THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
.. . THE PEOPLE'S FORUM . . . The Call Of Christmas Dear Sirs: The call of Christmas is a call to peace. That call is not silenced this Christmas by the crashing of bombs, showering desolation...
...World Peace Day Dear Sirs: In every country of the world there are days set aside to commemorate great events in history of that country, or to honor men and woman who have made some outstanding contribution to some great cause, be it national or international...
...We are told that after their defeat, enemy countries are to he demobilized and demilitcrized, and democratic educational procedures introduced...
...Yes ?, No If a majority voted yes the election would stand, but if a majority voted no, then a new election would be run off with new candidates...
...These countries that Russia is supposed to be taking over are mostly going over of their own free will to save themselves unconditional surrender to the bankers...
...It Will Make New Friends...
...They make you feel like you really know her family...
...La Follette's father was in Congress, I thought he was one of the most progressive men that I knew...
...Wants A MVA Dear Sirs: I've been a subscriber to The Progressive for a number of years, and I like it very much...
...You have some very fine writers, Barnes, Rodell, Mayer, Seelv, Jane Stafford...
...The earth is a gift from the Creator, so let us show our appreciation by giving our service to each other and thereby lay the foundation for a Christian civilization...
...Many of our members subscribe to and highly praise The Progressive...
...Let us do it in behalf of all that is beautiful upon earth and remember the words of Scripture, "it is more blessed to give than to receive...
...In preserving the rights of the people as guaranteed in the Constitution, courts are the last resort to stand guard and protect the rights of the citizen...
...Nor is every peace plan an answer to that call, but only those plans that are blueprints of a fellowship devoted to the service of man and the glory of God...
...Shall we reverse roles with them...
...The greatest contribution England can make in behalf of peace is for her to gracefully withdraw from India...
...Defends Upton Close Dear Sirs: I wish to support Madeline C. Church in the Dec...
...Stop these tanks and machine guns mowing down starving and defenseless people, be they in Greece or anywhere else...
...If it were only Britain's affair, she would be justified in replying — as did Mr...
...In a recent "Pursuit of Learning" broadcast Past National Commander Ather-ton of the American Legion had this to say: "The American Legion believes that for universal military training to be successful, the proposal must tiave the wholehearted support of the leaders of education...
...Your publication stands out as a flaming torch in a world of ignorance and intolerance...
...Instead, the War Food Administration made an arrangement with distributors whereby it would take "surplus" eggs off their hands whether the Government needed these eggs or not...
...It must be more than a vague hope, but a solid conviction, a goal to be attained by man here and now through the guidance of divine Providence, as something living and growing and made strong by a faith that never wavers and a love that is ever ready to see more of good than of evil, putting its trust in God and embracing the religion of Jesus Christ who said, "My peace I leave with you...
...I would appreciate all comments and suggestions that they may have to offer...
...4 Forum in defense of Upton Close...
...Upton Close challenges thought...
...But not everyone that crieth peace, peace, answers that call, but only those whose will is the will to fellowship...
...America and the period through which we are living need your paper...
...That is government by law...
...I know that Secretary Ickes has and I know that Franklin Roosevelt has...
...Rubin is mighty good too...
...W. A. Ludtke Sprague, Wash...
...Every ballot should also have a question on it that would say in effect, "Are you satisfied with the present set of candidates for the office of................, and do you wish to let this election be final for this office...
...It means that upon the teachers of America must fall the responsibility of so shaping the thinking of the young men of our nation, from the grade schools up, that they will realize, recognize, and appreciate that the highest obligation of American citizenship is the bearing of arms in the nation's defense...
...In the Spring of 1943 every hatchery in America was swamped with orders...
...We are only reaping now our own disastrous result of our policy of "laissez faire" and appeasement, because it was the easiest way, or seemed to be...
...Stop this farce of "democracy," and let us remain true to the best in us...
...Do not give front page space to such writers as Chamberlin and Howard...
...We simply cannot break away from a capitalistic economy of scarcity and high prices...
