Open forum, vol. 5, no. 25 (June, 1928)

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"THE OPEN FORUM -

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

Volo

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, JUNE 23, 1928

No. 25

How Can Ye

Escape Hell!

By GEORGE H. SHOAF

These words are directed to priests and preachers

everywhere who daily utter the prayer, "Thy will be

done on earth as in heaven"-meaning thereby a

desire to have established among men peace, justice

and righteousness-and who daily enjoin their fol-

lowers to "Love God and thy neighbor as thyself."

For argument's sake it will be granted that the

Bible is God's inspired word, that the Christian's life

is the perfect life, that the Christian's creed is

Christ's Sermon on the Mount, and that the civic

ideal of Christian people is that of little children.

In all seriousness the question is asked, how far

can a Bible-believing Christian, having become as a

little child trying to observe the beatitudes, get in

his efforts to make a living and provide for his fam-

ily amidst present-day social and economic condi-

tions?

How rich would the child-like Christian grow were

he to "Take no thought for the marrow" and "Give

to him that asketh thee?" How much would he

mitigate the crime menace were he literally to

"Judge not, that ye be not judged?" What progress

would he make in his effort to destroy sin and abol-

ish disease if he observed the command, "Resist not

evil?" How can he, surrounded as he is with world

conditions, "Be perfect, even as your Father which

is in heaven is perfect?"

The methods by which men live under capitalism

are not conducive to the growth of the Christian life.

He who really attempts to live as Christ would have

him live is regarded as a freak, and is treated as

such, Christian principles are just as impossible to

practice under capitalism as it is to cultivate so-

briety in a saloon or virtue in a house of prostitu-

tion. If by Christianity is meant the incarnated prin-

ciples of the Sermon on the Mount, then clearly

Christianity and capitalism are as unlike as day and

night and are further apart than the poles.

If the priests and preachers were on the square

with their propaganda for a better world it would

appear that they would, as God's agents, labor for

the establishment of conditions that would bring

about a better world and make possible the Christ- (c)

life among men. If they sincerely desired to see

the principles of the Sermon on the Mount actually

applied they would do what they could to help in-

augurate a social, economic and political system that

would work with instead of against Christ.

. For centuries priests and preachers have been try-

ing to improve matters through the individual re-

generation of human hearts; they have failed, as

such individualistic preachments always will fail.

Man may not live by bread alone, but bread, or the

Satisfaction of material needs, indisputably consti-

_ tutes a prerequisite to salvation of any sort. A hun-

sry Man out of a job is in no mood to pray for his

enemies or bless those who persecute him.

What God's agents have got to learn is the fact

that if they ever hope to put over their message with

any success, and make it effective, they must first

change the material conditions of life for the people.

_The bread and butter problem must first be solved

before the moral problem is tackled or before the

`yes of men can be turned to mansions in the skies.

Without elaboration it can be stated that private

Ownership and management of industry for private

Profit, together with the wage system, are the prime

breeders of vice, crime and war; that unless and

until private Ownership gives way to public, private

Management to co-operative, the profit motive elimi-

uae and the wage system abolished, it will be fatu-

(c) expect ever to see Christians consistently

Practicing their creed. No man can be a disciple

of Christ under the capitalist system and survive.

igipgn Republican and Democratic parties stand for

ao ns as they are. Those conditions admittedly

ostile to the spirit of Christ and make impossi-

ble Christian living. How, then, can any priest or

preacher who loves his Master and has the welfare

of Christianity at heart endorse any Republican or

Democratic candidate pledged to carry out a plat-

form, the planks of which support capitalism, inimi-

cal as it is to Christianity and the Christian life, un-

less he is ignorant or hypocritical or both?

Christians cannot withdraw from society; they

cannot keep themselves unspotted from the world;

they must, to live, take part in the industrialism of

the day. Capitalistic industrialism seethes with in-

justice as capitalistic commercialism reeks with rot-

tenness. In supporting the institutions of capitalism

Christians give the continual and everlasting lie to

their professions. Advocating as they do this Chris-

tian support of capitalism, the priests and preachers

not only deny Christ, but renail Him to the cross.

Isn't it about time that God's agents on earth

really began trying to do His work instead of cater-

ing to the interests of the mammon-worshipping

rich? Do they prefer to continue keeping company

with the crowd who will find it easier to pass

through a needle's eye than to go through heaven's

gates? Will theirs always be lip service-vain pray-

ers to God to save the souls of men whose starved

bodies bear witness to social and economic injustice

-pious praise for a political regime which stands as

a bulwark for an industrial despotism more cruel

than any ancient military power?

There are sins of omission as well as of commis-

sion.

If God be just, the Bible true, and men get their

deserts at the Judgment Day, certainly the priests

and preachers of this generation, recreant to human-

ity and traitors to Christ, will not hear softly spoken

the words, "Well done, good and faithful servants,"

but rather will they hear thundered at them from the

omnipotent throne that well-merited rebuke, "Depart

from Me, ye workers of iniquity; I never knew you!"

