THE PEOPLE'S FORUM
¦ ¦ ¦ THE PEOPLE'S FORUM ¦ ¦ ¦ Views Of GIs Dear Sirs: I have a friend in the Army who sends me interesting letters from time to time. I have had the at-, tached copy made of his...
...Some uninformed persons say, "The U. S. A. has the stock in these banks, and are therefore back of them...
...If the present limitations of the system could be extended to permit all the normal functions of banking, the people would have at their disposal a means of by-passing the present high rates for loans, mortgages, etc., and could purchase needed farm equipment, build homes, and in other ways set yardsticks for banking in general...
...This applies to the great and enlightened nation which introduced obliteration bombing and atomic disintegration into warfare...
...When they awake they cry for hunger...
...They have advocated and stood for those things that you and I demand in a decent society...
...You may have been one of the ones who dug some of it out of mother earth...
...Anyone that takes the trouble to analyze the whole picture of militarism the world over, will find that in the event of peacetime universal military conscription, it will be the end of our democracy...
...Why wasn't he a delegate to the San Francisco Conference instead of so many politicians...
...The GI (National Service Life Insurance) has been able to get one out of 15 to convert to new types of policies offered by the Veterans Administration...
...Albert Lynwood Sacramento, Calif...
...Robert j. Pearsall Spokane, Wash...
...Thousands and tens of thousands perish of hunger and exhaustion by the roadside...
...Well, I would rather have any kind of metallic money than paper money...
...The American of German extraction has stood for much since 1914 and now to look on passively while a second hunger blockade is being clamped down on Germany's women, children, and aged seems too much...
...This leads them to believe that the whole tiling was a nightmare concocted by the so-called brass-hats in Washington...
...Here are a few of the cases I had to deal with recently: "1...
...The truth will not stay in its grave forever, but will arise, as Christ also arose out of his grave to make us free...
...Faith For The Future Dear Sirs: The United States has outgrown the infancy of its original foundation, progressing into a world power that is now leading others...
...G. A. FlNARELLI Upper Darby, Pa...
...It is said that these were devil systems, but this devil nonsense will not stand a minute's scrutiny in the cold light of history...
...In all fairness, is it not necessary to prevent that which is good and desirable along with the rancid and unacceptable in any argumentation ? Also, in the interest of intellectual honesty, should not components of argumentation be based on all available evidence and not a small exaggerated minority of evidence— this being especially true when that evidence is intended to influence a large number of individuals...
...There was no crime committed by the German and Japanese militarists that has not been matched by the imperialists and militarists of every expanding, ambitious power for the past 4,000 years...
...In the groups as an enlisted man with the enlisted men I have been able to get some straightforward opinions and ideas on what the GI's think...
...19 issue was the most powerful argument I have seen against peacetime conscription...
...British investments are enormous in Java, even greater than the Dutch nationals...
...Is there no way of getting at least some news from her relatives...
...I speak in defense of that school of the clergy in America which has broadmindedly sought truth, those "Sky Pilots" as they were called— however, I much prefer to call them Men of God—who have lost self in service, who through Christian loving have not found time to hate...
...The following thoughts that I express are not my own, but a cross section of those of the men...
...While each of these contributors has a different slant on this world and the terrible history it is making, we are too grateful for adequate words that your Progressive staff is wise enough to spread before us the wisdom of this galaxy of scholars...
...What did they give in return for the gold...
...Superior Book Reviews Dear Sirs: I have always felt The Progressive gave us a superior type of book review—the honest, earthy, courageous analysis of books one does not often encounter in this world of deceit—and was therefore delighted to find your book page chosen one of the best in the country...
...Franklin Allen Washington, D. C...
...Preparedness of all kinds, and the atomic bomb will do more to prevent war than all the peace organizations...
...Of 2,400 evacuated, about 1,000 died on the road...
...Just what is lawful money...
...The articles by Chamber-lin, Barnes, Mayer, Beals, Villard, Howard, Rodell, Meyer, Dr...
...And in the meantime militarism both at home and abroad, remains afflicted with the four cardinal curs-ses: Brutality, stupidity, regimentation, and death by violence...
