Open forum, vol. 4, no. 40 (October, 1927)

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| Give me the liberty to know, to utter, and to argue freely according to conscience, above all liberties. -Milton

OPEN FORUM

Vol. 4

LOS ANGELES,

CALIFORNIA, OCTOBER 1, 1927

No. 40

F ao. in the Pacific

s. Dictatorship in Italy

Chester Rowell, widely known publicist and stu-

ient of international affairs, just returned from at-

ndance at the Pacific Relations Institute in Hono-

"julu, speaking at an evening meeting of the Los An-

gles City Club, September 19, made several startling

statements that may or may not be believed, accord-

ing to one's point of view.

He ventured the assertion that birth control would

`never solve the Chinese population problem; that

`the only salvation of over-crowded Japan was to: in-

`iustrialize that island kingdom, and that the Philip-

jines were not entitled to complete independence.

la addition, he stated that the only way in which

"the United States could be of any assistance to

(hina was to take the leadership in treating China

lecently.

The "family idea' in China, he said, prevented

yidespread adoption of the birth control solution,

The family there includes the whole clan, dead, alive

ad unborn. Women, he said, begin bearing children

early as they are physically capable and continue

util they are physically incapable; more children

ae needed to earn enough to pay the increasing cost

ofthe ancestral rites; hence, the unpopularity of any

nethod of contraception. Rowell had nothing to of-

fr as a solution of China's population dilemma and

`ft it as a mystery to be solved by others than

ile fisctitute.

_ The industrialization of Japan, he ce was

made difficult by the fact that coal and iron, absolute-

lynecessary for such a move, could be secured only

in China and, as this raised a political question, such

4 policy remains to be worked out and, possibly,

slved. In offering this tentative solution, Rowell

lett Japan's great population predicament also in a

quandary.

About the only thing that the Pacific Relations In-

stitute did, of a constructive character, he intimated,

Was to outline a plan for a more autonomous govern-

ment in the Philippines. This, he said, might be ac-

wmplished by nation-wide civic groups and not by

lhe two governments. The institute, he hinted, has

siggested that seven of the leading civic organiza-

lions of the United States select one representative

ach to serve on a joint commission with the Fili-

tinos, the latter selected by the same means, and

oth groups to name an outstanding man for chair-

lan, making a commission of fifteen. He believed

tlat such a conference would evolve a plan of such

nerit that public opinion would demand its adoption.

The interested nations are being sounded out now

long this line.

He said that both governments would be dead-

lcked, were it left to them, as the Philippine gov-

tmment was favorable to total independence, while

F American government was as decidedly opposed

0 it,

Mr. Rowell's talk was enlightening, interesting, and

hdicates that men and women of brilliant minds are

iliacking the important problem of permanent peace

tthe Pacific nations. It may be early to expect

haterial results from this voluntary movement, but

in Seneral, the fact that there were 120 representa-

lives of the nations bordering the Pacific Ocean, in-

thding some of the best and clearest thinkers of

the Orient and Occident, peace lovers need not feel

they Should relinquish their efforts. Every world

teace movement of every sort and description is

lecessary in these woeful days. Rowell dropped a

hint, rather inadvertently, it seemed, that it will

' wise to follow: "The more we talk about these

things, the nearer their accomplishment approaches."

This is worthwhile remembering and putting into

action,

Some day, somewhere, may we not have the pleas-

ite and privilege of hearing somebody who knows

the facts about Italy under Mussolini and who has

the courage to state them, tell us in an open meet-

ing exactly what they are? In giving expression to

this yearning, I have in mind the informal talk given

by Alexander Bevani, impressario of grand opera,

at the noonday luncheon of the Los Angeles City

Ciub, September 21.

As an expositor of conditions in Italy, I hail Bevani

as a first class musician and I know little or nothing

about his ability in that line.

I have heard many Italians, both native and natur-

alized, speak on Italy as it is today. Almost without

exception, I have heard them tell us that the rail-

roads run on schedule time, as though that were an

achievement at which the rest of the civilized world

might look with astonishment. On the other hand,

these same speakers have prefaced their carefully

prepared addresses with the somewhat formal an-

nouncement: "Of course, I cannot be expected to

comment upon Italian affairs, for I am about to re-

turn to Italy and what I say here about Signor Mus-

solini might be used against me there."

Bosh! If these chaps cannot tell us what are the

actual conditions, let them be advised, now and for

all time, that we hear enough propaganda in this

country, without learning, again and again, that

Italian trains are running on time. That seems to

be the biggest-and only argument | have ever heard

from the mouth of an Italian in support of the re-

volting and wretched dictatorship in Italy, under

Benito Mussolini.