May Eventful Month for

Civil Liberties Cases

Advocates of civil liberties saw important suc-

cesses and reverses during May, according to the

monthly summary just issued by the American Civil

Liberties Union.

"The most sweeping victory for free speech in re-

cent years," says the report, "was the decision of

the New Jersey Court of Errors and Appeals May 14

reversing the conviction of Roger N. Baldwin and

the silk strikers in the Paterson case. `The court

declared that the most liberal and comprehensive

construction "must be given the constitutional guar-

antees of free speech and assemblage."

On the other hand, the Union notes that a record

of over four and a half months without an instance

of mob violence-the longest for the United States

in the past forty years-was ended by the first

lynching of this year, reported May 21 from Texas.

The last Federal political prisoner, an I. W. W.,

was released from Leavenworth Penitentiary through

commutation by President Coolidge.

Reports of strike riots and prosecution of pickets

and strike sympathizers came from Massachusetts,

New York, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania. Dam-

age suits against the Pennsylvania state police will

be filed by the Union in an attempt to stop police

brutality in the strike zones there.

The measure of a man's real character is what

he would do if he knew he would never be found

out.-Macauley.

Justice is the constant and perpetual desire to ren-

der every man his due.-Justinian.

tured in both platforms.

A Matter of Platforms

By DOREMUS SCUDDER

A comparison of the LaFollette platform of 1924,

including the candidates' subsequent additions made

during the campaign, with that of the Socialist

Party, recently published, shows the advance made

by the Progressive movement in four years. In the

great essentials the two statements are largely the

same, though expressed in somewhat different lan-

guage. Civil liberties, public ownership of natural

resources, popular election of President and Vice-

President, Constitutional amendment, farm relief,

protection of labor, taxation, international relations

and non-intervention in foreign countries are fea-

In the 1928 document there

is much more detail under the headings of unem-

ployment relief, Labor legislation, civil liberties,

farm relief and international relations which show

a natural growth in popular demand. Take off the

label, Socialist, and millions of our citizens would

vote "yes" for these proposals, none of which are

revolutionary and all of which represent the think-

ing of the people. It is too bad that this name

needs to appear in connection with a movement to

realize these every-day ideals.

There are two omissions which will condemn this

applicant for popular support. One is the complete

silence on the subject of the tariff. If the farmers

of the United States have one implacable enemy it

is the so-called protective tariff which from the be-

ginning has protected capital and been the foe of

farmer and wage earner. Here the late Senator La

Follette had the courage of his convictions. No one

could be lone in-~Congress witheut. finding thatthe

most prolifie source of corruption in America is the

tariff. It has made the rich richer and the poor

poorer. Until we get rid of it the farmer is sure

to continue to suffer.

It is simply inexplicable that a party claiming to

represent the interests of brain, hand and farm

laborers should make no reference to this enemy

of good government.

Another damning omission is failure to support

the Highteenth Amendment and the Volstead Act.

It looks as though the East had been trying to run

the West in the formation of this platform. Both

of the excellent candidates on the presidential ticket

hail from the region where the national policy con-

cerning alcohol is flouted. How the framers of this

political document, with silence on these two domi-

nant issues in good government, could hope to win

votes in the central and western states is a conun-

drum.

One misses also a clarion voice demanding the

cleansing of the Augean stables at Washington. The

very recollection of LaFollette's demand for a house

cleaning in the executive departments of the national

capital thrills those of us who had a part in that

brief campaign of four years ago.

There certainly is a chance this year to put a

third party on the map. If Senator Norris can be

induced to head such a movement, and candidates

for Congress be nominated throughout the country

remedying the great defects in the Socialist declara-

tion of policy, large inroads should be made in the

South, Center and West of the Union, provided Smith

is nominated at Houston. For Senator Norris should

pool a very large farmer vote throughout the coun-

try, especially in the great agricultural states, and

his unselfish championship of Muscle Shoals plus

his loyalty to the anti-alcoholic cause might in the

South secure him a goodly representation in the

electoral college. ss

Could man be drunk forever

With liquor, love or fights,

Lief would I rouse at morning

And lief lie down of nights.

But men at whiles are sober,

They think with fits and starts,

And when they think they fasten

Their hands upon their hearts--A. E. Housman.

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.

Phone: TUcker 6836

lim LOM alah hte save otis ot ere re ete et ke eats Editor

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Upton Sinclair Kate Crane Gartz

Fanny Bixby Spencer Doremus Scudder

Leo Gallagher Ethelwyn Mills P. D. Noel

Lew Head

Subscription Rates-One Dollar a Year, Five Cents

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

Two Cents Each, if ordered in advance.

Advertising Rates on Request.

Entered as second-class matter Dec. 12, 1924, at

the post office at Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 38, 1879.

SATURDAY, JUNE 16, 1928

This paper, like the Sunday Night Forum, is

carried on by the American Civil Liberties

Union to give a concrete illustration of the

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.

