Open forum, vol. 8, no. 22 (May, 1931)

THE OPEN FORUM

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

-

Vol. 8

LOS ANGELES, CATAF., MAY 30, 1931

- First Hundred Years The Hardest

By GEORGE H. SHOAF

ESPITE the ignorance of the working classes

D and their apparent lack of courage, this is no

time for the friends of social progress to be ae

aged; rather is it a time for rejoicing and recommit-

ment by every radical student of economics to the

great work of education and organization. For we

are standing on the threshold of an era about which

poets sang, to which prophets pointed, and under

and above and around which shine the hopes of the

human race. Heir of all the ages, the period in

which we now live is the culmination of that section

of the social process known as the capitalist sys-

tem. The impending collapse of that system will

prove the open door to the grandest heritage of own-

ership and democracy and universal well-being this

world ever saw, provided the working classes are

prepared to realize their opportunity and assert their

will.

Why should the advocate of social change who

knows his Marx be discouraged? Did not that great

student of historical economics correctly analyze the

capitalist system, trace its development and prognos-

ticate its course? As his analysis is unassailable, is

not his prognosis an accurate reflection of events? Is

not the situation throughout the capitalist world to-

day about as he said it would be, although he wrote

and spoke seventy-five years ago?

On pages 836-7 of the first volume of CAPITAL,

Marx said:

"Along with the constantly diminishing number

of the magnates of capital, who usurp and monopo-

lize all the advantages of this process of transfor-

mation, grows the mass of misery, ennression, slav-

ery, degradation, exploitation; but with this too

grows the revolt of the working class, a class al-

ways increasing in numbers, and disciplined, united,

organized by the very mechanism of the process of

capitalist production itself. This monopoly of capital

becomes a fetter upon the mode of production. Cen-

tralization of the means of production and socializa-

tion of Labor at last reach a point where they be-

come incompatible with their capitalist integument.

This integument is burst asunder. The knell of capi-

talist private property sounds. The expropriators

are expropriated."

Not because Marx predicted it, but as a sequence

of the operation of social forces which he recognized

aU declared, the capitalist world today is wallowing

wt a dreadful mess. Students both of Marx and so-

cial evolution will bear witness to the fact that since

he wrote, especially in recent years, capitalism has

been hastening rapidly to the crisis which is now

national and international. Intelligent and farseeing

radicals anticipated present conditions. For years

they Preached in season and out that these condi-

lions were bound to come. They know that private

Ownership and unrestricted initiative inevitably led

deme that hell is here, why worry? Radi-

sa i a ed in their economics, are not WS:

ag ayes A Band, they welcome the present crisis

las ee to press upon the working

sieeae tive home the glaring facts of the class

Working ee to place upon the shoulders of the

dee fi. the obligation which is theirs to

homie eman oS historic mission of social and eco-

Clpation.

thames misery 18 agro bitterly acute in

hizwent at ae where capitalism has attained its

capitaliat ao In the most highly developed

ina a: lons wealth eQnceniration is greatest.

and the ee unemployment is most pronounced

exploited, In ers::on the job are the most severely

amelioration Ca pations measures looking to the

enacted and 0 Labor conditions are less likely to be

capitalist ne into effect. According to the law of

mergers wil NE opment, commercial and industrial

monopoly ee to the perfection of complete

Workers an alth will continue to concentrate, the

disinheritance san more impoverished until actual

the rich e Mk be their portion, and life both for

,~2euro Poor will become so tense that the

Situati ;

tila Will reach that stage where it will be in-

_ impossible,

Be aR eB

The present crisis illustrates the fact that the

philosophy of individualism is incongruous, that the

day of the small farmer and smaller business man

has gone, that never again can the worker by his

Own unaided efforts hope to rise from the ranks of

poverty to positions of comfort or affluence. The

present crisis, unrecognized by many, is stealthily

forcing the worker to identify his interests and his

destiny with those of his fellow workers as a class

-the working class-as opposed to the interests and

final fate of the owning or capitalist class. As the

situation develops, the workers, made desperate by

their plight, of necessity must and will unite as a

class, take the initiative as a class, fight their battles

as a class and as a class win the victory over capi-

talism.