...We should all write our Senators and Congressmen and tell them in no uncertain terms that we are against peacetime universal military conscription...
...I am unable to give them anything to eat, for a day and a half we are without bread ourselves...
...Time To Act 1 Dear Sirs: We most heartily agree with Norman Thomas in his article, "How To Lose The Peace," in The Progressive of Nov...
...I think 18 is too young, but would not object to 21 years...
...Are those who should force them to do so honest enough to refuse to take fat bribes from the money kings...
...If we want to eliminate war, we must prepare to rip all this out of our modern state system, on a world scale...
...Come to think of.it though, I am foolish for asking such fool questions, for we are living in a democratic age...
...It is too little to get along on for any family...
...On the point system: I have never had an enlisted man in any of my groups who was polled, or knew of anyone who was polled, on the method of arriving at the discharge system...
...John Haynes Holmes...
...It provides vocational opportunities which will match those provided for the sons of England's aristocracy if present plans go through...
...That is absolutely false for production for profits is not for use...
...Rodell's articles have been scintillating, and packed with wisdom...
...We have "bundled for Britain," wept and dug into our pockets for poor little "Finland," helped fill the rice bowls of China, not to mention aid to France, Poland, Belgium, and Holland...
...Physician is unable to continue treatment for lack of drugs...
...Faith for the future rests on humankind's universal need for peace as well as individual desire to keep that peace a lasting heritage...
...5, wherein he says regarding peacetime military conscription, "The President's speech is one more proof that Hitlerism is winning the war which Hitler lost...
...Those who are not married want to get married to that girl as soon as they are able...
...The adverse publicity (most of which seems to be right) has the men believing that they aren't going to be concerned about' loans they have to get the hardest way...
...A prophet and leader is Dr...
...Some look at the band, some at the players, and some gaze at the sky...
...Our democracy is founded on the purely cooperative and lasting spirit of a united people who have striven to protect their ideals, and those of others we have befriended, from destructive forces...
...La Follette's article, "The Military's Drug For Democracy," in your Nov...
...The truth will make you free: If we deny this, we deny everything...
...Can you, Mr...
...However, I do believe that greater interest will b-e shown by the men when they get home and know what they are going to do...
...They went on the battle field and gave our men eourage...
...The time has come for all citizens to act if our democracy is to survive...
...After that I had discussion and question on the subject...
...John E. Palmer Saint Louis Park, Minn...
...C. Stafford Brown The Economic Institute New York...
...Who dug all the gold we now have at Ft...
...For I like to live up to the dear old Constitution, which says, "No one shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law...
...When our country was at war, these men of God that I would defend, did not resort to armchair condolence and mail pouch advice...
...In the mid-thirties, every capitalist country sabotaged production, wasted labor, and destroyed food in the presence of the starving, to restore the market...
...Holmes, and others, are filled with courage, truth, and good sense...
...I say, the U. S. A. doesn't own one cent's worth of such stock...
...It should be placed in the hands of every member of Congress at once...
...They also feel there is no provision for the immediate needs of the family...
...Carleton Beals is the first word as well as the last word on South American conditions and problems...
...D., wife of a Protestant pastor, whose husband, four sons, and son-in-law are prisoners of war...
...Because the capitalists are merely interested in making profits and goods that last would not be renewed and therefore make less profits...
...I knew her from her childhood, and how she struggled successfully all the time to keep herself pure...
...She is unable to stand it any longer...
...The writer concluded (naively) that production is always for use...
...His article on "The Atomic Jag" in the Nov...
...We only hope that you keep the wonderful work going...
...His article in Common Sense, "Thomists and Atomists," is another classic...
...You will be informed that the 12 regional Reserve Banks hold your old gold certificates, and that in lieu thereof, you hold their IOU's...
...The people already own the Postal Savings system, and its extension should be a matter of fairly simple political action...
...James T. Nelson Des Moines, la...
...Isn't it time this vast group of German extraction in the United States be allowed to help their own ? Packages are being sent to Italy, and I hear a favored group are sending them into Germany...