New Mooney Evidence

CHICAGO.-(F.P.)-Rumors current in Chicago

for over a year that a German-American editor would

confess to participation in the San Francisco pre-

paredness day explosion, for which Tom Mooney and

Warren K. Billings were framed, simmered down

this week to rather slender reality. President John

Fitzpatrick of the Chicago Federation of Labor made

public the statement of a recently deceased western

sports writer of German extraction who had been

told by his wife, also now deceased, that she was

warned by German-American neighbors not to watch

the parade because something terrible would hap-

pen. The neighbors were described as German

agents.

There remains no doubt, however, that Mooney

and Billings were framed by California capitalist re-

action.

Coal Miner Convicted

"Involuntary manslaughter" was the verdict ren-

dered by a Wilkes-Barre, Pa., jury June 2 in the

case of Steve Mendola, rank and file coal miner.

Mendola was present when Sam Bonita shot Frank

Agati, mine contractor and union official, some

months ago.

The defense will appeal, charging unfairness by

Judge McLean, and a "frameup" by United Mine

Workers' officials who testified against Mendola.

Judge McLean also presided in the Bonita case,

where defense testimony showed that Agati had a

record of violence and that Bonita had not fired until

after Agati did so. He rejected the Bonita jury's

first verdict of "involuntary manslaughter,' and

when the jury came back with a manslaughter ver-

dict and a recommendation for extreme clemency,

he gave Bonita the limit of six to twelve years.

It is hardly conceivable that the farmers will con-

tinue to take punishment indefinitely without strik-

ing back.-Chicago Tribune. :

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.

Mnclosed fndi$i24:) 22.257 for which continue my

Bit months

Subscription to the paper for-.........-......------- eae

INT ETN es i Oe ee alo be oc carten= sens

BAT OS See a eee ee ener ce eae eee

Meeting Asks Justice

For Debs Radio Station,

The following resolution protesting the revocation

of the license for Radio Station WEVD was passed_

at the Los Angeles Open Forum Sunday evening:

WHERBAS, Large and small sums of money were /

solicited and sent to New York City for the purpose

of constructing, establishing and maintaining a radio

station in New York City, under the signature

WEVD; and,

WHEREAS, Said Radio Station WEVD was erect-

ed and launched in memory of one of America's best

loved and greatest American citizens, Eugene V.

Debs; and, `

WHEREAS, Station WEVD was conceived and

dedicated to the broadcasting of the most liberal and

modern ideas of society, government and economics,

its microphone being granted freely to the use of

educators, officials and representative men and

women of advanced thought and high ideals; and,

WHEREAS, The license of said Radio Station

WEVD has been or is about to be revoked by the

Federal Radio Commission of the United States;

therefore, be it

RESOLVED, By the Open Forum of Los Angeles,

in meeting assembled this tenth day of June, 1928,

that we regard this action of the commission as a

gross violation of the Constitutional right of free

speech, an unwarranted and implied attack upon the

memory of Eugene V. Debs and an exhibition of in-

tolerance in the United States that is deeply re-

sented by millions of intelligent and worthwhile peo-

ple of this country; and, be it further

RESOLVED, That we demand that the contem-

plated action of the Federal Radio Commission be

reconsidered and reversed and that Radio Station

WEVD be permitted to continue on the air as it has

for more than a year, one of the few remaining

channels for public education that the common peo-

ple of this nation now enjoy and possess, end, be it

further

RESOLVED, That a copy of these resolutions be

sent to the Federal Radio Commission and to the

press, as the expression of our attitude toward this

unquestionably un-American tactic, probably insti-

gated by the "power trust," that is now standing in

disgrace before the civilized world.

Book Review

HOLLYWOOD, by Jack Richmond. This brochure,

just off the press, is the work of a Los Angeles

liberal. In a series of short sketches-some of them

character portrayals-he seeks to set forth the real

capital of filmdom. The story starts with Pershing

Square in the heart of the City of the Angels, but

one is quickly spirited away to Hollywood and made

to see the inside of that much-touted place and what

his chances of landing in stardom will likely be if

he points his compass that way. The booklet is a

fine specimen of the printer's art. It is listed at a

dollar, but may be obtained through the Civil Liber-

ties Office for fifty cents.

Socialist Convention

A mess meeting will be held in connection with

the Socialist Party State Convention at 126 North

St. Louis Street, June 16, 8 P. M. Speakers include

Cameron King. There will be convention sessions

Sunday at 10 A. M. and a banquet that evening at

7:30 at Paulais, 741 South Broadway, with Upton

Sinclair announced as speaker. Reservations for the

banquet must be made by noon of June 15 by call-

ing ANgelus 5260 or VErmont 6811.

"They are putting Wilson's portrait on the $1,000

bill-where only Republicans will see it.'"-Toledo

v

"Peoples f

@ National Bank

Bank,

@ 409 So. Hill St.

Los Angeles

OPEN FORUM

Lincoln Hall

Walker Auditorium Building

730 South Grand Ave.

SUNDAY NIGHTS, 7:45 O'CLOCK

June 17.-LAW ENFORCEMENT, by Col. Jama

W. Everington, former Chief of Police of Los 4A)

geles, the man whom certain interests force

out of office. He will deal with the local situatio,

showing why the laws against vice and crime ap

not enforced. Colonel Everington is absolutely feg.

less. He will uncover the sensational truth.

