THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
. . . THE PEOPLES FORUM . . . Cause Of Wars Dear Sirs: A just and abiding peace will remove the cause of war. Problem number one for those who sit at the peace table, will be to uncover,...
...out the evils existing under the present system...
...Piece by piece we must rebuild the new world economic and political structure...
...How many want to rebuild on the solid, rock of economic world justice...
...Fight Imperialism Daar Sirs: Please keep up the fight against American imperialism...
...It has brought out into the open and to public attention the sordid struggle that has been going on in Texas for years...
...Under their rule and influence, the peace of Europe would be everlastingly secure...
...Close blames this on certain radical and communistic elements...
...2 issue to which "he referred...
...It violates the human spirit and destroys the dignity of man...
...I wish we could have more of these treasures...
...the Dutch East Indies, or the Dutch Empire...
...Postwar conscription, or military training by compulsion, designed and administered by monopoly and corporation heads, simply means a last ditch stand to uphold the status quo (their way of life) and thereby enforce ours...
...Shun Franco Spain Dear Sirs: Spain demands and expects to be given a seat in the peace conference, following the defeat of Germany...
...This imposed conviction holds that permanent conscription is "necessary" to "preserve" the "peace" for which the present war is being fought...
...Could it be for us...
...Now, the only efficient force in China to fight the Japs is the Communist Army, battling for a cooperative commonwealth in China, and our Government ' of course approached them as a nucleus for the formation of a real army to drive the yellow men of Tokyo out of China...
...Praise For Mayer Dear Sirs: Please accept my appreciation of Milton Mayer's magnificent defense of Conscientious Objector De Vault and his unnecessary crucifixion by our war lords...
...we should be big enough, intelligent enough now to face the murderers of human liberty and tell them where we stand...
...It also means that we are following in Europe's footprints of fascism, rather than being her goddess of justice and liberation...
...A High Score Dear Sirs:' The articles by Harry Paxton Howard, Harry Elmer Barnes, Frank Hanighen, Oswald Garrison Villard, and the material by Morris H. Rubin score close to 100 per cent with me...
...They must know there are but two economies: production for individual profit and "production for collective use...
...Let us fight plunder and enslavement...
...As your paper pointed out — but that was several months ago—- these 18 were convicted only for their beliefs: their beliefs being mainly that capitalism is the cause of most of the ills of society today...
...The people are directly challenged...
...At any rate it would be nice to say we are fighting for democracy even if the rest of the world would think us naive...
...The answer is obvious...
...The arguments that blandly cite military training as something splendid for youth because of what such training can do for them in the way of health, discipline, etc., are nothing but pure rot...
...Only a few place names need' changing to have t)e-Vault's case seem right at home in Japan and Germany...
...They tried to get along with him, to build him up as China's Superman through such Wall Street inspired writers as Howard, but found it impossible in the end...
...That is why the Government of the U. S. A. favors and will establish, if possible, the criminal, war-inviting imposition known as permanent "peacetime" conscription...
...The lines are now clearly drawn...
...When the current "common enemies"—the "warlike" Germans and Japanese—are thoroughly whipped into "unconditional surrender," and no longer need be feared by the "peace-loving Allies," those "Allies...
...The Kuomintang is corrupt to the core, so absolutely corrupt that the United States couldn't stand it any longer and was compelled, to issue the ultimatum, "Let me handle the business or I quit...
...Kimberly intimates that under some other economic system—-presumably socialism—all forms of incentive would immediately vanish when he says, ". . . Would society progress or retrogress through th,e removal of all incentive for individual effort...
...Twenty centuries ago a famous workingman explained how we .could understand the truth and the truth would set us free from ignorance, tyranny, and misrule...
...Prof...
...Many of the writers in The: Forum excel the staff writers,, . ^ I have tried to understand just why the La Follettes antagonize "production for use" Russia...
...He says that "The progress of man down through the ages has been because of his desire to attain a bit more pleasant existence, than that of his neighbor...
...It is a war on the home front between the forces of darkness, ignorance, and reaction and those of light, intelligence, and democracy...