Yes, Signor Bevani did say more than this, under

fear of the strong arm of the modern Caesar. Brief-

ly, the following summarizes his hashed-over ramb-

lings:

That Mussolini is the absolute and undisputed

ruler of Italy:

That there are two armies in Italy, the king's and

Mussolini's;

That Mussolini's army is composed of the youth

of the land and is used for espionage;

That the Fascist army is composed of boys from

the age of six to fourteen, learning how to be spies,

and from fourteen to eighteen, composing the real

military force of the dictator;

That there is a Fascist army for girls as well;

That Italy is ruled by the youth of the land, under

stern military discipline;

That the older people are rigidly suppressed and

refused the opportunity of speaking aloud, except in

favor of Mussolini;

That municipal government is entirely abolished,

each city being under a podesta, appointed, person-

ally, by Signor Mussolini;

That the podesta fixes the prices, arbitrarily. for

food, clothing and all necessities, including street

car fares;

That crimes are prevented by discovering them be-

fore they are committed;

That force and compulsion prevail everywhere;

That there are three kinds of police: The semi-

military, to prevent any sort of a demonstration, such

as meetings favorable to Sacco and Vanzetti; the

"London bobby" type, used principally for traffic,

and the guards of public safety, fully armed for vio-

lence at any instant;

That there is no freedom of thought or expres-

sion;

That the government is always right and criticism

of government is punishable from imprisonment to

the death sentence;

That democracy is a "flop" in Italy;

That there is no "night life" in Italy, tips are dis-

allowed in cafes and this is offset by adding ten

per cent to all cafe checks, which is divided among

the waiters and waitresses;

That the eating of white bread is forbidden until

Italy can raise enough wheat to supply her own

Same Rights as Jane

CHICAGO.-(F.P.)-Signs of returning sanity ap-

peared in Chicago's courtrooms as the first month

since the Sacco-Vanzetti executions drew to a close.

Judge Sam Heller released the twenty-eight remain-

ing prisoners picked up by the police during the

meetings and parades of protest prior to the double

murder by the state of Massachusetts. Two days

before he had freed a couple of girls arrested for

making street corner speeches.

"T guess if Jane Addams can speak her mind on

the Sacco-Vanzetti case without being arrested you

can do the same," Heller told the girls as he bawled

out the coppers that had arrested them.

The previous week four others were fined, but pay-

ment was suspended.

Gird Against Alien Bills

CHICAGO.-(F'..P.)-Increased pressure on Con-

gress to pass what have come to be known as the

anti-alien bills is expected by trade unionists at the

December session. These measures are reintroduced

every year, usually with the support of Secretary of

Labor James Davis, himself of foreign birth. So

far they have failed of passage. They are opposed

by organized labor as weapons that will be turned

against trade unionism if not deliberately aimed at it.

In Chicago the council for protection of foreign-

born workers has been formed by labor men and

women to agitate against the anti-alien bills. Its

seeretary, Edith Rudquist, has written a pamphlet

entitled, "What Price Aliens in America,' which

analyzes the bills and aims to mobilize labor against

them. The pamphlet, written by a lawyer, is ammu-

nition for opponents of the bills.

Mistaken Identity

Legionnaire: "I made a terrible mistake today.

What the hell, I says to myself; the war's over. So

I shake hands with an M. P. I thought he was a

German.-Life.

needs; meanwhile, only black bread may be eaten;

That all of Italy is aflame with the military spirit,

yet has no intention or plan to go to war and has

no unkind feeling against Germany;

That education tis free but not compulsory;

That English is taught by command of the dictator

in all Italian schools;

That Mussolini has adopted a wise attitude toward

the Catholic church, which is conciliatory and brings

the government and the pope into close co-operation,

but that this is an extremely dangerous subject to

approach;

That a group of men, the identity of whom is an

inviolate secret, will carry on in Italy, if Mussolini

should die; and,

That he, Alexander Bevani, strongly favors a dic-

tatorship, rather than communism.

And there, fellow citizens, you have the picture

of Italy by an Italian who fears to comment upon his

own country, because he returns to Italy in October.

It is not at all necessary or even advisable to com-

ment upon Bevani's talk before the City Club. There

is not a reader of The Open Forum who is not in-

telligent enough and sufficiently well advised about

Italian conditions to tear Bevani's speech into

shreds.

The average American believes that the actual

condition of a country is found in the hearts and

minds and consciousness of the people who have to

submit to government repression; not in the outward

aspects, as the late E. H. Gary and Andrew Mellon

and other eminent Americans saw them.

The trains may operate on schedule time, but the

souls of Italy are bound by rods of iron. The old

question is still apropos: What will happen when

Benito Mussolini dies or is assassinated? You tell

me! LEW HEAD.

a

Loving Favor of Friends

Marks Ryckman Memorial

. Glowing tributes, sincere, apt and well deserved,

from numerous friends and group representatives

marked the memorial meeting for J. H. Ryckman,

who died September 16, at the Los Angeles Open

Forum Sunday evening last. The memorial opened

with the playing of Chopin's "Funeral March' by

Rudolf I. Liebich, a solo by Isabel Isgrig and Jap-

anese songs by Madame Numbo in native costume.