...I am sorry the two young La Follettes are taking such an animosity to our great President...
...I only wish every soldier could or would read it...
...Guy L. Flint Randolph, Vt...
...The whole reason for fighting this war is menaced now, unless we face facts and revert our tactics immediately...
...Practically every international treaty, as far as I have been able to observe, sooner or later has become an abrogated instrument, like party platforms...
...Liberals Of Today Dear Sirs: When Sen...
...They utter pious hopes for the continued relative freedom of education, but the out-and-out proponents of conscription have something else in mind...
...He gave a long talk on his fears of communism coming to America and its great danger to "free enterprise...
...I notice Harry Paxton Howard's articles have become subject to fumigation by some of your Forum contributors...
...Foreign nations had peacetime compulsory training for centuries, which created war among other nations...
...Gannett And 'Free Enterprise' Dear Sirs: I always look for Dr...
...H. A. Campbell Organizational Director Seattle, Wash...
...It is with the thought that still other subscribers to your publication may be interested to learn of the existence and activities of the Cooperative Commonwealth Party that we are writing...
...Peace should henceforth have a leading place in the minds and hearts of the people everywhere as something real to be kept alive in man's thoughts...
...Belittling Congress Dear Sirs: Our plan of government, as set up in the Constitution, provides for three branches or divisions: executive (President) ; legislative (Congress) ; judicial (courts...
...Tell The Truth Dear Sirs: I like The Progressive very much...
...A peace to be real and lasting must be more than a signed paper or a proclamation...
...That means the courts should be strong and independent and not subservient to any person or official...
...Most men would rather die than think...
...Roger Warford Ranch Creek, Mont...
...Padma Clutter Chicago, 111...
...So last Winter and Spring we had the spectacle of consumers being unable to buy eggs at the luxury prices charged, while at the same time WFA was using millions and millions of dozens of fresh eggs for hog feed and fertilizer...
...Moreover, I have answered a few ads, and got a number of interesting books and papers...
...If such a bill would become a law in this country it would not only weaken or endanger, but it would in time destroy our Constitutional form of government...
...Was it for "democracy" that we upheld a Franco, and the throne of Italy, and now perhaps Greece...
...Taking these eggs oft' the market, however, has enabled dealers to maintain the highest retail egg prices in the past 25 years—in spite of the fact that egg production is now 40 per cent higher than pre-war levels...
...I feel like I wish I knew every one of them...
...There is no free speech or free enterprise in any country when one man is permitted to own and control eight radio stations and 21 newspapers, and here in Rochester owning the only two daily papers we have...
...The following morning in his Rochester Democrat and Chronicle the "text" of his address was given...
...Is there one who be-lieves that this beautiful mental state can ever find lodgement in the minds of men, so long as we profit by the cause of war...
...James M. Malley Trofford, Pa...
...Each branch has its particular powers and duties...
...John Haynes Holmes and Stuart Chase are always good, and The Progressive would just be one-legged without McAlister Coleman...
...Freedom of the press is the first freedom...
...That call is not silenced this Christmas by the crashing of bombs, showering desolation and death on the innocent and the guilty...
...Don't we even see what a sorry spectacle we are making of ourselves, with two World Wars, to the peaceful Hindus, for instance, whom Mr...
...I wish more people could have heard Donald Harrington's sermon at New York's Community Church...
...And "Love one another...
...It means that education must accept military training as part of a complete academic preparation for a useful life of every American in the future...
...Cowards and conscience-guilty accusers fear invasion...
...4. The article expresses the sentiment of thousands of your readers and others...
...Mrs...
...The trouble is deeper than described by Miss Church...
...That is just common sense...
...Stay in there and keep punching for a free America and a world that has the guts to part with the past in facing the fu- ture...
...They may be on the bankers' payroll...
...The Progressive is the best paper printed...
...I am especially fond of Mr...
...T. C. Vinice Field, Fla...
...Francis F. Parker Santa Cruz, Calif...