Not since the radical movement began to make its

influence felt has the social process appeared more

favorable for the success of the radical cause. While

lamenting the terrible distress that has brought the

workers to their knees, radicals see in it the begin-

ning of the end of the capitalist system. Nowhere

have the beneficiaries of privilege advanced a rem-

edy for unemployment, nor can they. The problem

of the surplus product remains unsolved. Naked and

unashamed, the intellectual bankruptcy of the ruling

classes stands exposed in all its enfeeblement. Mon-

opoly of capital has become a fetter upon the mode

of production. Nationally and internationally, capi-

talism has almost reached a stalemate. Just what to

do is a problem apparently beyond the mental reach

of those now undertaking to solve it.

This day, more than ever before, is the day of edu-.

cation and organization. The brutal facts of the capi-

talist system, as experienced in the lives of the

working classes, constitute the most powerful and

appealing argument to which publicity can be given.

Never were the workers riper for education and or-

ganization. Never were educators and organizers

more needed than now.

Men and women of truth and vision, whose knowl-

edge of Marx enables them to analyze scientifically

and understand the forces which are operating to

bring about the disintegration and collapse of the

capitalist system, should shout with joy at the

course events are taking. They should value the

opportunity which is theirs to become the evangels

of the new social gospel and they should lose no

time in carrying that gospel to the suffering workers

of the world. The social crusade that is calling

them to its colors is mightier and more glorious than

that which sent the hosts of Christendom to Pales-

tine, and its effect upon the history and destiny of

mankind will prove far more epochal than any Voy-

age of discovery ever made. A new social order is

in gestation, preparing to be born, and the educa-

tors and organizers of the working classes, through

whose efforts the new order will be ushered in, will

become the grateful and gratified administrators at

its birth.

Wherefore friends of progress-revolutionaries-

be of good cheer. In social as in natural science it

is darkest just before the dawn. Lift up your heads,

strengthen your backbones, gird yourselves for the

fray. Rejoice and be glad-victory for the workers

of the world lies ahead!

The masters, even in the era of absolute power,

have always had recourse to lies about lofty motives,

religion, country, and the like, to cover their per-

sonal passions. But today the contrast is even more

glaring between the shameless cynicism of the

moneyed powers who actually run the state, and the

democratic fiction with its sublime phantoms of

right, justice, and liberty which these powers em-

ploy as their slogan and screen.-Romain Rolland.

Kindness guided by intelligence should rule the

world.-Ingersoll.

_ enarta i Q1Q he avi

No. 22

A.C. L. U. Hails Reversal

of Red Flag Conviction

Reversal by the United States Supreme Court on

May 18 of the conviction of Yetta Stromberg in the

California red flag case was hailed as a real victory

by Roger N. Baldwin, director of the American Civil

Liberties Union, which had joined with the Interna-

tional Labor Defense in supporting the Stromberg

appeal.

"The Supreme Court's decision strikes at the very

core of the California statute,' said Mr. Baldwin,

"when it finds that the first clause of that statute

`is repugnant to the guarantee of liberty contained

in the Fourteenth Amendment.' That clause for-

bids the display of any flag or banner `as a sign,

symbol or emblem of opposition to organized govern-

ment,' making that a felony even in the absence of

any overt act. In Yetta Stromberg's case, there was

no evidence that she, as director of a children's

camp, had ever advocated violence or overthrow of

government. She was convicted for displaying the

red emblem of the Communist Party, which also is

the flag of Soviet Russia.

"The majority opinion, written by Chief Justice

Hughes, said that `the court considered that it (the

first clause of the California law) might be construed

as embracing conduct which the State could not con-

stitutionally prohibit.'