June 24-MASS MEETING OF THE ALL-AMh

ICA ANTI-IMPERIALIST LEAGUE, Los Angela

Branch, just organized. The address will be mat

by George Maurer of Chicago, former Secretan;

Treasurer of the I. L. D. The situation in Nic.

ragua and other parts of the world where Americy

imperialism is manifesting itself will be pungent)

set forth.

Freeland Club

The next regular meeting of the Freeland Chi

will be held in the Arbor Cafeteria, 309 West Fouri

Street, June 16, 7 o'clock. Charles T. Sprading wil

be the speaker of the evening and his subject, "Mi

tual Service." Reservations are unnecessary for tle

cafeteria dinner. Those interested are invited.

Coming Events

LOS ANGELES BRANCH of the I. W. W.,, Tl

Bryson . Building, Second and Spring Streets, fre

reading room open every day; business mectiti

every Tuesday, 7:30 P. M.

WOMEN'S SHELLEY CLUB, second and four!

Wednesday, 936 West Washington Street, fifty cetl

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

G. Woodard, president, HUmboldt 7668-W.

LOS ANGELES FORUM, Masonic Temple, Twelftl

and Central Avenue, Sunday, 4:30.

WORKERS' BOOK SHOP, Room 101, 122 Wai

Third Street. Open Wednesdays, Fridays and Sal

urdays until 9 P. M.; other week days, until 6 P. li

ENGLISH SPEAKING BRANCH, I. L. D., busines

and educational meetings every first and_ thill

Thursday at Cleveland Hall, Walker Auditorium, 1!

South Grand Avenue.

PROLETARIAN FORUM will suspend activilie .

until September. The Marxian Economics class Wi!

continue as usual with the text "The Peoples' Marx.'

This class is open to all without admission chalgt

and meets at 8 every Thursday night in Cooks Unio!

hall, 337144 South Hill Street.

SOCIALIST PARTY, headquarters 418 Bryst!

Building; R. W. Anderson, Secretary. VErmont 68!)

County Central Committee meets second and fou!

Mondays.

FREE WORKERS' FORUM, lectures and disc!

sion every Monday night at 8 o'clock, Libertatit!

Center, 800 North Evergreen Avenue, corner Wil

(B car); dance and entertainment last Saturday !!

month.

I. W. W. OPEN FORUM (Reorganization ?!

gram), 224~So. Spring Street, every Saturday, gh

M.-Questions and five-minute discussion.

LINCOLN HALL ESPERANTO CLASSES meet #!

Walker Auditorium Building every Sunday at 6:31

P. M. Free. Course given by L. S. Branson.

welcome.

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FROM VARIED VIEWPOINTS

Pre-War Stuff

Editor The Open Forum:

' LT regret very much to see from Mr, Wilhelm's let-

ter in your issue of June 2 that my letters on the

Russian situation do not give satisfaction. I am, as

a matter of fact, very much surprised myself that

my innocent and ingenuous inquiries are taken as

sarcastic.

Evidently I have not been sufficiently enthusiastic.

As Mr, Wilhelm says: "The results accomplished in

ten years are simply prodigious." So indeed it would

seem, The Russian people, promised "peace and

bread," gave up the liberty they had themselves

achieved. They submitted for ten years to war,

butchery, suppression and the revival of a tyranny

more rigorous than the Czar's; they went through

`ten years of famine, misery and privation, and now

they have attained at last-the point at which they

used to be! A marvelous achievement! "The pre-

war conditions have been reached!"

That is, if Mr. Wilhelm's statement is correct. It

is certainly modest. Some of your readers will re-

member that some two years ago an ardent support-

er of the Russian Government carried them off their

feet by his impassioned declaration that in some

lines the production in Russia had increased not two

per cent, nor four per cent, but two hundred and

forty per cent. (if he had said two thousand four

hundred per cent they would have raised the roof

with their cheers.) Now we are back to pre-war!

But if we are back even to pre-war, perhaps Mr.

Wilhelm will give me at least an answer to the ques:

tion I have been putting so persistently. In pre-war

conditions exported Russian grain fed about the half

of Europe. My question is now, Where's that wheat?

The Communist authorities boldly declare that the

wheat exportation now has risen to one twentieth

of the pre-war figures. Frankly, I am skeptical. Very

skeptical, I see that Kalinin himself admits the seri-

ousness of the shortage of bread in the cities. Mr.

Wilhelm knows, of course, that to save wheat no

white bread is allowed. Once again, Where's that

wheat?

I hasten to explain that I ask that question not

because I am an old farmer, interested in agricul-

ture, but because I am an "idealist," and therefore

interested first of all in grub. I know that I am an

"idealist" because whenever I ask that question I

get the answer, Bell is an Anarchist idealist.