...That un-sanity and even insanity is contrary to survival value in our civilization is generally- conceded...
...What is significant about the persecution of these 18 Trotskyists is that it is only the first step in further persecutions of the working class, or anyone who speaks out against the ruling class...
...Mrs...
...Fascism plumbs the depths of human degradation...
...In those years La Follette's stood for something tangible...
...The quarrel between Chiang and the well-regulated and excellently trained Communist Army in the North is of the same nature...
...And how do you suppose we feel when we Tiave to decline to buy bonds...
...John Campbell Chula Vista, Calif...
...E. L. Stair Geronimo, Okla...
...Palo Alto, Calif...
...may blunder into war amongst themselves...
...If we are to be denied a free radio, soon we shall not have a free press...
...No doubt exists in my mind but that the former governor and present Senator would very much prefer to go farther to the "left," and will do so when, in.their opinion, it is safe politically to do so...
...It is the sort of "peace" that was enjoyed by those conscription-loving countries, Poland, Greece, France, Germany, Russia, etc...
...It is about the most reactionary, fascist-minded piece of clap-trap about China I have ever seen...
...The Progressive has quite a number of valuable critical writers, but where are your economic and political architects...
...As a matter of fact, there are too many adults who don't, have the ability to vote wisely, or political machines couldn't exist...
...Let it be said, in passing, that never has a La Follette, any one of the three, been found guilty of the slightest taint of corruption...
...I would be glad to correspond with interested parties...
...I desire to join my voice, with others, in denouncing such prejudiced writers as William H. Cham-bsrlin and Harry Paxton Howard as utterly unfit...
...Problem number one for those who sit at the peace table, will be to uncover, confess, and agree upon the thing to be eliminated — the cause of war...
...He is keen, forceful, democratic, and a fine type of citizen...
...We cannot and we must not allow the darkness of fascism to settle over the good earth of the U. S. A. 'Tis far better to die for democracy than to live under fascism...
...If they fail in this, the result will be another mere armistice...
...The people of California 'took it' from the Japs in that area so long and so intensively that any who ventured back would be found dead and stuffed in the sewer two hours later...
...I don't want the United States to acquire new naval bases, oil concessions on a monopolistic basis, or any pf the other things which will inevitably bring another World War...
...We have tried several times, but with no success, to get a little increase...
...The real aggressors in all wars are those who violate God's laws or righteousness, equity, justice, and the principles of the golden rule and try to enslave, degrade, and oppress their fellow men...
...Need more be said ? The Government has set itself up as the guardian angel of organized labor, with the sincere intention that labor get its rights, but does not seem to feel the same way about civil service employes, active and retired...
...It constitutes a state and national disgrace...
...The U. S. A. will adopt production for use in its own peculiar way...
...D. C. Bond Alhambra, Calif, Peacetime Draft Dear Sirs: We are still governed by law so that the mere election of an executive is not of paramount importance...
...Ernest F. Schroeder Sheboygan, Wis...
...If all incentive vanished, society probably would retrogress, but a socialist society undoubtedly—if its leaders had any common sense at all—would offer many forms of in* ducement for individual effort...
...La Fol-lette, and others...
...As lovers of decency and democracy we are honor bound to accept this challenge of fascism...
...Every man who believes in democracy should do all in his power to have our Government join Russia in this real statesmanlike position...
...The work done by The Progressive is particularly beneficial at this time in view of the demise of the Nation, the New Republic, and others...
...I myself do not know when the capitalists ever gave up anything without, a struggle...
...Our stipend is not a pension, -as some uninformed people call it...
...I strongly disagree with this...
...but they will never be able to kill thoughts, faiths, justice, equity, freedom, courage, and the determination of men to live the life that God designs for them...
...And about the peace: will we have anything more to say about it than we did about the Treaty of Versailles...
...Our cherished democracy is threatened...
...Today, no doubt, their number has increased...
...Could it be for India or the Britiish, Empire...
...Pass This Paper On...
...Writers like Mayer and Villard keep alive cur own dim spark of civilization...