"The high court's decision did not go so far as we

had hoped, but we feel that it will pave the way for

complete freedom in displaying any flag, and eventu-

ally lead to knocking out all anti-red flag laws in

the country.

"While the Stromberg case is the only prosecution

ever initiated under the California law since it was

tanno nf 5) x7 =

RV eRWUOUKN 24k RUA LER CMANlLUMUU UA Late A2aYY Liao pic

vented the red flag from being displayed, with the

exception of the Communist triangular emblem.

"Recognition of the basic evil in the California law

is evidenced by one passage in the Supreme Court

opinion, which says that `the maintenance of the op-

portunity for free political discussion to the end that

government may be responsive to the will of the peo-

ple and that changes may be obtained by lawful

means, an opportunity essential to the security of

the republic, is a fundamental principle of our con-

stitutional system."

Protest Against Alabama

Convictions Draws Crowd

Three thousand persons gathered on May 16 in

Frawley Circle, 110th street and Fifth avenue, New

York City, and heard six speakers assail the condi-

tions under which nine Negro boys were tried and

convicted in Scottsboro, Ala., for alleged criminal

attacks on two white girls who had been riding with

several white men in a freight car.

Prior to the meeting 300 Communists had marched

for three miles through Harlem carrying red ban-

ners and singing the Internationale. There was no

police interference. One hundred uniformed patrol-

men were present at the mass meeting, which was

addressed in Rumanian, Spanish, Finnish and Eng-

lish.

Similar protest meetings are being arranged by

the League of Struggle for Negro Rights and the In-

ternational Labor Defense in Buffalo, Cleveland, Chi-

cago, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, St.

Louis, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Minneapolis, Gary,

Ind., Rockford and Rock Island, Ill., and in various

communities in Southern coal fields. Mrs. Ada

Wright, mother of two of the convicted boys, will

speak at several of these meetings. A new trial is

demanded for the nine Negroes, who face death in

the electric chair July 10.

Faculty Fights Army Training

Discontinuance of compulsory military training at

Cornell University was urged upon the trustees on

May 14 by the University faculty, which voted, 81 to

38, On a motion to voice the protest. Cornell has

been one of the nation's principal centers of com-

pulsory army instruction. Discontinuance would af-

fect about 2,000 first and second year students.

-=)

Life In Old England

By Jack Carney

LONDON, April 27 (By Mail.)-Today I walked

around the docks of London. In the shipping office

there was one job going, but over two hundred men

were fighting for it. The lucky man is married,

with three children. He will be away from his home

and family for nearly nine months, during which

time his family must pay rent, secure food, clothing

and light on the sum of $7.50 per week. Lucky!

He was hysterical with happiness. One unlucky

worker said, when he watched him; "I bet he had to

pay for that job." Pay for the privilege of leaving

wife, children and home!

A few hours afterward the Chancellor of the Ex-

chequer, Philip Snowden, arose and made his report

for the financial year ending March 31, 1931. Mr.

Snowden, in a year of unparalleled depression, quot-

ing his own words, declares that they hope during

the coming year to save a considerable sum of

money, sufficient to wipe out the major portion of

a debt of $115,000,000. An economy committee will

revise all expenditures so that further saving may

be made. But the sailor sails on, risking his life,

so that his family of four may do some of the sav-

ing out of $7.50 per week.

Last week ex-King Anfonso arrived in London to

be welcomed by thousands of workers, mostly un-

employed. "Don't kick a man when he is down,"

declares a Liberal member of parliament. It is all

right to kick a man when he is down and out-but

not when he is down. Alfonso sacrificed thousands

of Spaniards in a mad Moroccan adventure. Thou-

sands of people have languished in Spanish jails be-

cause they dared to think for themselves. In Brit-

ish banks Anfonso has an estimated fortune of $20,-

000,000. Don't kick a man when he is down! `Trot-

sky cannot enter England, but Alfonso can. Trotsky

made men think, Alfonso jailed them for thinking.