...And please stop praising the good German people...
...It is a call for the charity that shares, not the mockery of charity that gives crumbs from a richly laden table...
...In the Fall of 1943 egg production started to jump by leaps and bounds...
...That price is the sacrifice of any special privilege to the common good, the sacrifice of any exemption from the common burden of labor, the sacrifice of any worldly lordship to the fellowship of man and the lordship of God of which He whose birth we celebrate Christmas is the founder...
...Cpl...
...Reads 'Every Bit' Dear Sirs...
...No one else wanted it, Russia the least of all...
...It is made up of the representatives, the spokesmen of the people...
...Harry Elmer Barnes' articles, then I go to the People's Forum, then to "The Last Column," and then start in at page one and finish up the paper...
...Meanwhile, hail to our new Secretary of State Stettinius for calling "halt" to a policy wrecking the world's security...
...The People's Forum is very fine...
...For the past 11 years we have seen a continued effort by the executive branch to encroach upon, absorb, and take over rights, duties, and powers not belonging to this branch, trying to dominate Congress, or by-pass and ignore it...
...Therese H. Koscherak New York, N. Y. * * * Imperialists Dear Sirs: The recent developments in Iran show what happens when we play the game of the imperialists...
...His article on the CO's in July was fine...
...Henry Spindler Buffalo, Minn...
...William Hunter Galesville, Wis...
...1, 1944, WFA has purchased 200,000,000 dozens of fresh eggs from distributors...
...The President tried in 1937 to reduce the Supreme Court to mere servants to reflect and ratify his views...
...Frank D. Slocum New York, N. Y. * * * Reverse Roles...
...I think they are British* propagandists...
...This time to make it more effective the New" Deal favors the peacetime compulsory training to gain more power for political purposes...
...J. O. S. APO 500 San Francisco, Calif...
...The British people have wonderful qualities, which they have proven...
...I am in favor of TVA and the proposed MVA and would like to see some articles in the coming issues of The Progressive regarding the MVA...
...If you must attack someone, I would enjoy and I know a great many more of your readers would, an attack on the Hearst and Scripps-Howard papers...
...If people would pay less in cash for war, and more in unselfishness and goodwill for peace...
...Keep Punching' Dear Sirs: Out here in the Pacific The Progressive comes like a breath of fresh air...
...If you want to get an idea of some of the ignorance that exists, read Judge Anderson's report after World War I. He was U. S. Attorney General under the Wilson Administration...
...Arthur G. Cromwell Rochester, N. Y. The Egg 'Surplus' Dear Sirs: If we have a true picture of the egg situation we can comprehend just what we are up against in our food set-up...
...Arthur Clarendon Smith Washington, D. C. * * * Uncompromising Stand Dear Sirs: I admire the sincerity, the courage, and the uncompromising stand taken by The Progressive...
...Dear Sirs: In contrast with the position taken by a large number of the leading educator and parent teacher groups, several land-grant college bodies, liberal college faculties, and college presidents have voiced approval of straight or modified military conscription for the training of youth in peacetime...
...The call of Christmas is the call to peace...
...Such a measure as this could conceivably give the voters the final say in not only who would be elected, but also who would be nominated...
...The thing I like most about The Progressive is the very noticeable lack of censorship...
...Mrs...
...Just the idea of this is undesirable to me, so I offer an idea as a partial solution for the consideration of the readers of The Progressive...
...Since we inherited this system from the heathen, it is now time to dis- card it and stop wasting the resources of the earth...
...Like Mark Twain's quip on the weather, "Everyone talks about it (peace) but no one does anything...
...When the guns are silent again and a peace organization has been set up and actually functioning, there should be set aside a day known as "World Peace Day," prescribed to and honored as such by all the nations of the world—not merely a day celebrated with parades and oratory, but a day of prayer and a rededication to the attainment and maintenance of peace throughout the world...
...It was interesting for me to note that much of what he had actually said in his speech and which had been questioned following his talk, was left out...