...I have known the suffering of the Jews and I have borne the tortures of a concentration camp: but what takes place before our eyes at the present moment surpasses everything of the past...
...There is no place for the remnant...
...Clarence R. Rungee Surgeon General, Natl...
...Why hot make peace to keep peace...
...It is true that there are clergymen who are satisfied merely to live off "the fat of the land" and repeat the same stock phrases in their sermons that have been used year in and year out...
...Liepold, dig up any certificate, receipt, rag tag or bobtail, that says any of it belongs to you...
...It seems to me that man" of the abuses of our present money system could be minimized or even eliminated by the establishment of a government bank here in the U. S. As a matter of fact, we seem to have the outlines of such a banking system already, in the Postal Savings system...
...I have had meetings and discussed all manner of subjects with the men going over and men returning from China-India-Burma Theater, European Theater of Operations, A. T. 0., and Mediterranean Theater of Operations...
...Now we will get down to the crucial question that I wanted to ask Mr...
...Wants More Jauncey Dear Sirs: Thanks for the excellent, but too brief, article by L. C. Jauncey, in the Nov...
...His mother, 83 years of age, died of consequences of rape...
...There are other things that are pretty well known to the people that sought for the truth, but are still kept in the dark...
...The farmers refuse to employ her because, on account of her children, she would not be a full time worker...
...If the public in general would take a tip from the uniformed serviceman in the stands, it would surely face the flag...
...And, when you had it, you sold it and secured for it what used to be called "a gold certificate" and that certificate said on its face, "The holder hereof has deposited in the U. S. Treasury a certain sum" and when it was presented at the U. S. Treasury, you could get that much real gold...
...It is an accepted and highly respectable institution, advocated by the "best people," who believe in it, practice it, glorify and accept the benefits therefrom...
...These weaknesses, however, are not confined to clergymen...
...At 21 years their minds are more settled, and they would get more good of their training...
...Knox, Ky., it had been remonetized —- or revalued — and was supposed to be worth about $33 billions...
...He has left out a few very material and most interesting things...
...7, 1945, is addressed to the Bishop of Chichester, England...
...About eight years ago, Mr...
...Personal references are omitted in this English translation...
...No food for the children, no tonics...
...Veterans of Foreign Wars New Haven, Conn...
...I think of those, for instance, who take their lives...
...Liepold is on the right road, but does not seem to know all its twists and turns...
...I know of no clergyman personally, nor through the printed page, who ever stated that an individual had to come to him to be converted...
...The one and only subject right now is that of getting home...
...Bob's Powerful Argument Dear Sirs: Sen...
...nor shall private property be taken for public use...
...Roosevelt's Administration saw fit to issue an edict to the effect that every one owning any gold money must send it to the U. S. Treasury, and that they would receive in turn for it Federal- Reserve Notes...
...There is but one criticism to make, and that is—The Progressive should use better paper, and come in a form like Reader's Digest or Time, so one can preserve or have it made into book form...
...Are some multi-millionaires created by wars ever made to disgorge every cent of the blood money acquired by them...
...I have often wondered why England was so friendly toward the Netherlands, protecting her colonies...
...Questions On Peace Dear Sirs: With war drums somewhat at rest, a few questions on peace may be timely: The end of the war came after a six-year trip around the globe...
...Faith for the future lies significantly in the strengths of leading nations to impress people with a united desire for peace that includes a universally just plan of progress for all, whatever their origin, country, creed, or race...
...There are men today who have donned the cloth who are completely unworthy of the high calling they represent because they have chosen to remain in ignorance as how best to lead their people into putting Christ's teachings into practical living...
...What professional group or laboring group does not have its Jonahs who shirk responsibility, shun progression, and at the same time demand and share mutual approval by society...
...Will it be possible for the atom bomb to preserve world peace unless the war mongers are recognized as such and put face to face with the missile...
...Atomic forces should be used progressively and not in a manner that would retard mankind's ultimate progress or well-grounded work for shared freedom...