If it were not that I am an "idealist" I would join

with Robert Whitaker and Upton Sinclair in urging

fellow radicals to "face the facts." I am afraid that

if I delay much longer about doing that, some coarse-

minded "realist" will come along and say straight

out, roughly and brutally, those things at which I

delicately hint.

Where's that wheat?

Terrie Bbalee

P. S.-Wasn't it fortunate that the Russian work-

ing men and farmers had the Bolsheviki to look after

them when the Czar gave up that job? It is quite

evident now that if they hadn't had the Bolsheviki

to feed them the poor Russian people would all have

starved to death.-T. H. B.

Stamp Tests Postal Ban

Notifying New York Postmaster Kiely that it is

mailing out envelopes bearing a new stamp reading,

"Protest Against the Marines in Nicaragua," the

Kmergency Committee on U. S. Policy in Nicaragua

this week announced another test of the Postoffice

Department's ban on envelope stickers demanding

Withdrawal of the American forces there.

Word was received from the Postmaster that the

matter is being referred to the solicitor for the Post-

office Department at Washington, If the postoffice

reaflirms its previous ruling the committee plans to

file suit in the Federal court at New York, with

Arthur Garfield Hays as its counsel, backed by the

American Civil Liberties Union.

The committee, organized a few months ago by

one Fellowship of Reconciliation, took up the issue

after the Federal court at New York threw out of

court the plea of the All America Anti-Imperialist

League to Set aside the Postoflice order barring its

Tee Against Marine Rule in Nicaragua,"

; - did not pass on the department's right

x woe ae to the stamp, refusing the plea

ind of the League's "falsehoods." The

hew stamp omits the word "rule," to which the

court '

objected, so that the issue may be confined to

the department's authority.

Profitless Prosperi

perity

By SCOTT NEARING

(Federated Press)

Poor duffers!' Wait till they wake up! They have

been dreaming a grand and glorious dream. The

alarm is already sounding, however. They must

come back to earth-and such an earth!

They are the Rotarians, Kiwanians, Babbitts, the

multitude of small scale, uninformed, misguided

American business men who have been whooping it

up during these last few years, and denouncing or

lynching those who did not whoop it up with them.

Whooping it up for what? For America, of course!

For the greatest, richest, most prosperous? For

God's own country.

Whooping it up is an art that keeps the whooper

busy-so busy that he is not always just sure what

he is whooping about. Are the tens of thousands

of Rotarians, all over the country, sure what they

are whooping about?

Here is a case in point. One of the "best" indus-

tries in recent years has been rubber. It was a new

industry. It expanded at a prodigious rate. It made

a few rich and led many to hope that they, too,

might make their pile in the business.

Now comes a wail from Lincoln C. Andrews, for-

mer assistant secretary of the United States Treas-

ury Department, who is director general of the newly

formed Rubber Institute.

"There seems to be no alternative to the continu-

ance of present unsatisfactory conditions, to the

`profitless prosperity' that seems to be your present

lot,' Andrews says. "In the presence of modern

mass production, competition between groups and

even between industries, hand to mouth buying, and

modern facilities for transportation, banking, and

communication, the old-time competitor standing

alone and without adequate and prompt information

as to his own trade data finds himself driven to

destructive competition and other desperate meas-

ures in order to keep his business going. He must

seek some form of relief."

What shall this relief be?

"To promote in the industry a mutual confidence

and high standard of business ethics; to eliminate

trade abuses; to promote sound economic business

customs and practices; to foster wholesome compe-

tition; to provide ultimately for individual efficient

business management operating independently an op-

portunity to do business with an adequate return,

and thus generally to promote the service of the in-

dustry to the public welfare."

Evidently Andrews has been to Sunday school or

to the Rotary Club.

Who are these worthy American citizens who pro-

pose to "promote the service of the industry to the

public welfare" as representatives of forty-one rub-

ber manufacturing concerns? H. 8S. Firestone of the

Firestone Tire and Rubber Co.; P. W. Litchfield,

toodyear Tire and Rubber Co.; C. B. Seger of the

U. S. Rubber Co.; J. D. Tew of the Goodrich Rubber

Co.; A. F. Townsend of the Manhattan Rubber Manu-

facturing Co,; F. C. Hood of the Hood Rubber Co.

and many more. Leading rubber manufacturers of

the United States have just formed a combine. `To

conceal its real character they have called it The

Rubber Institute, Inc. Further to hide the facts in

the case, they issue public statements in which they

assure the people that their object is service and

public welfare.

Turn a page of the same newspaper. "Business

failures increase in May." During the month there

were 1748 insolvencies in the United States, making

a total for the first flVe months of 1928 of 9483

failures.

Failures for May, 1928, were 4.5 per cent greater

than failures for April and eight per cent greater

than failures for May, 1927. But note that the lia-

bilities of failed concerns were ten per cent less in

May, 1928, than in May, 1927, and that liabilities of

the concerns failing the first five months of 1928

were thitty per cent less than liabilities of the firms

failing the first five months of 1927. In other words,

the little man is getting hit!