...For the governments of the "peace-loving" nations are distrustful of one another...
...Who knows who will be next...
...Spain — democratic Spain that won the 1936 (secret ballot) election by an-overwhelming majority — is entitled to and should have a seat and a" voice in the conference...
...We enjoy it from cover to coyer and we consider it one of the few honest publications remaining in the field of interpretation of national and international affairs...
...Bug Under The Chip Dear Sirs: In agreement with many of your Forum writers, I want to register my strong opposition to postwar conscription and peace by military force...
...War-Inviting Conscription Dear Sirs: Credulous minds will soon be called upon to welcome a criminal conviction which is being groomed for official presentation to the American people...
...Treat Japan in a similar manner and all Asia would eventually fall in line...
...Our language, spoken, printed, or written is today considered as a main factor of the general un-sanity and insanity, and the consequences are our present chaotic conditions...
...Franco the Beast, who with the help of his blood brothers in murder, Hitler and Mussolini, butchered hundreds of thousands of loyal Spanish republicans and who still holds thousands of those unconquerable people in filthy prisons, is no more entitled to a voice or place in the peace conference than Hitler or Mussolini...
...It is quite possible...
...General Semantics, originated by Count Korzybski, expounded in his book Science and Sanity, and taught already in several universities, should be studied by all who are interested in their own "sanity" and that of others...
...These incentives would not be the economic kind found in a capitalist world, but would take the form of political honors...
...He is always for America first...
...I like your People's Forum more than any portion of The Progressive because it is a barometer on the reactionary and progressive inclinations of America...
...He is the author of many successful plays, best remembered of which is The Monster, a mystery play about a mad scientist who vivisected human beings in his search for the secret of life...
...Charles E. Lewis Chicago, I...
...Harold E. Fackert's short letter in your Nov...
...We must fight it to a finish out of respect to the great democratic heritage upon which the very security, happiness, and greatness of this nation must ever rest...
...Homer P. Rainey as President of the University of Texas by a millionaire Board of Regents is nothing less than' native fascism in action...
...Errol Longanecker Sr...
...You needn't be sorry for us,' the man is reported to have said...
...T. J. Welsh Chicago, Ill...
...It must come— there is no alternative...
...If someone wants to be rich, it is because he thinks his life will be more to his liking then...
...Since iniquity, injustice, and oppression are the chief components of the cause, the victims of the cause have the assurance that God will be for them in the fight for its removal, and they will never cease fighting until this cause is removed...
...Ramspeck, a good tried and true New Dealer, who does not believe that we retired men need or deserve an increase...
...Ronald E. Wyllys Tempe, Ariz...
...Frank S. Williams New York, N. Y. * * * Two Replies Dear Sirs: I have just read two letters in the Forum of Sept...
...Senate And Peace Dear Sirs: One of the things that impresses me about this war is that no one has said that we are fighting to keep the world safe for democracy...
...Scientists apparently do not doubt that "human nature" may be changed within limits...
...Green does not say the half of it...
...From the proletarian viewpoint the issue is quite clear: v As soon as the present aggressors are vanquished, disarm and disfranchise their military class and its political supporters, and permit the enlightened citizens to assume control...
...Lorn Keppy Huntington Park, Calif...
...Mulford q. Sibley Urbana, Ill...
...Madeline C. Church Point Loma, Calif...
...Perhaps if we could muster several million votes to use as an argument, it might prove persuasive...
...Fascism has been aptly defined as "the overt assumption by financial, industrial, and predatory interests of that control of government which they have always covertly exercised...
...John P. Schrobter Box 284 Greendale, Wis...
...It is not a gift of charity but an annuity which we helped to build and create by deductions from our salaries...
...I think it is grand to give meek souls like myself a chance to appear in print on subjects so vital to all...
...Surely we must keep faith with our fine brave boys dying on foreign soils to put down the same scourge...
...There are many youths who would be permitted to vote at that age, but there are others who are not developed enough mentally to exercise properly the right of suffrage...
...Thanks to you and all of them...