Those who made five-minute addresses were Dr.

Clinton J. Taft, director of the American Civil Liber-

ties Union, Southern California Branch, chairman;

Dr. Doremus Scudder of Claremont, representing the

Union; Fanny Bixby Spencer; Harry Sherr, Socialist

Party; C. W. Manning, I. W. W.; L. H. Kepsel, Ra-

tionalist Society; Ethelwyn Mills, Fellowship of Rec-

onciliation; John Packard, attorney and associate;

Frank Spector, I L. D.; A. J. Samis, Freeland Club;

Agnes Downing, Shelley Club; Robert Whitaker, The

Open Forum; Robert Dunbar, Workers' Party; Paul

Jordan Smith, Severance Club; P. D. Noel, Labor;

Mortimer Downing, Reorganization movement of the

I. W. W., and Lew Head, who introduced the reso-

lutions. : :

Following are a few of the many tributes received

for this `friend of man:"

DR. DOREMUS SCUDDER:

The privilege of knowing Judge Ryckman intimate-

ly was not given to me. Our relationship during

the last four years was. that of fellow directors in

the American Civil Liberties Union. But the char-

acter of our friend, the Judge, was so pronounced

that one could not meet him in work like this with-

out gaining a very decided impression of the man

he really was. He had nothing to conceal and he

concealed nothing.

The very first contact with him told the story of

power. Here was no average person. His nature

was well muscled. When he dealt a thought blow,

it was from the shoulder, it went to its mark and

often scored a knockout. 3

He was thoroughly loyal to his convictions, never

hedged, was forever standing up for them. His last

words were busied with this sort of exercise. _

This meant that he was courageous. It is unfor-

tunate that the splendid word "radical" has been by

the foes of human progress given an entirely mis-

leading meaning. Radical means going to the root

of the matter and, as such, is a term of honor and

of intellectual honesty.

He was a futurist, not in the artistic or theological

sense, but in that of belonging to the future. The

largest sector of his life has been passed in the nine-

teenth century, and Judge Ryckman drew much from

that cycle, but his spiritual home was not back there.

He was essentially a twentieth century man.

. He believed in peace, which as yet shows no symp-

toms. of becoming domiciled among men.

He was profoundly attached to liberty, civil and

religious, and these have not yet been granted their

naturalization papers in this world.

He was devoted to the cause of labor, urban and

rural, and the battle to keep this movement from

triumph on earth is as fierce today as ever it was.

My characteristic of Judge Ryckman is "human

brother." Like the old Roman, "Nothing of man was

alien" to him. He wrought all of his life for the

common weal. His religion was love. That in truth

is the only religion there is.

I] Ha KEPSEL

Judge Ryckman, being a materialist, found himself

logically a member of the Rationalist Society of

America, a life member of the Board of Directors and

its general counsel. It was but consistent that he

should voice himself on some live issues as follows:

"There would be no marriage nor divorce question

but for private property rights. These, having been

established by the sword and perpetuated by force

of arms, must be removed before marriage can be

the voluntary expression of love and remains mar-

riage only during mutual respect and honor.

"Society is organized upon the theory of private

property rights which infringe upon justice and

equity, hence through its legislative and judicial

powers creates crime and then punishes the victims

of its own making.

"The highway bandit, the bank thief and those

who compel war or purchase liberty bonds, thereby

exploiting both the people and government of a na-

tion, are on the same basis and are the direct result

of this false theory of property rights which have

been legislated to be superior to human rights. Crime

Resolutions

The mysterious and certain processes of Na-

ture, as ever they have, for countless centuries

.of Earth's history, now have taken from our

human midst one of our noblest friends, one

of our ablest advisers and one of our most con-

stant companions, J. H. Ryckman, devoted hus-

band, splendid father and never-to-be-forgotten

enemy of injustice, intolerance and ignorance;

let us, therefore, in reverence to his faithful-

ness to all the causes that we, here assembled,

represent, make these-

RESOLUTIONS:

That he was a giant in a land of pigmies;

That he was a Solomon in a time of morons;

That he stood stalwart in an age of cowards;

That he sought only truth in a maze of false-

hoods; .

That he fought injustice without fear;

That he waged war on privilege to the mo-

ment of his passing;

That we loved him, appreciated him, trusted

him; and,

Sorrowfully regret that he, who towered so

magnificently above us, should have been taken

from us, when so many others, among us, could

have been spared with a lesser feeling of loss

by us; but,

That we stand faithful to the causes in which

he led us to the very last conscious moment of

his life among us.

WE, your Committee, recommend the adop-

tion of these resolutions by unanimous vote;

that we have them printed and that copies,

suitably inscribed, be presented to each mem-

ber of the family and furnished to the press

and news associations for as wide distribution

as present news methods will permit.

LEO GALLAGHER,

LEW HEAD,

Committee.

must ever increase under such a system, for no pun-

ishment, be it ever so severe, can stem the tide.