All lines of business are being rapidly concen-

trated in the hands of big concerns with virtual

monopolies and enormous profits, The unorganized

farmer, the unorganized worker and the unorganized

man, that is, the: masses of the

Andrews answers:

petty business

American people must pay the bill.

Could anyone except a Rotarian fail to see what

is going on in the business world? The big boys are

cleaning up. The little boys are going to the wall

at the rate of 1700 a month

What Makes Revolution

Andrew G. Pierce,

New Bedford, Mass.

Dear Sir:

Why, I ask, am I telegraphed to from Massachusetts

to California to help save the lives of people you are

forcing into starvation, you, who have declared divi-

dends of thirty-two per cent for the last five years,

and forty-three per cent for the five years previous?

And you also own another mill even more profit-

able. Do you do this infamous thing in defense of

capitalism, 100 per cent Americanism, Christianity,

or are you trying to foment a revolution? Revolu-

tions are made because of just such resistance to

the cries of the downtrodden, as you in your power

exercise over the lives of the workers who hand you

your dividends.

What can you men be thinking of to "kill the

goose that lays the golden egg?" Treat them right

and save your own soul.

Sincerely,

K.2C,.-G:

Wants People's Paper

Editor The Open Forum:

A timely suggestion was made by Lew Head at

the Socialist convention that we start a paper to

be published in the interest of truth and justice.

I suggest that it be called the People's Paper. Here

lies a chance to use their great power for their own

interest, the interest of the common good. Labor

has built this city and created its values. Labor

creates and supports its business. Why should

Labor support a corrupt and dishonest press that

caters only to the interest of the exploiting class?

The common people have all power if they will com-

bine to use it. What more effective way can they

use it than to establish and support a paper that

will stand for truth and justice and whose motto

will be "The Common Good." Now is the time to

start something that will spread throughout the na-

tion. Whether it succeeds or not will depend on

the honesty and integrity of its supporters. Its

foundation must be laid deep on the eternal prin-

ciples of justice between man and man.

R. GILHOUSEN.

Anti-Imperialist League

With representation from many organizations and

nationalities, headed by trade union delegates, the

Los Angeles Section, All America Anti-Imperialist

League, was launched at a conference June 16. Uni-

fied opposition to imperialist tactics in all suppressed

countries and vigorous protest against marine rule

in Nicaragua, the Havana Pan-American Conference

and the Morrow mission in Mexico were the burden

of the meeting... The League demands complete in-

dependence for the Philippines and the withdrawal

of all imperialist troops from China and Nicaragua.

Rapid growth of the section to include other anti-

militarist and anti-imperialist groups is anticipated.

The executive committee consists of Robert Whit-

aker, Mrs. S. M. Wexler, O. Phares, Mrs. H. D.

Prenter, D. Fradkin, F. Gagliasso, I. Brooks, Edith

Berkman and Attorney S. G. Pandit.

Picketing `Disorder'

g `Disord

Peaceful mass picketing is not "disorderly con:

duct" unless continued after police orders to stop,

the New York Court of Appeals decided on May 17

in cases arising from last year's fur strike. How-

ever, complaints of passersby that they are incon-

venienced by the presence of picketers may cause

irre-

mass picketing to be considered "disorderly,'

spective of what pickets actually do.

In cases of striking fur workers who walked four

abreast on a twelve-foot sidewalk, causing traffic

congestion, the court released those arrested with-

out warning, but upheld conviction of those who had

failed to `move on" when told,

Invocation

`Truth, be more precious to me than the eyes

Of happy love; burn hotter in my throat

Than passion, and possess me like my pride;

More sweet than freedom, more desired than joy,

More sacred than the pleasing of a friend.

-Max Hastman.

2

Well Really! B. A. F. Is

For Upholding Ideals

By LEW HEAD

Harry M. Haldeman, president of the Pacific Pipe

and Supply Company of Los Angeles, recently in-

dicted by the grand jury of Los Angeles County in

connection with the Julian Petroleum tragedy, is at

the present time, as far as my information goes,

also president of the Better-America Federation. He

is associated with about forty members of an execu-

tive board composed of manufacturers and business

men. Its purposes are said to be the "upholding of

our American civilization and fostering our Ameri-

can ideals."

Your first reaction to these purposes probably will

be akin to my own: God help civilization and Amer-

ican they depend for their upholding or

fostering upon such an organization as the Better-

America Federation. Your possibly, may be

that we do not usually expect to see a man indicted

for violation of the laws of his state at the head of

such an ultra-patriotic movement. However, you are

faced with that miserable spectacle-a man indicted

for a crime against society, executive officer of an

organization fostering ``our'" American ideals and up-

holding "our" civilization. `Our,' in this instance,

you will remember, refers to the members of the

Better-America Federation. We are just in

cluding, that among "their"

American civilization and ideals may be found viola-

tion of the laws of the State of California.

But there are other "ideals" this intensely pa-

triotic institution, under the leadership of a recently

indicted business man, supports, upholds and fosters.