...Today it stands for nothing definite except perhaps as large a control of Wisconsin's politics and occupation of office as possible...
...The problem is how to determine who should vote and who should not...
...He is in Springfield {paking the 15th of a series of short educational films as a contribution from Warner Brothers to the American way of life...
...As a junior in high school, I want to voice my decided objection to this...
...Bradley E. Stafford Springfield, Mass...
...At any rate an important question has been raised, or rather revived, how to achieve "sanity," and through it the capacity for survival...
...Wilbur has had a distinguished career as actor, playwright, and director...
...Those who stand idly by and think they are safe from persecution may be next on the list...
...But what sort of "peace" is that which relies for its existence upon the presence of armed forces held in readiness to wage war...
...Now the capitalists .want to continue into the postwar period rationing, military conscription, and no-strike laws...
...I hope they will hold to the same high standard of statesmanship in all meetings that are supposed to make the plan for the peace of the world and demand that the builders of democracy and not the destroyers of democracy, be given a voice in the building of a broader and better democracy than any we have known...
...Pass This Paper On...
...This fear has become habitual...
...If a permanent conscription bill is passed, we will have the kind of' act on our books that has driven so many freedom-loving people from their native European states in the past century...
...Contemptible' Too Mild Dear Sirs: I am continuing to take The Progressive even though I feel like the reader, H. H. Scott from Boston, Mass., when he wrote in your Oct...
...This writer takes The Progressive not to read its so-called staff writers but to read its People's Forum...
...We must gird our loins for the grim struggle against fascism on the home front here and now...
...This obviously can't be done, so I think that none of them should vote...
...Defends Upton Close Dear Sirs: It is very reprehensible the way the National Broadcasting Company is forcing Upton Close off the network...
...Philip Zimmerman Altamont, Ill...
...If such a postwar course is chosen we shall have to tread the paths of the Europeans and will be embroiled in another all-out world war to eliminate the power of world corporations before civilization can reach the desired goals of permanent peace...
...It Will Make New Friends...
...Preventing Future War Dear Sirs: Due to the prejudice of the small minority who own our means of life there is much confusion as to the best method for preventing future war...
...their arrogance was insufferable.' " 'If a housewife objected to the quality of the goods offered her'," said Wilbur, "she was told, 'Oh, you don't like it, eh...
...20 issue of the Springfield Union: "Only an insane person would advocate the postwar return of any interned Japanese or Japanese Americans to California," said Crane Wilbur, Hollywood director, in an interview last night...
...First, that of L. R. Kimberly...
...Howard's 'Clap-Trap' Dear Sirs: Harry Paxton Howard's article, "The Explosion in China," is a disgrace to The Progressive...
...Your readers must be well informed that read the interpretations and significance of the world events as presented by Mayer, See-ly, Barnes, Coleman, Holmes, Meyer, Chamberlin, Thomas, Chase, Vil-lard, Rodell, Mr...
...The fact is that Chiang Kai-shek has wasted and is still wasting the help that has'been given to him by this country and elsewhere...
...9 issue that "your whitewashing of Germany is utterly contemptible," and that's putting it mildly...
...11 that seem to call for a reply...
...The length of time before open fighting and resistance cease will depend upon the time required by those who still suffer from the true cause, to organize for a renewal of their fight...
...20 number a squawk, (and justified, too), by Malcolm A. Green on the shabby treatment of postal workers by the Administration...
...You'll take what you can get.' - "Instancing the case of friends of his, a married couple who had a Japanese man and wife working for them, the man as a gardener and the wife as a domestic servant, Wilbur related that his friends were sincerely sorry when after Pearl Harbor the servants left to be interned...
...In Germany, the present world center of militarism, about eight million Communists recorded their vote a few years ago...
...That is why their respective governments are so determined to have them remain armed camps...
...The struggle of man down through the ages has been to obtain a more pleasant existence, certainly, but I don't think that many people want a better life just for the pleasure of its being better than that of their neighbors...
...Yet What are'we fighting for — the "Four Freedoms...