...Change Policy Dear Sirs: I am subscribing for one more year, hoping in the meantime that your policy will change...
...Peacetime compulsory training creates war instead of peace...
...But, I am sorry to say there are very few of those liberal men of their time who have kept up with the modern liberalism of today...
...Not long ago we killed little pigs...
...Today the enemies are reaping the harvest which they sowed in peacetime compulsory training and which was due them for such training...
...You dare to tell the truth...
...of too much the people go hungry...
...We hope that as another New Year dawns it will give us clearer views and hopes of a far more peaceful year than we have had in the past—but I fear this wish will be futile, until man becomes less avaricious and more kindly one to another...
...These men think only when threatened...
...In fact you have so many fine articles and writers that I read every bit of each issue and want the whole world to do likewise...
...That call from the heart of humanity in all peoples is louder than ever this Christmas, rising above the din of battle...
...Everyone wants peace, wrote Thomas Kempis, but few are willing to pay the price of peace...
...I have heard what a splendid woman she is and only a fine woman could write such nice articles...
...Their own acts convict their statements and accusations...
...I don't always agree with all of the articles, but on the whole it's the best paper I get of a number of eight...
...These men have lent money so as to rearm nations for war, with the consent of our Government...
...The mother-in-law attitude, no matter how well-intentioned, is as disastrous nationalistically as it is in smaller family groups...
...Egg production is to be quickly and sharply curtailed...
...He did not add how many papers, but I believe it is now 21...
...Eden, in the House of Commons...
...America is either going to wreck its present scarcity economy, or its scarcity economy will wreck Amer- ica...
...The association of "thinking" and "threat" is so intimate that anything that makes men think is resented like a threat...
...We have seen Congress treated as a bunch of errand boys who are expected to O. K. whatever the great man wants done and ask no questions...
...This idea might be called a "Pre-Recall," and could work something like the following...
...H. S. B. Fort Sheridan, 111...
...Theodore Roosevelt was one of the greatest men of his time...
...if they would show the same fervor for constructive social problems (at the root of all wars), as they do (because it's fashionable) in war for destructive purposes, we'd get somewhere...
...If the executive has his way, the final result is personal government, one man government, government by men, not law...
...Without it there could be no other...
...At first the bureaucratic agencies were created to interfere with the American way of life...
...Are teachers here to be judged by their enthusiasm for the military and their ability to arouse a kindred interest in their pupils...
...May I add a bit...
...Churchill thinks have shown less capacity for ruling themselves, than we, the whites...
...Better hold fast to the plan of government as set up in the Constitution, than to let one power-hungry man gain control over all, and reduce the other two to submission...
...He dared to give in crude figures, running into hundreds of billions of dollars, the price for a destructive war—and then the price, but not in dollars, of peace...
...Whatever the reasons influencing these latter groups, it seems to me as a layman that their rationalization of apparently expedient actions may ultimately lead them and education in this country to adoption of the exact opposite of accepted democratic disciplines and techniques in education...
...I was very much impressed by the article by Burton K. Wheeler regarding the seriousness of the radio situation...
...Washington CCF ! Dear Sirs: In the state of Washington there is a growing young political organization called the Cooperative Com- j monwealth Party which proposes to be as successful in "selling" a socialization program to the people of this state as the CCF has been in various parts of Canada...
...Were not Americans horrified when in Germany the military shaped education and the martial spirit dominated the child's life...
...If there are many more incidents of this character, the world will begin to lump us with the British and the Russians as seekers after gain out of this war...
...What we felt in 1776, the "liberated" people of Europe feel today...
...When each tends to its own business, there is hai--mony and an effective, smooth working organization...
...La Follette's articles are so good...
...If not, they are cheating themselves...
...That would be an over-simplification and a too cheap argument...
...Then we plowed under cotton...
...I also appreciate the stand you take regarding freedom for all peor pies — conquered and subjugated countries, especially now that we can well see the tide turning contrary to promises made by some of our allies...