Krom the best sources of information available,

among them being their own officers and investiga-

tors, I find the following facts listed in their proud

records:

ideals if

next,

con-

therefore, ideals of

Article One of the B. A. F. constitution shows its

purposes "to reawaken in America a realization of

the responsibilities of citizenship." Its president was

lately indicted, charged with violation of the laws

of California!

Article Seven reads: "To defend the right of pri-

vate property as the only practical incertive to the

full exercise of individual energy, skill and thrift."

Further on, the B. A. F. literature declares that the

conservation of property rights "should be the high-

est concern of every loyal citizen.' Mr. Haldeman

certainly conserved his own property rights when

he was indicted for usury, the acquirement really of

property to which he had no right under the law.

The article should have gone further and stated that

B. A. F. members should be protected in their right

to obtain unlawfully the property of others as well.

Among the board of directors of the B, A. F., whose

high privilege it is to protect property rights, we

find such names as the following: Reese Lewellyn,

iron manufacturer; John F. Craig, shipbuilder; Har-

old L. Arnold, automobiles; W. A. Barker, Barker

Brothers; P. N. Daggs, retired banker; C. P. Clark,

owner Clark Hotel; Charles Christie, iron and steel;

fh. C. Haskell, retired; George Hart, part owner Ross-

lyn Hotel, largest non-union hotel in the west;

Thomas Haverty, plumbers supplies; S. H. Hazzard,

-asadena Ice Company; A. V. Andrews, reactionary

attorney; Chester Brown, Union Oil Company; W.

G. Hisenmayer, Los Angeles Ice and Cold Storage

Company; W. H. Fairbanks, Southern California

Telephone Company; Dr. Milbank Johnson, Pacific

Mutual Life Insurance Company; Samuel A. Selover,

real estate; C. S. Swain, Whittier fruit grower, and

James Regan, famous flood control engineer. `There

are many others.

This list explains, in a

the federation on the matter of

The organization was formed in 1918 and almost im-

mediately entered politics. Its principal effort was

to hold the Los Angeles legislative delegation in its

grip. It maintained a powerful lobby at Sacramento,

It was especially interested in compulsory voting, a

large fortunes,

attitude of

property

measure, the

private

decrease in inheritance taxes on

amendment to the Community Property law, so that

it would not interfere with business. They were

also interested in killing the teachers' life tenure

bill, opposed to the Hornblower bill, prohibiting the

importation of strikebreakers. The federation tried,

at this time, to get the right to distribute its pub-

lication in the public schools of the state. The

State Board of Wducation declared at the time that

any school in California that permitted distribution

of Better-America Federation literature would be re-

fused state and county funds. The literature, it was

stated, involved a clear violation of the school laws.

Porters Take Green's

Advice to Cut Strike

CHICAGO.-(F.P.)-The national strike announced

by the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters for June

8 was postponed at the last minute to a better season

on advice of President Wm. Green, American Feder-

ation of Preparations had been made for

almost a year to use the strike weapon if all else

failed to win better wages and hours from the penny-

pinching Pullman Company.

The corporation was badly frightened. It had

made serious preparations to cope with the walkout

which had been voted by over 6000 of the brother-

hood's 73800 members, constituting seventy per cent

of employed Pullman porters and maids. Notices

were posted by the employer advising `loyal porters

to remain on the trains after their runs and go to

the yards, where they would be fed and bunked so

that no contact with union pickets would be neces:

sary." Hlaborate espionage had convinced the com-

pany that there would be a mass walkout and an

array of strikebreakers was ready for mobilization.

"We knew of fifteen stool pigeons in Chicago that

reported regularly to the company, though holding

membership in the brotherhood," says Western Or-

ganizer Milton P. Webster. "We were not afraid of

them and we saw to it that they got only such in-

formation as we wanted the company to have."

President Green's message followed failures of the

Federal rail mediation board to intervene to pre-

vent an emergency as construed under the Watson-

Parker law. `The brotherhood is not affiliated with

the A. F. of L., though it is desirous of joining.

Jurisdictional claims by the Hotel and Restaurant

Employes International Alliance shut the porters'

union out on the theory that a Pullman car is a

hotel on wheels.

Kdward F. Carry of the Pullman Company, who

refuses to pay his men more than $72.50 per month

of 400 hours, with slight additions for long service,

is the free-handed guy who admitted in the Chicago

Teapot Dome investigation this spring that he had

handed over chunks of cash to the Republican party

just about when Will Hays was peddling Sinclair's

liberty bonds. At that interesting time in Novem-

ber, 1928, Carry donated $5000. The year before he

had given $3000 and the year after $2000.

The Federal Government has always taken good

care of the Pullman Company in case of trouble. In

1894, President Grover Cleveland sent General Miles

with Federal troops to handle the Pullman strike

in Chicago, and Hugene V. Debs went to jail for six

months as a result.

Labor.

Yet, when the millionaire Pullman president was

asked by Senator Nye if he owned any liberty bonds,

he was ungrateful enough to reply, "No, sir; I can't

afford to own Governnient bonds."