When the inherent human rights to life, liberty and

happiness are placed as the highest or first rights,

then social wrongs will ultimately cease.

"Labor will not be able to solve its questions

through unionism, for the master class will always

find ways to nullify its endeavors. Labor will gain

permanent benefits only when it becomes a soli-

darity.

"In a democracy justice should be equal. In our

court practice it does not obtain. The rich escape

just punishment while the poor groan under ruth-

less punishment unjustly.

"Superstition and religion dominate the thoughts

and acts of most people. Being thus intoxicated,

those who are entrusted with the application of law

cannot think clearly nor administer justice."

With such thoughts and principles as these, though

endowed in body and mind to dignify the highest

legal positions within the gift of his native land, he

dedicated himself to be the succorer and savior of

the poor, ignorant and friendless. He needs no monu-

ment to perpetuate his name. Thus in patience

toiled this tolerant, forward-looking and heroic man

ef whom neither Los Angeles, nor California, nor

America, nor the World, was worthy.

PAUL JORDAN SMITH:

We have heard so much about the causes in which

Mr. Ryckman was interested; now I want to say a

word for personality. -I am not so interested in

causes aS I am iin the qualities which make men

faithful to them.

To me, J. H. Ryckman was a poet and a philoso-

pher, a kind friend of men and women, a lover of

the world with a sense of humor. His was a sweet,

well rounded and wholesome personality, a kindly

and tolerant spirit, who in the midst of bitterness

was never bitter and whose voice was always raised

against the wrong and for the right.

KATHERINE L. SCHMIDT:

It hurts so to have to give up such treasures as

Judge Ryckman. Brother and I would a million times

rather have the friendship of that rare soul than all

the wealth of the Southern Pacific.

GERRIT J. JOHNSON:

After reading your letter about the passing of

`the Judge, I thought, what a glorious death, and then

Russell Tremaine

By ROBERT WHITAKER

Because his father and mother are pacifists of the

most pronounced type, and with their religious con-

freres, the Elijah Voice Society, cannot consent con.

scientiously to even legal measures of protection, ang

are loath even to seek general publicity, the Case of

Russell Tremaine is as yet very little known, The

boy was stolen from his parents by the School ay-

thorities and the courts of the State of Washington

and has been immured in a public home for children

where he has suffered so from homesickness that it

was feared the child would lose his mind. Lately

he has been given away to a family somewhere in

the neighborhood of Spokane, although he cannot be

legally adopted by them for some months yet, His

parents are not allowed to correspond with him, nor

to see him, nor even to know the names of the peo-

ple in whose home he is. And all this because the

child would not, and conscientiously could not, join

in the salute at school of our national fetish, the

flag. It is time that a nation-wide campaign against

this outrage was under way, and with all respect

for the fine reticence of his family, the public has

a right to know the facts and put this insanity of

the patro-maniacs where it belongs. Toward this end

I have written these lines:

A LINDBERGH OF THE SCHOOLS

No, he is not as Lindbergh yet,

A man in form and years;

We sing a hero-childhood, set

Against a mother's tears;

A child who dares to claim his soul

Despite official fools;

Yet plays too soon the lonely role,

A Lindbergh of the schools.

While grown men make parade of place, ~

And boast provincial mood,

This child sees but one Father's face,

And one world brotherhood.

No blind idolator is he,

No ritual he drools,

His loyalty is as the sea,

This Lindbergh of the schools.

They stole him from his mother's breast,

And from his father's side

Because his heart refused the test

His father's faith denied;

The child soared high above them al!

And their prostrating stools,

Obedient to the heavenly call,

This Lindbergh of the schools.

The Flag of Freedom seeks no slaves,

And craves no coward fruit;

They are but dupes, or they are knaves

Who stress the forced salute.

Who gives it freely of his own

Needs no compelling rules;

And here's to him who sails alone,

Our Lindbergh of the schools.

I felt lonesome and homesick. The Judge was 4

big part of Los Angeles to me; we both doubted fu-

ture existence, but should the judge ever stand be-

fore a bar of judgment he will not moan nor whine,

but will look St. Peter fearlessly in-the eye and ney

"I am as I am," and should they look up his wat

record, they will find more of what I would like to

call God in one Ryckman than in all our religious

institutions combined.

R. W. HENDERSON:

I was deeply grieved to learn of the sudden death

of J. H. Ryckman. I regret that I shall be unable

to join with his many friends on next Sunday ev

ning to express the esteem in which the deceased

was held. At an early age, Mr. Ryckman must have

freed himself from the grip of old superstitions: ae

bent the energy of a well trained and perceptive mind

to a scientific study of the human problems - se

age. Only those who were privileged to know Le

well realize the scope of his learning. Withal, Be

developed a mellow personality, and a geniality "

human relations which made him beloved of all ee

knew him. J. H. Ryckman was true to the ogee

ciples of American liberty, and his memory will :

a constructive influence in all those circles 7 whic

he moved.

pe ee, ee Ca or en oe

ee ee eae Seed eg ed eh, bee

_ gent reform, the New Republic,

_ issue, has an editorial under the title:

| FROM VARIED VIEWPOIN TS'

Sniffing the Battle

Editor The Open Forum:

With the near approach of the first meeting of the

ALF. of L. in Los Angeles, the newspaper organ of

opposition founded by General Otis has already

issued its preliminary Cartoon-Challenge of defiance.