So a "Labour" Government, that ought to be repub-

lican, welcomes Alfonso and keeps out Trotsky.

British police guard Alfonso day and night. Let a

worker linger outside the hotel where Alfonso is

staying and he is liable to be arrested as a sus-

pected person. England was once a refuge for men

like Lenin, Marx, Mazzini, Garibaldi, Kossuth and

others. Today it is a sanctuary for dethroned and

exiled kings. Weep over the woes of Alfonso with

his royal suite of thirty rooms, but don't shed your

tears for a woman with three children living in one

room, living for one week for the price of living in

a royal suite for one second!

Why is it, that in England with so many people

on the borderline of starvation, these things should

be? The social conditions ought to goad them into

revolt. Surely the increased infant mortality ought

to arouse the social consciousness of the masses!

Surely the daily event of men and women being

picked up in a state of collapse, due to starvation,

ought to move workers to action.

The action of the Spanish workers oon to find

response in the hearts of the workers everywhere.

In the city of London there has not been one meet-

ing held to celebrate the overthrow of King Alfonso

and the Bourbon regime. On the other hand King

Alfonso is welcomed by thousands of workers. The

failure to resort to action to wipe out social injus-

tice; the lack of response to the victory of the Span-

ish workers and the greetings tendered Alfonso are

evidence of the condition of mind obtaining in Brit-

ain. The people are having their attention drawn

from their own problems by the continual parading

of the royal family. The royal family provide the

glamor and the dope that holds back the masses of

Britain. When men gain the confidence of the work-

ers and are able to lead them they are destroyed,

so far as their influence is concerned, by the subdite

propaganda, emanating from the royal household.

What does the Prince of Wales care for A. J. Cook?

He spoke and dined with Cook. The next day the

capitalist press spread the story of the dinner over

its front pages. From that day you can mark the

beginning of the end of Cook as a Labor leader

who would lead. The workers lost their faith in

him. What can a worker think of Labor leaders in

gold-braided suits and plumes in their hats, and who

wear silk stockings? "Hell and Maria" Dawes re-

fuses to wear them, because he knew what political

capital would be made at home. But British Labor

leaders are not so mindful of the people. They

know them too well!

Until the caste system of Britain is fought and

overthrown it is idle to expect any profound social

change to take place. The Prince of Wales will

break a strike with his smile. If his father falis

sick the nation forgets its problems and waits out-

side of Buckingham Palace for the latest medical

bulletins.

It Shows What Can Be Done

By P. D. NOEL

The police have had easy sailing in their abuses of

the Communists and the unorganized workers who

have had the nerve to protest against slow starva-

tion. The local officials of the American Civil Liber-

ties Union have tried to make the mistreated men

and women use the line of least resistance by bring-

ing civil actions against Captain Hynes and others

who have abused their official positions. However,

nothing could be done with these Communists, who

stubbornly refused to appeal to the "capitalist"

courts for redress, though they were continually

spending money in defending themselves in these

same capitalistic criminal divisions of the courts.

Perhaps the results of a recent civil case in the Su-

perior Court of Judge Collier may open their eyes.

A short time before the Fourth of July a rather

nice-appearing woman secured a permit from the

city officials of Culver City to establish a stand to

sell fireworks. Soon afterwards the American Le-

gion post of that town decided that it could raise

enough money to build its own clubhouse by entering

the fireworks field and having a monopoly of the

business. Immediately pressure was brought against

the woman to get out, but she refused. Then began

official and other persecutions and threats. She was

arrested many times, under various subterfuges, bail

at first being moderate, but raised after each arrest

till it became prohibitery. Among the methods used

to ruin her business was having the street depart-

ment decide that the street needed grading, with

the result that it was torn up so as to prevent autos

from reaching her stand.

Being a woman of courage, she brought suit for

damages against various officials, policemen and

American Legion leaders. I heard some of the pro-

ceedings at the beginning of the case, and have

gotten details from many of the jury members.