An Absurd Law

In this state a married person cannot secure a

divorce if the other party to the marital contract is

incurably insane. This means that he or she cannot

have a home, husband or wife, or children, but must

remain tied to one practically dead for the balance

of his days. The result is a wrecked life or else an

unlawful existence under fear and trembling. Quite

justifiably, the average person ignores the law and

secures another companion, but at the expense of

1 aN

his desire to be a law-abiding citizen.-P.

Harry A. Chamberlain, Los Angeles legislator, in-

troduced a bill that was lost in the shuffle, in re-

Joard of Education's action, to the

that taught doctrines aimed

taliation for the

effect that any

to overthrow the Government should be denied state

school

funds.

The federation contested the King Tax bill bitter-

[yao

state in this fight.

Inman

was allied with the large corporations of the

President Haldeman was charged

by Senator spending sums of

money to defeat the bill and actually commanding

the Los Angeles county delegation's vote, Inman

attacked the federation seathingly and

without contradiction, that its

big business in control of the state, as' against the

with large

declared,

purpose was to put

rule of the people,

The federation stood solidly behind a bill to give

perpetual franchises to public utility corporations.

The bill wag not passed. The federation tried to

raise a fund of $20,000 to place the book, "Vanishing

Landmarks," in the public schools. Will C. Wood

stepped on the plan and it fell.

I will have considerably more to write about the

Better-America Federation in succeeding issues,

NEWS AND VIEWS

By P. D. NOEL

Congresswomen

The type of women now serving in the lower hoy

of Congress does not tend towards increasing {

number sent there. The main reason so far for gen)

ing them there seems to be that they are widoy

of men who were members. It is strange that,

working class district in San Francisco sends a rap}

Howey,

the adjoining district to the south is to have,

bright woman, a daughter of Cudahy, the Chicag)

packer, to contest the seat of Congressman Free ,

San Jose, who is in bad with organized Labor. Tho

the news comes that the daughter of W. J. Bryay,

a very capable woman, has won the nomination 9)

the Democratic ticket in Florida (which means ely

tion) from the man who now rattles around in op

of the seats that state.

oe * ok

Contradictory

Our son was graduated from Cal-Tech. Why

don't they call it the ending or finish? I wy

very favorably impressed with Millikan-his goo

voice, presence, language, learning and versatility,

An invocation to a personal god seemed out of pla

in a high class scientific institution. On the otho

hand, the preacher uttered many unorthodox sent)

ments, berating those who live in the past, and ey

having the nerve to speak of "Bolsheviks" in rather

a commendatory manner. A professor decried th

individual who devoted so much time to "his ow

petty soul" instead of to the many problems facity

the people as a whole. It was almost pathetic, sev:

ing this group of young men of more than ordinary

ability who have devoted four years of intense stud)

confronted with the job of looking for a maste),

The "honor men" will be exploited by the Edisoi

Company, the Westinghouse or General Electric peo

ple and other large corporations; others will be glal

to get jobs in filling stations or other phases

commercialism. Practically nothing was said 1cent

garding the obligation owed to society for the grea

advantages given.

reactionary in the person of Mrs. Kahn.

from

% Co oe

Judicial Abuse

The aviator, Crossan, who killed two children 0

the beach at Venice, has been finally acquitted after

three trials. His being turned loose was owing el:

tirely to a ruling of the Supreme Court that no testi:

mony was allowable to show the jury that he hal

been in the habit of swooping down to frighten pel

sons on the beach, just barely missing their heads

His defense that he was compelled to make a forcel

landing owing to the sudden stopping of his engille

had weight with the jury owing to the fact that ils

members had no knowledge of his dangerous, smal!

aleck stunts. Does it mean that we will have (0

resort to lynchings for a while in order to force oll

legislators and courts to adopt radical changes [0

the protection of the people from morons and cri

nals?

a o*

Oxnam Lands

It will be pleasant news to the friends of Bromley

Oxnam to know that he is the new president of D

Pauw University in Indiana. This is one of the olde!

institutions and has a good reputation. Here his

great abilities and very progressive mentality will

find an opportunity for impressing themselves 0

thousands of young minds. Thus will the efforts ol

the Times and the Better-American Mederation over

reach themselves, as they will have succeeded in

running him out of a rather restricted field here into

one of much greater scope.

Ef * ot

Changed Attitude

Radicals are apt to go to extremes.

to the fact that they recognize the tendency toward!

persecution by those in power. But in coming "

the defense of the weak they are apt to lose sigh!

you and m0x00B0

This is owls

of the necessity for protecting society

In an' article in a recent number of the Natlo!

on "Shall Police Torture Go?' the frustration )

justice is recognized in commenting on a report by

a committee of the New York Bar Association. The

unfair advantage given criminals under the plea thal

they might incriminate themselves if compelled {0

testify or answer questions is discussed. It goers

absurd that a jury is not allowed to take into 00!

sideration the fact that a defendant has such a poo!

vase that he refuses to take the stand in his ow!

defense. It is now being argued that an accuse!

should be compelled to answer questions regardill

the alleged offense, as the truth is all that is desirel