...This bill has passed the Senate and is in the hands of the House Civil Service Committee where it is being held up by the chairman of the Committee, Rep...
...They also must know that private monopoly and cartels absolutely control production for profit, rendering it useless and destructive nationally, and internationally, to civilization...
...Fearless Writers Dear Sirs: I want to tell you of my deep appreciation of your weekly magazine and register my thanks to your editor, Morris H. Rubin, who has opened its pages to a splendid group of able and fearless writers...
...If We are fighting for permanent peace why go ahead wasting human effort and materials preparing for another conflict once peace has come ? The two proposals just don't harmonize...
...Right now, we have a bill before Congress, S. 878, which provides for a little increase...
...What counts more is the quality of our legislation...
...But such a panacea has never proven successful...
...Our military forces award many medals, ribbons, etc., for individual effort in battle...
...These Socialist Workers Party members, who call themselves Trotskyists, predict that the capitalists will not give up their ownership and control of industry without a struggle, and base their prediction on history...
...It is difficult to guess just how much France will be able to grab so the French Empire cannot be mentioned...
...The Russians have refused to have any dealings with this beast whose hands are dripping with the blood of freedom-loving people...
...It Will Make New Friends...
...Only, Mr...
...Russia has always shown us the way...
...M. A. Green Austin, Tex...
...Our Senate, represent-'*.' ing the American people, did not ratify it, yet it went into effect and the American people were left to pay the bills...
...There must be a bug under the chip somewhere...
...Fine—but for whom...
...Any intelligent reader of the daily newspapers (which are careful never to reveal all there is to reveal) realize this...
...Let England play its part as it sees fit...
...With what, if you please...
...Under the old retirement act, the maximum annuity a man could get upon retirement after 30 years of service, (I had 39 years of service) was and is $100 a month...
...Such are public morals...
...nevertheless we mostly react to events or their highly abstracted descriptions, inferences, judgments, etc., not as adults should, but as infants do...
...We'll be back, and when we come back, we'll kill you.' "Mr...
...Bombs, bullets, poison, fire, and force can kill men...
...Ellen Berry Chicago, 111...
...and Mrs...
...Many are not getting that sum, and with the price increase of 45 to 50 per cent, it just about cuts our annuity in half...
...Second, A. P. Bailey's letter...
...Maybe your policy is good politics in Wisconsin, but it won't do you any good outside of that state...
...Wouldn't we rather be right...
...The basic freedoms guaranteed the people under the Federal and state Constitutions have been violated in Texas by as high-handed, ignorant, and arrogant a band as you will find in the whole United States...
...Let us learn to evaluate the noises, words, etc., that constantly affect our nervous system and form a potent agent of our environments...
...So I say, run an item every issue demanding the release of these Trotskyists...
...The Monster' Dear Sirs: Readers of The Progressive interested in the Springfield Plan for tolerance will be amazed by the following item carried in the Oct...
...Hamilton's Gem Dear Sirs: Walton Hamilton's recent article, "Lament For The Horse Trade," was a superb job—truly a rare gem of thinking and writing...
...These ill's are mainly wars and depressions, and these ills in society will continue and get worse until the people abolish capitalism with socialism...
...When we are over here you'll like it...
...Whatever else we may do, it is fundamental to life itself that we keep this ghastly specter of fascism from taking hold of our beloved land...
...Of course our capitalistic nations, United States and England, prefer Chiang to the Communists...
...The present picture will be fictional with the democracy education project of the Springfield schools as its background...
...La Follette's magazine in 1909 and for many years thereafter...
...N. B. The Springfield Planners have not protested this racism in any way...
...The truth is that the strategically "allied" nations live in fear of one another...
...Often these decorations are accompanied by economic advantages, but I am sure that al-most'any serviceman thinks more of the medal than of his extra pay...
...You should take this up—it demands an editorial...
...He usually, does not want' to be rich merely so that someone else will be poorer...
...Our out-lived outgrown world structure of economics and politics is decadent...
...13 issue on "Fit All To Survive" was interesting, but unfortunately I could not find the article of'Emery D. Cox in the Oct...