...You'd be surprised how far one copy goes...
...Is this not positive proof that a mercenary system weakens and undermines the finer and nobler instincts of man...
...Thus they prove their love for each other...
...Wheeler could have gone a lot further...
...H. G. O. Camp Livingston, La...
...It must be written in the heart and kept alive there as something to be cherished, something to think about and worked for constantly...
...Information can be obtained by addressing: Cooperative Commonwealth Party, 2314 4th Ave., Seattle 7, Wash...
...I also believe that Ernest L. Meyer and Milton Mayer are real assets to the worthwhileness of The Progressive...
...Milton Mayer and Er-| nest Meyer are very special in their line...
...Pfc...
...In the midst...
...Charles C. Lockwood Detroit, Mich...
...Was it for "democracy" that we deliberately interfered with the democratic forces in France, by putting our choice of a Darlan and a Giraud into power, and snubbing the so-called "stubborn" de Gaulle, because he, being a real man imbued with the honesty of his mission, refused to be swayed from his ideal...
...Since the New Dealers got into power, it -looks as though the people are in favor of reviving the old European deal in this country...
...Arthur Halsted Arlington, Va...
...In our day we have great financial institutions called the aristocracy...
...A Ballot 'Pre-RecalP Dear Sirs: It is hard for me to tell, but from what limited contacts and reading I have been able to get, it seems that Roosevelt was elected because he seemed to be the "lesser of two evils...
...Stop ridiculing the liberal press, such as PM, the Nation, New Republic, and others...
...A Flaming Torch Dear Sirs: My constant prayer is that Tne Progressive will continue its fight for a peace that is based on love, equality, and justice—all that for the defeated as well as the victors...
...British Policy In Greece Dear Sirs: I hope and px-esume that my voice of vehement protest of our worthy ally's (Britain) policy in Greece and Italy as well as in India, will not be the only one you will receive...
...Pass This Paper On...
...I can see no use in reading Chamberlin, Thomas, Howard, and Villard...
...C. F. Bartlet Delhi, Calif...
...In times of great distress such as fire, shipwreck, floods, tornadoes, and earthquakes we find many offering help and sustenance...
...The so-called progressives can, and most of them do, spend a lifetime harping about an effect, but they are experts on soft pedaling or ignoring causes...
...Chamberlin...
...The Government is absolutely swamped with eggs which are rotting by the millions of dozens weekly...
...The Dumbarton Hoax Dear Sirs: I have read Morris Rubin's editorial in The Progressive of Dec...
...The war will continue until the people the world over stop it,' and the red baiters are not helping matters in the least...
...Ray Pospisil Miami, Fla...
...His topic was, "Analyzing the Election Results...
...Now we are to chop off the heads of outlaying hens...
...And they have a perfect right to work out their destinies in their own way without outside interfer-ence...
...The door is open...
...H. K. Greeley Denver, Colo...
...I believe that he was the Abraham Lincoln of his time, the same as Franklin Roosevelt is today...
...Recently I attended a dinner party where Frank Gannett was the speaker of the evening...
...It is a call for something much more than blueprints of a postwar peace...
...Christian Civilization Dear Sirs: Once more we are engaged in self-extermination...
...All that there is in back of any money is the resources of the nation, plus the determination of the population to go about their occupations...
...Here are just some of the things he said that were not printed: That he could not afford to invest capital in new inventions or enterprise as the taxation on any further profit by him would be almost as great as the income...
...It all adds up to one thing—we cannot accommodate ourselves to abundance in this country...
...S/Sgt...
...If there is anything the international bankers hate, it's Russia...
...HeAdley E. Bailey New York, N. Y. Opposes Peacetime Draft Dear Sirs: If the peacetime compulsory training bill be enacted into la"w, then the seed is planted for another war in this country sooner or later...
...Georce A. Hardwick Rifle, Colo...
...The First Freedom Dear Sirs: It gives me great pleasure to find more and more people taking an interest in our national affairs, and The Progressive is the best place I have found to get information and opinions...