...Thousands of corpses float in the Oder and Elbe rivers down to the ocean...
...they met our enemy and many paid the supreme price...
...It is a science and an art, taught in our colleges, and with tens of thousands of books and pamphlets devoted thereto...
...There are a few who intend to take some type of refresher course or trade school work, but they are in the minority...
...Let us have more from him...
...E. M. Alexander I Ontario, Calif...
...All this makes for disunity here...
...I have had the at-, tached copy made of his last one and am sending it to you thinking that perhaps it may contain a few items of interest to your readers...
...We must prepare to make the social change from competitive enterprise to cooperative enterprise, which alone provides an ethical and practical basis for peace—and for the survival of man on this planet...
...MacArthur And Lincoln Dear Sirs: It is to be assumed that the sane, sensible, and humanitarian processes of occupation and control in Japan by Gen...
...When our high schools asked for tobacco for the Russian soldiers we gave...
...You have a rare genius in Milton Mayer, who is being recognized by some magazines with wide circulation...
...other thousands do not know where in the world they will ever find a home again...
...Most of the men are not interested in the GI Bill of Rights in regard to the educational benefits...
...It is, isn't it...
...That is my job...
...It is our task to lead a way, for other strong or weaker powers, toward as steady a universal peace as is humanly possible...
...In your issue of Oct...
...Also if you had any gold certificates, you must surrender them, and take in lieu thereof Federal Reserve Notes...
...Production For Use Dear Sirs: One letter-in The Progressive exposed the general ignorance of the meaning of "Production for Use...
...What is the difference in principle between that and the destruction through war of potentially dangerous competitive systems, European and Asiatic, in the mid-forties...
...The loan clause in the Bill has most of the men discouraged even before they get off the base...
...C. A. Case Santa Cruz, Calif...
...Mrs: N. was killed when she resisted an atempt to rape her...
...Now she tells me that she would go with any Russian, if only he gave her bread for the children...
...Sch., wife of a Protestant pastor in East Prussia, driven from her home together with four children, 7, 6, 3, and 2 years of age...
...There is too much uncertainty now...
...This should stir some action by the Veterans Administration so that there will be a small lump sum paid to the beneficiaries to tide them over and to assist in paying the small items incident to the loss of the breadwinner...
...They have gone into the homes that were stricken with sorrow...
...England is protecting her own interest...
...Eugene F. Dodds Carbondale, UL I The Riddle Of Gold Dear Sirs: The writer is not addicted to writing articles for the newspapers, but at times I see letters in your Forum that are so good I am sorely tempted to write...
...On the road all the time...
...I spent over one half of an hour telling about the value of the GI policy versus that of commercial policies...
...In the Soviet Union, on the contrary, faulty materials that caused needless death of service men were not produced...
...It is our largest industry, even in so-called peace...
...Since prevention is sanctioned to keep down epidemics, isn't it just as necessary to have prevention to keep down war...
...Pastor S.: His two daughters and a grandchild (10 years of age) suffer from gonorrhoea, result of rape...
...No student of the history of education can deny the great influence the clergy had in development of our American educational system—the greatest in the world...
...Every government, every statesman, every people seems to love Goddess of peace, Irene, so why not invite her often and entertain the beautiful girl more permanently than she has been in the past...
...29 issue, spilled the beans...
...Packages For Germans Dear Sirs: I have sent the following letter to Sen...
...Do the people who dug it out own any of it now...
...N. Y. To Eliminate War Dear Sirs: Another war will doubtless destroy such civilization as we have, but is it not also true that war is an inevitable product of that same civilization ? ~~--------Is war not merely a violent continuation of our peacetime business...
...It is becoming habitual to wage wars to stop wars...
...For instance when nylon hose was tried out first, it was found so lasting that it was hastily withdrawn and made so that it did not last...
...That is, both here and overseas...
...The Progressive is so precious a gem in American journalism that I wonder why more people do not know about it...
...Otto A. Piper Princeton Theological Seminary, Princeton, N. J. ". . . The distress that passes every day through our office, and which we witness on every road and square of Germany, is beyond words...