Culver City has rather a hard reputation, and

many of its officials have been involved in graft and

other scandals, and recalls and elections have ex-

posed much rottenness. A sorry showing was made

by the defense, the jury being convinced by the

manner in which its witnesses contradicted them-

selves that perjury was being perpetrated and that

their stories. had not been"sufficiently rehearsed.

The usual hardboiled police methods have been

used outside of the court room. The plaintiff was

threatened every day, by letter, over the phone and

by actual approach on the street or in the court-

house corridors, that it would not be healthy for her

if she persisted in the case. Her attorneys received

the same threats, though not so often.

The verdict of the jury was a judgment against

four of the city officials and a leader of the Legion

for $29,000. This shows what can be done, even

against powerful influences.

The farm board is now selling a lot of wheat in

Europe at the loss of a tidy sum per bushel. This

is constructive statesmanship, though some ig-

norant foreigners can hardly tell it from dumping.

-The New Yorker.

Capitalism increases itself out of the produce of

the people until they are too poor to buy what they

produce.-Prof. G. D. Herron.

British radicals treat the question of the royalty

rather lightly, too lightly. To them it is a minor

affair, but as one who meets with the workers,

mostly the unemployed, it is an important matter.

In Spanish bull fights they use a scarlet flag to side-

track the bull. In Britain they use the royalty.

Civil liberties in Britain are fast disappearing.

Labor politics have progressed trom the soapbox

stage to the drawing room. Unemployed workers

are ruthlessly batoned, speakers are jailed, ete. No

protests. The policeman rules with real authority

because the workers accept his challenges without -

question. The result is that a wave of cynicism

strikes the country and affects everybody. Social

injustices are but the medium of supplying wise-

cracks. Until the workers regain their determina-

tion to submit to no abridgement of their rights to

say what they like, when they like and where they

like there can be little hope for progress. The men

or women who accept any abridgement of their civil

liberties without protest will make poor material for

bringing about any social changes. Britain needs

men who will talk with the masses and be of the

masses.

backs ae eraliigs down to them.

`members of the House.

There are too many climbing on their

NEWS AND VIEWS

By P. D. NOEL

Spelling

The talk of Senator Sorsiet of Montand at the

annual meeting of the Municipal League was MOsi

informative regarding the machinations of the poy

trust. Of especial interest was his account of hoy

the great Muscle Shoals project has been jugelg

and wasted. Which reminds us that the name pro,

erly is Mussel Shoals, after the numerous fre,

water bivalves which abound there. But, some pj,

wit clerk spelled it "Muscle" in typewriting the Orig.

inal bill, and that is the way it was passed by 0,

gress.

The Red Baiters

The remarkable victory of John Beardsley in cay.

ing the United States Supreme Court to rebuke th

lower courts in the Stromberg case is Causing tl

American Legion and other professional patriots

froth at the mouth. The Times quotes numerous of

ficials of Legion posts in the vicinity of Redland

demanding further prosecution of Miss Strombey

and all kinds of additional restrictive laws. By the

way, the letter in the Open Forum of a few week

ago by the president of the City Club in answer ti

one to him by Mrs. Gartz is worth preserving {o)

posterity as a good sample of present day ravings of

our ruling classes. Anyone knowing the esteemol

Mr. Stevens and his round head will doubt if he con

posed it himself. It reads like the handiwork of

Leroy Smith of the Bitter America Federation.

Compulsory Voting

In a democracy such as ours it is very desirable

that all citizens express themselves at elections, s

that it may be known what is the will of the people,

stupid as it may be. At our recent primary only 3)

per cent of the registered voters went to the polls,

which, recognizing the fact that many thousand

never register, means that probably only 10 per cent

of the adult population made the decisions. Some

sort of a poll tax on those who do not vote woull

seem to be the logical and efficient method of abut:

ing this great evil.