Its stalwart Labor Man tells the world that he is

free of the self-respect of being recognized as a full

partner of the result of the labor of his hand.

The ultimate futility of the attitude of the Otis

newspaper toward the Labor movement grows more

_ apparent as one impartially surveys the field at home

and abroad.

The writer of these notes, in a little test recently,

took from the magazine rack of the Los Angeles

Public Library the two latest numbers of the London

New Statesman and found a leading article on Labor

in each.

It is of course difficult, in the space allowed here,

to make valuable quotations; but the summing up of

the New Statesmen editorial of August 20, 1927, may

be given:

"The Trade Unions, we may agree, have now

reached the turning point. They know that indus-

trys fundamental problems are essentially political,

and they are searching for a new policy which will

offer collaboration in the task of rebuilding industry

on fair terms.-terms which will safeguard their real

independence, and leave the right to strike and or-

ganize freely in their hands.

"Such a policy is not to be found in a moment;

but in it is a mark of transition to a new phase.

But under the surface new ideas and new policies

are beginning.

Shall we have a Government prepared, and will

employers as a body be prepared, to meet the Unions

in a reasonable spirit, to make the big changes in

industrial organization and control needed for the

new policy?"

On this side the water our great journal of intelli-

in its June 1, 1927,

A Motionless

Labor Movement, in which it sums up as follows:

"Perhaps it is fallacious at present to speak of a

labor movement in this country.

"A real movement would attempt not merely to

get more of the same things which owners and in-

vestors already possess; it would transform and

create important issues for public life.

"At present the profit-maker dictates civilization

within and without our borders; we are overborne

by the brute power of accumulated things.

"Labor alone cannot save us, but it stands at the

intersection of the conflict and occupies a position

where strategy might count for something.

"Yet at present it finas necessary merely a defen-

sive battle, because it is incapable of giving an

aggressive lead.

"Its old men have apparently ceased from fine

dreams, and its young men are discouraged from

testing their vision."

FRED K. GILLETTE.

System Makes Slaves

Editor the Open Forum:

I note the letter of Kate Crane-Gartz to Captain

Barr in your September 10 issue. She asks: "Why

Sacrifice the truth to save a superstition?" May I

ask why we should sacrifice the fact that all a hu-

Man being can do for another is to work for that

other, to the blind belief that we must measure

(for price determining purposes) by results?

Is it not about time that those who seek to free

humanity from a system where some adults are the

Slaves of others should get down to the basic funda-

Mentals? How can we have equal freedom where

Some adults can compel others to work for them

Without having to work in return? And how can

We avoid that sort of compulsion where we fail to

Measure our work strictly by a definite unit of its

duration ?

What is "vitally wrong with the world" is that

human beings are blindly clinging to a method of

determining prices which compels them to either be

Slaves or slavers.

All thinkers should consider the above carefully.

VAUGHN BACHMAN BROKAW.

Harmony Among Groups

Good Sign in Mexico

Mexico is assured of a continuation of her liberal

government by the unusually harmonious actions of

four political conventions, held in Mexico City, Au-

gust 29 to September 4. The Labor, Socialist, Agrar-

jan and Liberal parties met in that city at the time

`the Mexican Federation of Labor convention was in

session. Forecasting the unanimity of action that

was anticipated, three of. the conventions withheld

nominating a presidential candidate until the Labor

party had expressed itself favorable to Obregon. In

' view of the fact that Senor Obregon is a member of

the Liberal party, akin to the Progressives of the

United States, it came as a unique surprise that

Senor Obregon's own party deferred to the Labor

party's decision.

Contrary to the predictions in the reactionary

press of the United States, that the administration

of President Plutarco Elias Calles would be con-

demned and discredited, two important attempts

were made to amend the Mexican Constitution to

enable Senor Calles to continue in office. One ef-

fort was to extend his term two years, the other to

legalize his re-election to succeed himself. Amidst a

tremendous demonstration in his favor, President

Calles appeared before the convention in person and

declined both honors.

An effort was then made by the Laborites to nomi-

nate Luis N. Morones, secretary of the Department of

Commerce, Industry and-Labor, Senor Morones de-

clining on the ground that he was three years too

young, under the Mexican Constitution, to accept the

honor. Celestino Gasca was disqualified, he told the

Labor convention, because he had been elected gov-

ernor of Guanajuato, which position he would have

to resign, under the law, a year before the national

election.