...My suggestion is that all the nations sign an agreement there shall be no necessity for use of the atomic bomb...
...However there is a great deal of question in regards to the awarding of battle stars...
...I believe it is time that grownups be taught that which children already know...
...This spirit of Christ has transcended the barriers of denomination and creed...
...No, they aren't all Methodist or Baptists or Congregationalists or Presbyterians or Catholics...
...Defense Of Clergy Dear Sirs: I would like to question the wis- : dom of some of the gross statements attacking the clergy in the letter by A. Mote in the Oct...
...It is an outstanding publication...
...Liepold...
...but we are not half as much interested in that fact, as we are in the question of who owns it now...
...The old adage that "one rotten apple will spoil an entire barrel of good ones" is not universall^applic-able...
...Without question, intellectual honesty is the first prerequisite to arriving at truth...
...they do not know where to go...
...H. reports about the trek from Troppau, Silesia, to Grunsee, near Berlin...
...War is indeed part of our American way of life...
...Ordinarily a soldier does not make a very good President, but in view of the fact that MacArthur is following in the footsteps of Abraham Lincoln, "with malice toward none and charity for all" he may be able to reverse that conception, if elected President of the United States...
...The names of persons mentioned had to be suppressed for reasons of their personal safety...
...nobody cares...
...Knox out of the earth...
...I always thought there was something in the bush, and at last Fred Rodell, in the Oct...
...I am not a constituent of yours, but being a long time reader of The Progressive and the third generation from a Wisconsin log cabin, ask that you give this question your earnest attention...
...Johanna Shovjltz Muscatine, la...
...We know that in wartime certain firms manufactured war materials for profit as opposed to use, and made faulty material, because the profits were greater on inferior material and on unskilled labor...
...Star Spangled Banner' Dear Sirs: It is unfortunate how few people realize what to do when the Star Spangled Banner is played at the opening of our football games...
...B. reports about the flight of our friends, the N's...
...Simultaneously as MacArthur is pursuing a policy conducive to peace on earth and good will to mankind, the people of Germany are with ruthless brutality being bound upon the wheel...
...Instead of universal peacetime military training of the nation's youth, a program of education must be arranged whereby all high schools and colleges would teach our youth all necessary trades and sciences and the compulsory age for sc' ool attendance be raised from 16 to 18 years...
...Mrs...
...Is it safe to stick my neck out by signing my name below after hearing so much about the freedom of expression we enjoy...
...The compiling of points has been considered to be reasonably fair while the war was going on and battle fatigue was a problem...
...I doubt it very much...
...You know what the Army is...
...Why not insurance of all sorts, at cost, without the present burden of needless costs...
...More people would read it and become educated as to the truth of what is going on, for you know that if these wonderful articles were read in Time or the Digest, or a dozen other similar magazines, people would sit up and take notice, and thereby become educated...
...5 issue...
...She is completely wrecked in body and soul from worry and longing...
...If you think you own any of that gold now, try to get it, and you will be disabused of that mental hallucination...
...The letter, dated Aug...
...If the Government can legally demand of one his metallic money, and make him surrender it with only a paper promise—and that not from the Government—can it not just as legally take one's food and clothes, and give nothing in return...
...Pass The Progressive Along It's American, Alert, Accurate England In Java Dear Sirs: Seek and ye shall find...
...Her daughter—engaged to our eldest son— raped and deported, allegedly to Omsk, Siberia, for indoctrination...
...I have had 18 meetings on GI insurance in the past week in an effort to stimulate some serious thinking on the matter of conversion...
...I pointed out the very distinct advantages of our policies as well as the saving factor of the N. S. L. I. insurance...
...5, induces me to write this letter to you, as one of the few humanitarians in Congress, that might be able *x> start the ball rolling for the relief of the civil population in Germany...
...15 is- ' sue of The Progressive...
...Production for use, on the contrary, first considers excellent material and excellent labor in order to give to the consumer a fine and long-lasting product...
...C. E. Hellquist Thief River Falls, Minn...
...22 I note a letter by Karl Lie-pold that I would like to comment on...
