powerful group, is virtually the same as though this group owned all the grain in the country and held it at a price far beyond the ability of the people to buy, yet guaranteed free bread...
...Six others were released on Oct...
...It is because the Republican Party, as it is now constituted in its role of an opposition party, can lose for us at home our hard gained liberties and can lose for all peoples their highest hope of a world security, that it is time for a change in the Republican Party...
...Today the high cost of living makes feeding and clothing their unfortunate ones an ever-increasing problem for the Committee...
...The Connecticut Congressional results supply any evidence required of such stupidity...
...In conclusion we find both political parties promising 60 million jobs at "good wages" in "free enterprise...
...Their stuff in its final analysis spells propaganda for reaction...
...Harvey F. Hincks San Gabriel, Calif...
...Bertha Strong Cooley So...
...J. R. Johnston Oakland, Calif...
...Such a concern offers no obstacle to any international cooperation, the sincere purpose of which is to prevent a third World War...
...This book was published in January, 1944...
...He touched the subject of "monopoly" very gingerly...
...16 issue of The Progressive...
...John Green Julius Hochman James T. Farrell John Dewey George Baldanzi Roger Baldwin , , , WlLLARD S. TOWNSEND Warren K. Billings New York, N. Y. * * * Confusing The People Dear Sirs: Please stop my subscription...
...I'm surprised that the.ultra-conservative Post would print such an article...
...Finland gained political independence for the first time in known history when Soviet Russia in December, 1917, recognized the independence of the Finnish Soviet Socialist Republic...
...It should be remembered that F.D.R...
...such are concerned with wealth—not national welfare...
...It is time for a change from malice toward any one engaged in the unfinished work that he so nobly advanced, to charity toward all the • peoples that are looking to 'the land ©f Lincoln for emancipation from the tyrannies that today enslave them...
...It was always headlined, "Finland Pays Its War Debt...
...Informative Dear Sirs: Your paper is highly informative, your authors authentic, and your spirit of intelligent criticism most pleasing...
...This, you will find, is the judgment of those who know Ball and his record best...
...Finland was a part of Russia in the last war and therefore could not, and did not, have a war debt...
...Used with some concern for the truth—the least concern of the communist—the word "isolationist" can only be applied, as Charles Beard pointed out some time ago in The Republic, to those Americans who hold that what happens outside of America is of no concern to America...
...And that is why, my fellow Americans, the isolationist herring was drawn across the course of the recent campaign...
...Government-In-Exile Dear Sirs: The Saturday Evening Post, in its issue of Nov...
...J. B. Kniskern Chicago, 111...
...Norman Thomas' political ges-tures through the years (he tells us he is through as a Presidential candidate) are not encouraging...
...T. J. SCHREIBER Salt Lake City, Utah Lauds Howard Dear Sirs: I Harry Paxton Howard's analysis of the situation in China was a fair and frank job...
...Because that vast number endangered the "market price"— Government fixed price—they were sold for a few cents per case and converted into hog feed...
...J. E. Fitzgerald Stephenville, Tex...
...Howard sees nothing but the noblest traits in British imperialism, despite the fact that here and there he takes a poke at it, in order to defend it better...
...For with what judgment ye judge ye shall be judged and with what measure ye mete it shall be measured to you again...
...Ye Gods...
...He talked about "driving the money changers out of the temple," but it was merely campaign oratory...
...However, during the last few years your continued attacks on President Roosevelt and your criticism of everything that he has done have become very wearisome...
...It would well be to the reaction-" aries' interest to subsidize a half dozen uncompromising "true to principles" Socialist, Liberal, Progressive parties to insure reactionary success...
...Dear Sirs: The German people stand today before the bar of the world's judgment...
...But history has a way of smacking down the Howards, Chamberlins, and all other camouflaged servants of hell and reaction...
...Ball's internationalism is one thing, but how this makes a liberal of him is something I cannot fathom...