The path was then cleared for the Labor nomina-

tion of Senor Obregon, which was followed with

vociferous acclaim. Senor Jose Kelly of Los Angeles

had the pleasure of conveying the result of the Labor

party convention to the other three conventions, each

one of which endorsed the nomination of General

Obregon before six o'clock that night.

Senor Kelly attended the Labor convention in Mex-

ico City and has just returned to Los Angeles. He

brings the information that all of the political con-

ventions sustained the acts of President Calles' ad-

ministration, including the petroleum laws and the

national attitude toward the Catholic church.

"Alvaro Obregon is just as liberal as President

Calles," Senor Kelly declares, `and Mexico will con-

tinue to progress under its present laws, without fal-

tering, when he is elected. I was particularly im-

pressed by the enthusiastic support that all parties

gave to President Calles. He has made a wonderful

executive and the real uptrend of Mexican progress

will always be credited with beginning under his

wise and successful leadership."

LEW HEAD.

Girl Fined for Partin |

Sacco-Vanzetti Meetings

Aurora D'angelo, eighteen-year-old high school girl,

who was arrested by the Chicago police three times

during the Sacco-Vanzetti protest meetings in that

city, was fined .$100 and costs by Judge William R.

Fetzer in a Chicago municipal court.

Leading several demonstrations and parades of

protestants against the killing of the two Italians,

Aurora was twice roughly handled by the police. At

one time her clothes were torn almost completely

from her. On her third arrest she was held for some

time in the psychopathic ward of a municipal hospi-

tal, but the examining physicians were forced to

admit that she was normal and above the average in

intelligence and she was released.

In assessing the fine against her, the judge also

placed her under six months' probation.

The most suitable person for the front row in a

modern war is: "A dull, strong bachelor, orphan,

who is tired of life, but has been inflamed into a

state of courageous frenzy against the opposing

forces, which causes him to do as much violence as

he can before extinction."-Bruce Bairnsfather.

`my favorite city.

Vacation Musings -

Editor The Open Forum:

I chose Long Beach for my vacation because it is

Our first home in the Southland

was at Long Beach, some ten years ago. This is my

first real vacation, leaving and forgetting everything

for the sake of rest and relaxation.

I am sixty-three years old; I have had quite a

number, of undesirable vacations during these years

because my permit to live would sometimes expire

and I would have to look for another; often it was

not easy to locate. But now I own my job, although

it takes me about fifteen hours a day to hold it down.

Just a few days of rest to get away from the cheap

eggs and high priced food. The water is fine and

refreshing. How I do enjoy seeing so many little.

human buds playing in the sand and surf so care-

free and happy.

Some day when we hit the trail of civilization we

will all be happy from the youngest to the oldest for

we will realize that we are all here on earth through

no fault of our own, and we will meet on common

ground for the welfare of all. When we hit the trail

of civilization we will meet at the round table as

comrades, and the right hand or right eye will not

say to the left hand or left eye: "I have no need of

thee," or "I am superior to thee." We will do our.

duty toward one another, according to our gift of

ability. When we hit the trail of civilization there

will not be a group of self-appointed men at the

crossroads of commerce to exact toll from the pro-

ducer on the farms or in the shops; they will not

say, "this and that we will pay for your product, or

this and that is our price for what you need." For

everything will be measured by the rule of righteous-

ness and brotherhood; no room for anyone to pay

seventy thousand dollars for a seat in the exchange

to exploit mankind.

When we hit the trail of civilization we will not

have any constitution for scoundrels to hide behind

or to stop human progress. All new ideas will be

considered and adopted according to their merit.

The rule will be the greatest good to the greatest

number, without injury to any.-

Patriotism to one country is the dope to conceal

the truth and stop human progress at the boundary

lines. Had our forefathers been patriotic our coun-

try would never have been born; neither would the

Slaves be free. Patriotism to God and humanity was

the ideal of our revolutionary fathers.

When we hit the trail of civilizatioh the govern-

ment will own its money and we will have govern-

ment without taxation. Money is a medium of ex-

change and represents created product or service of

some kind, and it will be redeemed by its kind, labor.

No one will need to beg for a job or a permit to live

on God's domain. All public work will be done at

cost of labor. Human right will prevail, and money

will be at a' discount. When a child comes into this

world he will truly be a child of God and freedom-

not a child of bondage from the cradle to the grave.

When we hit the trail of civilization we will honor

the Christ in deed and in truth by ministering to the

wants and needs of mankind. We will remove the

worst affliction of mankind inflicted by society from

Christian and non-Christian alike by removing ex-

ploitation, which is causing poverty and crime, the

sin of ali sins, and crime of all crimes.

Oh, when we hit the trail of civilization the hearts

of mankind will blossom with joy like flowers in the

Southland.

EDWARD GRAMMOND.

Lomita, Calif.