...We need less vindictiveness at the top in Washington and more of Abraham Lincoln's compassion, for he could look at both sides of a question...
...J. N. McCarter Steele, N. D. Report From Germany Dear Sirs: May I draw your attention to the following letter written by a German Protestant pastor living in the Russian occupied zone of Germany...
...It says, this is legal tender for all debts, private and public, and may be redeemed in lawful money...
...When this gold was deposited in the subterranean vaults at Ft...
...Will peace take six more years to arrive...
...The capitalists are interested only in the profits, and so they fight anything that would cut their profits...
...Out here where most of the men are European Theater of Operations or Mediterranean Theater of Operations, we have the group of old time veterans...
...Gladys Elinor Hall Orangeburg, N. Y. * * * Give A Friend The Truth Send Him The Progressive Today Change Format, Stock Dear Sirs: I want to show my deepest appreciation for the splendid articles and outstanding contributors to your magazine for the past several years and especially those in the past two months...
...If any nation has a desire to become an aggressor, the aggrieved shall have the right to call for a vote whether the atomic bomb shall be used, majority vote to rule...
...Some things that we are all vitally interested in—or at least the writer is...
...Els a Riesenberg Yonkers, N. Y. * * * Preparedness Dear Sirs: How can people believing in prevention condemn the atomic bomb or military training...
...Those who are married want to get started on raising their families...
...That has been unfair, not only to the individuals but also to large groups and departments...
...Most of them want to get home and go to work so that they can catch up with all of the things they missed as GI's...
...This would be a saner way of spending the taxpayers' money than peacetime military training for all young men, which would be obsolete and outmoded in a few years...
...Or Oswald Garrison Villard, an understanding student and analyst of world affairs...
...You may use my name if you wish but don't use his...
...M., seriously ill, unable to work, just convalescing with her children from scarlet fever...
...Will you please try to bring this into the open, for the need is great...
...LaPollette: A letter from Otto Fricke of Cleveland, in The Progressive of Nov...
...I vouch for the absolute trustworthiness of the writer...
...He says, "Congress has given all our gold in the U. S. Treasury, amounting to around $20 billions of value, to the Federal Reserve Banking system," etc...
...The men don't feel that the method of payment is satisfactory...
...Mrs...
...Not allowed officially to enter Berlin, hence she does not receive ration books...
...MacArthur will greatly augment his popularity in America, and may cause a few severe headaches among our political bigwigs, when he returns home to the mainland...
...People are as strong as their wills and accomplished aims, given a reasonable chance for survival under perseverance of individual talents...
...She left the house this morning, the children had no food since yesterday...
...Is it true that too much civilization causes greater and greater wars- and the greater the wars are, the more savage the world becomes...
...It is a department of our government...
...Thousands of bodies are dangling from the trees around Berlin, and nobody takes even the trouble of cutting them off...
...How did the present owners of it come to own it...
...Any kind of metal can be converted into something useful, but you can't get much out of paper...
...Albert K. Dawson Washington, D. C. As you know, in my job as Information and Education non-com I have had occasion to lecture to, and hold discussions with, thousands and thousands of GI's...
...The United States will then be ruled by a military clique in the government...
...Finally, I have never heard a clergyman say man can do nothing by virtuous living...
...All right, if you want it redeemed, go to the Treasury and get another bill just like it...
...I wish you would induce him to expand the idea in another article, or series of articles...
...If I had then had a gold certificate I would have blandly told them that when they got ready to hand over the gold that was promised for it, they could have it and not before...
...There is no doubt that relief sent in by individuals would materially aid the Government in the long run...
...The same applies to public gatherings, whatever the nature of same...
...Arrives completely exhausted in Berlin...
...Her house is destroyed, she lives in a shelter without resources...
...Now, let's see what promise there is on the face of Federal Reserve Notes as to their redemption...
...12 issue is a unique classic...
...Furthermore, although various denominations disagree concerning many doctrines, none teach that righteousness is a pronto change into a saint, with no further tendency to sin...
Vol. 9 • December 1945 • No. 48