...The only panacea for these troubles that always involve wars among the different groups of rulers and their workers might seem on first thought to be a coalition of powers so invincible militarily that all lesser groups would refrain from attack upon them...
...We will not be alone in this...
...They are also the ones who do all in their power to cover up and hide the real cause of war...
...The thought should make all humans shudder when we evaluate the cost of modern wars, both in natural resources and human blood...
...The Constitution becomes a mockery when a plutocratic governing body of an educational institution can summarily discharge its faculty members as well as president when they have simply honored their institution and their state by upholding freedom of speech...
...Then the American people who pay for wars in "blood, sweat, and tears" would have a little more confidence when they are told to fight the next war...
...Shabby Treatment' Dear Sirs: I read your paper, with much interest and noticecrin the Nov...
...Production For Use Dear Sirs: This writer was a subscriber to the elder Sen...
...L. Andrew Lassen Benton Harbor, Mich...
...Will Russia, Britain, China, France, and the U. S. A. also enjoy the logical historic outcome of such a "peace...
...We identify the word—the symbol—with facts, objects, events, etc., so that our intentional orientation may be not true-to-facts...
...He says he thinks that boys and girls should be allowed to vote at 18...
...Charles Czap Glendora, Calif...
...Herbert Strand Fergus Falls, Minn...
...But just the same, solicitors for worthwhile funds such as the Red Cross, Community Fund, USO Fund, Citizens War Fund, and sellers of War Bonds never miss nor fail to contact us...
...Alfred Kraan Egg Harbor City, N. J. * * * Kicking China Dear Sirs: We always look forward <&o each Monday for that is our day for The Progressive...
...Did the "defense" measure of conscripted armies guarantee the "national security" of these nations ? A Russia, a Britain, a China, a France, a U. S. A. armed to the teeth will enjoy the only kind of "peace" possible among conscription-favoring countries...
...They want pleasant existence because it is, pleasant, whether their neighbors starve or wallow in riches...
...Raymond Huber Mancos, Colo...
...Harriet Ray Berkeley, Calif...
...In fact, the struggle continues every day...
...Cause For Chaos ! Dear Sirs: Mr...
...That is precisely the way in which the Soviet Union did...
...the problem resolves itself, how this may be accomplished so that individuals may achieve a survival value commensurate with their organism-as-a-whole...
...The latter has no intention to be a butler to the Chinese Hitler or to stomach the inefficiency and corruption of his regime...
...Even The Progressive will not be safe because it does such a good job 1 in pointing...
...Is it because F. D. R. sponsors (for votes) the radical, communistic, and subversive elements that they have the power to oblige the Sheaffer Pen Company to "no longer sell time to them if Upton Close is not dropped...
...Why isn't it possible for some members of the Senate to be present at the peace conference so that a peace acceptable to the Senate can be drafted...
...Homer Rainey's Discharge Dear Sirs: The recent summary discharge of Dr...
...First, last, and all the time let's pull for a people's peace aimed at liberating all the people from the system of exploitation which now remains as the only obstacle between them and that hallowed dream—permanent peace and security for all...
...Release The Trotskyists Dear Sirs: I do not see how The Progressive can help but put in a few licks each issue condemning the Government for keeping the 18 Socialist Work-ers Party members in jail...
...They invent a mountain of falsehood and subterfuge under which they try to hide the true cause just as criminals seek to cover up their tracks and plan their alibi...
...He admits that the postal employes received a temporary i n c r e a#5 e 'which expires in June, 1945, unless renewed, but how about the retired workers ? These retired workers are still on the same annuity as always, and with the inflated prices ruling, it is pretty slim living...
...All three have rendered good service to Wisconsin and the nation...
...All nations will adopt production for use in their own national way...
...No one would dare, it would sound too phony...
...To make a short story long, the "policy and the management's execution of the same meet my approval...
...Howard's article on China in a recent issue shows what I mean We have not only kicked China in the pants, but we are now blaming her for being in the proper place when the kick was deliverad...
Vol. 8 • December 1944 • No. 49