Life Term Advocated

For Red Flag Display

A bill under which any person displaying a red

flag or any other emblem of opposition to organized

government could be convicted of a felony and re-

ceive a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, has

been filed with the clerk of the House of Representa-

tives of Massachusetts by Representative Harrison

H. Atwood.

The bill provides that the flag or emblem must be

displayed "in such a manner as to incite anarchistic

or seditious action" before a conviction can be ob-

tained.

Another bill which Mr. Harrison filed would make

the advocacy of criminal syndicalism a felony, with

a maximum penalty of fourteen years' imprisonment.

THE OPEN FORUM

Published every Saturday at 1022 California Building,

Second and Broadway,

Los Angeles, California, by The Southern California

Branch of The American Civil Liberties Union.

7 Phone: TUcker 6836

LOMO Me de ah eese ee oT a ake Editor

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Upton Sinclair Kate Crane Gartz J. H. Ryckman

Fanny Bixby Spencer Doremus Scudder

Leo Gallagher Ethelwyn Mills Robert Whitaker

Subscription Rates-One Dollar a Year, Five Cents

per Copy. In bundles of ten or more to one address,

Two Cents Each.

/ Advertising Rates on Request.

a ee

Entered as second-class matter Lee 18, 1924, at

the post office at Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 3, 1879.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1927

This paper, like the Sunday Night Forum, is

carried on by the American Civil Liberties

Union to give a concrete illustration of the

e value of free discussion. It offers a means of

expression to unpopular minorities. The or-

ganization assumes no responsibility for opin-

ions appearing in signed articles.

On Orators

"The honorable orators,

' Always the honorable orators,

Buttoning the buttons on their prinz alberts,

Pronouncing the syllables `sac-ri-fice,'

Juggling those bitter, salt-soaked syllables-

Do they ever gag with hot ashes in their mouths?

Do their tongues shrivel with a pain of fire

Across those simple syllables `sac-ri-fice'?''

CARL SANDBURG.

{Peoples ft

National Bank

nk/

409 So. Hill St.

EXPIRATION NOTICE

Dear Friend:If you find this paragraph encircled

with a blue pencil mark it means that your sub-

scription to "The Open Forum" has expired.

Hnelosed: 1nd 9.225621: for which continue my

months

year

DIN east met eee ce a SECIS a i a on ee

BPN OS Serie tense toe Oe ies Be ee

SMose"upuon: tor the paper for 2... =...

FREE VIOLIN LESSONS

To Exceptionally Talented Children of Parents

`who are unable to pay

MAX AMSTERDAM

Prominent Violin Teacher and Soloist

415 No. Lake Street - - - - DRexel 9068

Reasonable Rates to Beginners

Second Annual

___ INTERNATIONAL LABOR DEFENSE

CONCERT

Saturday Night, October 1

Co-operative Hall, 2706 Brooklyn Avenue

eee ee

Program includes Calmon Lubovisky, Adelle Cutler

and Ballet, Filipino Vocal and Dancing Solos.

BENEFIT POLITICAL PRISONERS

| Admission 50c.

At:

SAY IT QUICK!

This space in last week's paper was

occupied with an emergency call for

funds to meet the $200 per month deficit

which the American Civil Liberties

Union, Southern California Branch,

faces by reason of the exhaustion of the

Garland Fund. It is too early (Monday,

September 26) to forecast what the re-

sponse to the appeal is going to be, but

already a substantial start has been

made. Evidently some people want to

see the fight for our fundamental liber-

ties kept going in this part of the U. S.

A. Do you? Then say it quick with

your dollars. What we want and must

have are monthly pledges that will ag-

gregate $200. The Committee meets

next Monday to determine our future

policy. Let us hear from you without

fail before that time. Many of you can

easily afford to give $5, $10 or even $25

per month. Please use the blank below

and do it now while the generous im-

pulse is upon you. :

I hereby subscribe $...........-....... per

month for the work of the American

Civil Liberties Union, Southern Califor-

nia Branch, and I enclose $_...._........___.

to apply on my pledge.

INGiNG Se ee ee es a eat

SUPCG Uc iGie et ee

DY Rt oe a eee ee ee

DRO Sal Si oe a eae ee ee

Urge Governor Probe

Attack on Mine People

Appealing for a special investigation into the at-

tack by Pennsylvania state troopers on a Sacco-Van-

zetti meeting at Cheswick on August 22, in which

300 people were injured, some of whom are now near

death, Harry F. Ward, chairman of the American

Civil Liberties Union, has sent the following message

to Governor John S. Fisher:

"A situation exists in Cheswick, Penn., which we

take the liberty of pointing out as calling urgently

for executive attention. Our own information is de-

rived from a special investigator who went into the

field to get the facts first hand.

"On August 22, approximately 1500 men, women

and children had gathered in a grove near Cheswick

under the auspices of local labor groups for a meet-

ing of protest on behalf of Nicola Sacco and Bartolo-

meo Vanzettii Many such meetings were taking

place on that day in various parts of the country.