Giant Women he

Some time ago this column sommes sarcas:

tically upon some self-appointed group which had al:

nounced its choice of the ten greatest living womel,

in which Mrs. Coolidge shone. Now comes. Joli

Haynes Holmes with ten who really appeal to ot

as being outstanding, and not representing mail)

the mentally bankrupt ruling classes and their syct

phantic intellectual following. It seems eminettl)

fair that he includes two such persecuted leaders at

thought and works as Emma Goldman and Margattl

Sanger.

Birth Control

- The average American is willing to let the othe

fellow have any kind of a religious belief that lt

wishes, and is slow to object when that dogma il

terferes in secular affairs. However, the ardent I

sition taken by the Catholic Church against bili

control is forcing an alignment which may meal!

much needed fight to a finish. The Birth Cont!

Review for April has a very frank article on the

hearing before a committee of the legislature 0!

bill permitting greater liberty to physicians in #

ing contraceptive advice. The proponents We"

practically all of the leaders in social petterment

the `state, including the Massachusetts divisions 0

the National Civic Federation and the Federatiol?

Ghurches. The opposition was entirely Cathal

More than a thousand opponents jammed the hal

where the hearing was held, and a "tumultuous fol

of Irish oratory and Catholic demagoguery" *"

ceeded in confusing, cajoling and brow- -beating | th

committee into killing the bill. I have no object!"

to churches entering on public activities, but I

them take their medicine when opposition als*

and not whine about "religious persecution."

To End Race Discrimination

Theater managers or employees discrimi

against any Negro patron may be fined $100 t0 i

for each offense, under a bill passed on May 18M

the Pennsylvania Assembly, the vote being 116 tom

The bill now goes to the Senate. It was introdu0x2122

by Representative Fuller, one of the two Nest

Negroes are not speciticl!

mentioned in the measure, which would penalife(R)

crimination against any race or color, but the Nes

tint

has been the chief sufferer on this score ip Be

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FROM VARIED VIEWPOINTS

Reply to Anthropologist

Editor The Open Forum: :

Quite apart from denoemenp or disagreement with

jtg arguments it must be Dee ae Ke any

radical to read Dr. Leslie A. iene Ss ae in your

issue of May 9. It shows that in spite of all the

joud talk we hear, a professor can ee speak

out in plain English what he believes to oe

truth, however rough it may we upon capitalism,

upon those in power and possession. ;

I do not agree with him. I mean, in Bay UnEns

new or of much importance. What he says in ae

fense of Morgan is well said; Morgan was a bril-

liant, bold and original man, and a man ne mercy

makes a bad mistake, never makes anything strik-

ingly new and valuable.

I do not agree with him that "The oe

significance of the Russian Revolution lies in the

fact that it ushered into the world a social order

which is an evolutionary sequence of capitalist -

ciety." A great part of his article was taken up in

telling us how modern capitalism is evolving, how

capitalism can exist only so long as it can exploit

fresh markets, etc., that the margin upon which cap-

italism has been operating is rapidly diminishing

and must soon disappear, that collapse is inevitable,

etc, etc." Naturally after reading all that we expect

him to show us that the Russian Revolution was the

result of these factors. But he didn't; he couldn't;

it wasn't. Russia was not one of the great indus-

trial countries competing for world markets, gasp-

ing for more of them. In Russia capitalism was just

coming into existence and was.yet far from coming

into power. The bourgeois there had not yet per-

formed that feat of which he gives us so much his-

tory; they had not yet displaced the old feudal

order; they were still completely under the domina-

tion of the Czar, his grand dukes, his bureaucrats,

his generals, his nobility, his officers. The evolution

of capitalism, alas for the professor's fine article,

was not at all the cause of the revolution there. It

started in Russia as in France, as a sort of Eastern

Edition of the French Revolution, as the revolt of a

people, without: regard to class, against tyranny,

corruption and hopeless incompetence. Nothing to

do with the struggle for markets.