...Millions tramped from place to place to get work, and not the slightest effort was made by the Grand Old Party except to tell the public "prosperity is just around the corner...
...It can work right into the hands of its enemies at home and abroad by making free government unworkable, and therefore making a change to a totalitarian government inevitable...
...We small fry very much prefer some advantage achieved by compromise to 100 years of futility and frustration of pious wind from Eugene Debs, Norman Thomas, and Oswald Garrison Villard with the unending reactionary victories...
...Of course there is...
...Just what service to mankind, beyond pious futile wind, did these Bridgeport Socialists achieve...
...He was employed on a Minneapolis newspaper when former Gov...
...23 issue of The Progressive the article by Norman Thomas is the most sensible thing I have read in many days...
...I am grateful, indeed, to the person who sent me wry initial copies...
...I congratulate you and the La Follettes on your sense of fair play and not being guilty of this injustice...
...then they are fighting to make the world better, which never happens...
...This view is held by a very small minority of our people, so small that it might well be designated the moron fringe...
...it means saving millions of lives to us, as well as a speedy defeat of Japan...
...The Finnish Soviet Republic was overthrown by force of arms in the Summer of 1918 by the combined forces of Gen...
...Who is really the "so-called liberal...
...But we can hardly expect the leading newspapers, devoted to upholding the status quo, to publish in the readers' column any letter too severely criticising the present system which embraces periodical panics, then war...
...Ever since the 18 went to prison the CRDC has provided relief for their wives and children...
...The same kind of problem was, and still is, confronting our populace in many essential lines...
...Who is what...
...there is no other way but war and more war...
...I also want to quote George H Shoaf's timely question to William H. Chamberlin: "Just what does he mean and what does he want by his constant attacks on the Soviet Union...
...F.D.R...
...Howard, being a good American, does not take a fellow traveler's word...
...Our campaign to free the prisoners and repeal the Smith "Gag" Act is a campaign to defend the hard-won rights of the entire American people...
...Instead of complaining and criticizing, use a little ink and a three cent stamp...
...26, Col...
...Not as long as money controls our schools, yes, even our pulpits...
...Howard's Red-Baiting Dear Sirs: It seems that the unity of China, between* the Communists and the Kuomintang, which would establish a democratic assembly" and control the civilian and military authority of China, drives the learned and prolific Harry Paxton Howard into a veritable fury against the Chinese Communists, by Jove...
...Who Are The Liberals...
...Appeal For Aid Dear Sirs: Twelve members 'of Minneapolis Truck Drivers Local 544-CIO and of the Socialist Workers Party have been...
...The number of professed Communists is harmlessly small, but the number of Communist-minded is alarmingly large...
...Our pro-Finnish propaganda and our official attitude on Fascist Finland originate from certain economic interests participated in by American individuals and corporations along with other international financial groups...
...told us that at the beginning...
...This is one of the worst propaganda lies that has ever been perpetrated on the American public...
...Mr...
...The facts stated by Mr...
...Since when has it been expected that a whole nation should take the stand of Conscientious Objectors...
...Yesterday I was talking with a very well-informed and intelligent man, a native of Greece...
...While most of my friends seemed shocked, dismayed^ or astounded by recent developments in the Orient, I, as a reader of The Progressive, was well prepared for the situation as it has now emerged...
...Haywire Dear Sirs: All the years I subscribed to the American Guardian, I admired and respected The Progressive...
...The Free Press Dear Sirs: I would like to comment, on two letters on the Forum page, Oct...
...Much of this could very well have been written by Hitler's Joe Goeb-bels or any Japanese propagandist...
...One today is silent...
...When a large percentage of the nation's land and other natural resources have been transferred by Government officials into the control of a small percentage of the people, this small percentage will control the great printing presses and most of the other means of information and propaganda the church, schools, radio, and movies...
Vol. 8 • November 1944 • No. 48