There was nothing intrinsically improper in a gather-

ing for such a purpose. The meeting was called on

private property leased for the occasion. Those as-

sembled were not informed in advance of any action

by public authority to prevent a meeting. An exact-

ly similar gathering had taken place ten days earlier

without interference from any source. So secure

were those interested in their sense that they were

doing a lawful and orderly thing, that they consid-

ered it as a "picnic" and so spoke of it among them-

selves.

"For the events that followed we ask Your Excel

lency to employ your own means of obtaining the

facts; we present them merely in outline. A body

of state police arrived on the scene and undertook

to disperse the meeting on the authority of the

sheriff of the county. The means that were em-

ployed were riding their horses into the crowd, club-

bing men and women mercilessly and exploding tear

gas bomb. For a period of hours following the actual

seattering of the crowd, these state police stopped

people on the public highways, invaded private

homes and brutally clubbed men and women alike.

As a result of one such attack on a man who hap-

pened to be armed a trooper lost his life. It is

easily conceivable that more lives would have been

lost in the same. way if more of these outraged peo-

ple had had arms and the courage to use them, for

the provocation was greater than the utmost patience

could reasonably be expected to endure. We have

seen a number of affidavits in which acts of the most

ferocious brutality by the police are circumstantially

recited, and our investigator has seen and talked

with many victims of these acts. We are credibly in-

formed that many of the police were drunk at the

time of the raid.

Los Angeles

OPEN FORUM

Music Art Hall

233 South Broadway

SUNDAY NIGHTS, 7:45 O'CLOCK

October 2-`THE LABOR PRESS-ITS WHAK-

NESS, POVERTY, FLABBISHNESS, PROSPECTS"

by Carl Haessler of Chicago, managing editor of he

Federated Press. He was confined to Alcatraz pris-

on as a conscientious objector during the war. The

national convention of the A. F. of L. brings him to

Los Angeles to report its sessions for the labor

press. He is a brilliant and discerning speaker,

"A number of arrests were made by the police in

an effort to apprehend the leaders and organizers of

the meeting. The charges against the arrested men

were rioting, inciting to riot, unlawful assembly and

resisting officers. Bail was first fixed at $5000, but

was afterwards reduced in a sort of sliding scale to

as low as $500. It is worth mentioning that the man

who is still under $5000 bail was known to have been

a leader in the strike of mine workers in that vicin-

ity. The bail was fixed by Squire Blair, who ig known

in the region as the `Company Squire.'

"Such being the general background of facts, we

beg leave to suggest the following propositions for

the special consideration of Your Excellency:

"1. The meeting in the grove near Cheswick was

a lawful one called for a lawful purpose and would

have been perfectly orderly in its conduct had it not

been for the interference of the police. .

"2. The sheriff acted without legal authority in

ordering the raid.

"3. There was no warrant in law for interference

with the meeting by any civil authority, any more

than there was justification in the facts for the ex-

cessive violence used in the dispersal of the crowd

and the brutality of the beatings administered to

helpless men and women.

"4. It is improper to employ state police in local

matters or to use them in the interest of mine op-

erators for campaigns of terrorism in the areas of

industrial dispute. (This was `the position of Your

Excellency's predecessor asserted on numerous o0cca-

sions.)

"5. The use of terrorism by public authorities in

such situations as that at Cheswick must inevitably

result in the increase of class hatreds and the bring-

ing about of conditions amounting to civil war.

"We respectfully urge Your Excellency to institute

an executive investigation into all the facts connect-

ed with the Cheswick affair and to take such meas-

ures as seem necessary for the ending of conditions

which citizens having a deep concern for American

institutions must find extremely revolting."

It is with ideas as with pieces of money, those of

the least value generally circulate the most.-Punch.

Coming Events

I. B. W. A. FORUM, Brotherhood Hall, 107 Mar-

chessault Street, north side of Plaza, Sunday 4,

Tuesday, 7:30

I. W. W. FORUM, (Emergency Program), 224

South Spring Street, Saturday, 8 P. M.

NEGRO FORUM, Masonic Temple, Twelfth and

Central Avenue, Sunday, 4:80.

SOCIALIST PARTY, headquarters Bryson Build:

ing. R. W. Anderson, secretary C. C. C., VErmons

6811. C. C. C. meets first and third Mondays, branch

central, Thursday evening.

SOCIALIST LABOR PARTY, 1249 Grand Avenue,

Thursday, 8 P. M.

OPEN FORUM, INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF

THE WORLD, 11814 South Spring Street, Monday,

8 P. M.

WOMAN'S SHELLEY CLUB, second and fourth

Wednesday, 986 West Washington Street. Fifty-

cent luncheon, 12:30; MUtual 3668 for reservations.

Program 1:45 P. M. Ione G. Woodard, president.

HUmboldt 7668-W.

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE A

VANCEMENT OF ATHEISM, 224 South Spring yl

Friday, 8 P. M.

e et,

I. L. D., English branch, 322 West Second Stre

first and third Tuesdays.

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