...Pass This Paper On...
...I admire the courage and frankness of your writers, who are not one bit hesitant in speaking the truth, even if it may hurt some...
...Causes Of War Dear Sirs: The Progressive's courageous analysis of the meaning of Dumbarton Oaks should be required reading in our public schools...
...May God keep it that way...
...This war was started by the bankers against Russia, the only country the banks do not control...
...And Mr...
...He went on to add that he owned eight radio stations...
...His whole talk on freedom of speech was to the effect that radio stations were in constant fear and trembling because of fear that they would lose their license...
...It is a call for the spirit of peace, without which blueprints are but exhibitions of man's vanity...
...Do they ask for compensation...
...Not the slightest effort was made, however, by Government agencies to make this increased production available to consumers at reasonable prices...
...Yet they must take constructive criticism for the general good, just as we must from them, concerning our undemocratic treatment of our Negroes and all colored races...
...This is especially true when people become frozen to a certain cult or political faction, like some interventionists, who are in an unscrupulous manner playing up the isolationists as being guilty of our present turmoil, while the absolute opposite is true...
...Integration of the principle with academic education means far more than mere coordination of such training with class periods and college semesters...
...So now, they are playing at peacetime conscription...
...that they will look forward to their year of military training as a year of high adventure, when they may travel, see the country, learn how to obey as well as how to command...
...Because of public criticism, it is now proposed that WFA will discontinue buying eggs, but so that scarcity conditions and high retail prices can be maintained the Government will pay a subsidy on every laying hen that is sold to the butcher...
...if there is anything they love, it's a red baiter...
...The Dumbarton Hoax, with its 10 per cent disagreement, can become a 100 per cent uncontrollable disturber of the peace, by just the wind fanning it in the wrong direction...
...Pray that that day is not too distant...
...Red Baiting Dear Sirs: The Progressive seems to have taken up Martin Dies' burden...
...There is no such animal...
...There has been a studied effort to belittle Congress, undermine its influence, and destroy its independence...
...In 1940 the third term tradition was broken...
...Since Jan...
...A peaceful world and capitalism can not function together because millions would be perma-nently unemployed, There are two things missing in our civilization, a moral and a spir-itual up-lift...
...If the New Deal favors the Communists, the youth can be taught to believe and work for communism or fascism, which is another step to dictatorship...
...Because liberal ideas most often originate from the "left," is no reason for blindly condemning them as "red...
...Well, Harry, history is history, and truth remains if facts are presented, while opinions leaning toward factions vary...
...Why were we silent so long, and still are, about British policy in India, for which our boys will pay with their lives and we with our money...
...As 1945 Dawns Dear Sirs: I want to express my thankfulness in being a reader of The Progressive...
...There is but one monopoly—the money monopoly...
...Such a day should be preceded by the study and exploration of the field of peace in all its phases, discussed by clubs, churches, and schools, essays written on it by students in schools and colleges, and even made part of the curriculum in schools and colleges to be studied and debated...
...People all over the world are simply tired of being "pushed around," and, I regret to say, nearly siiways by our over-rated white rate...
...Keep calling a spade a spade, That's what makes The Progressive jmean so much to us out here...
...In the Winter of 1942-43, Government agents went up and down the country begging for greater egg production...
...Congress is closer to the people than the President...
...Peace will continue to elude us, as you have pointed out so ably, until we come to grips with the causes of war, social and economic...
...A person considered "the lesser of evils" would be unable to gain the office, even though he won the election...
...But Sen...
...Some day I know it will be nationally recognized as the leader of an economic revolution in this nation...
...G. F. Fischer Centuria, Wis...
...But for The Progressive to take up red baiting shakes my faith in the progressive money policy...
...We have been too long lulled into a smug complacency by a censored press "that we are lighting for democracy all over the world...
...Nathan Hottman Middletown, Conn...
...Mrs...
Vol. 8 • December 1944 • No. 52