So in spite of the professor I maintain that "the

Revolution was peculiarly Russian." Just that. And

that the Bolshevik dictatorship and the attempted

Marxizing of the country is "an experiment." It is

just such an experiment as, for instance, one of

these Socialist or Communist colonies which were

tried out on exactly the same lines. They were al-

Ways sure to succeed, they could not possibly fail,

in spite of the srumblers they were always flourish-

ing magnificently-till they blew up! The difference

is only in the size and in the fact that it is not

being tried out only by those who believe in it and

are free to leave when they grow too thoroughly

disgusted, but it is being tried out at the expense of

the suffering people of Russia, none of whom are

allowed to leave lest they should tell too much, none

of whom are allowed to grumble on pain of being

Stabbed and gent. off without trial to the northern

forests or the Siberian wastes. ;

T'remain therefore hopeful still that the rise of

the workers to power when it happens need not be

a Tegression to barbarism and brutality but may be

4 Step forward in liberty and humanity.

Tt Ee BEBE.

Three Years Are Too Much

or The Open Forum:

Last week J wrote you a letter in which I begged

ee Bell to allow Soviet Russia three years in

ara to learn to run a tractor plant. This week I

fe mar to be able to take it back, as I find that

wae ie Sufficient, The following is a statement

Nd in last Sunday's New York Times Mos-

Bait

co ] ,

| WV dispatch by Walter Duranty, dated May 14:

ee ere tractor plant has reached the

Machines or'its present stage of development-sixty

ing than as day. Nothing could be more mislead-

the plant: 4 condemn Stalingrad as a failure because

Yearly shen Supposed to produce 50,000 machines

1500 a _ has hitherto produced no more than

the Sitiidees f Like all new plants in any country

halt its ean Plant is scheduled to produce only

Probably en ae the first year of operation. It

Months, it : i BOK Teach that, but now, after ten

is g rata, beginning to run satisfactorily, which

Conditions " able achievement, considering Russian

ne UPTON SINCLAIR.

all facts up to date.

We welcome communications from our read-

ers for this page. But to be acceptable letters

must be pointed and brief-not over 500 words,

and if they are 400 or less they will stand a

better show of publication. Also they must be

typewritten-our printers can't take time to de

cipher hieroglyphics.

Book Review

THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE, by Sir James

Jeans, The Macmillan Co., New York, $2.25.

This well-named book should be read only when

one's mind is most alert and freest from distrac-

tions. The author has tried to popularize science,

but his arguments are necessarily abstruse and the

layman can follow him through the mazes of this

strange universe only by means of the most careful

concentration. Jeans unfolds the marvels and the

mysteries of the universe by discussing first "The

Dying Sun'; then "The New World of Modern

Physics," "Matter and Radiation,' "Relativity and

the Ether,' and finally leads us "Into the Deep

Waters," where he turns philosopher.

Science during the past thirty years, he says, has

swung from a mechanical to a non-mechanical ex-

planation of the universe. "Today there is a wide

measure of agreement, which on the physical side

of science approaches almost to unanimity, that the

stream of knowledge is heading towards a non-me-

chanical reality; the universe begins to look more

like a great thought than like a great machine. Mind

no longer appears as an accidental intruder into the

realm of matter; we are beginning to suspect that

we ought rather to hail it as the creator and goy-

ernor of the realm of matter-not of course our in-

dividual minds, but the mind in which the atoms

out of which our individual minds have grown exist

as thoughts." That will be heartening to the Berk-

eleyian idealists.

But it is still a mysterious universe, he reminds

us as he comes near the end of the book. Science

cannot be too dogmatic in its conclusions: "Every-

Thoreau Went to Jail

Frederick Woellner,

University California,

Los Angeles, Calif.

Dear Sir: :

You go far afield when you attribute the protest

of the University students against compulsory mili-

tary training to "Mencken cynicism." They prob-

ably never heard of Mencken, but they have heard

that students of an earlier class gave their lives to

settle the war question forever.

You also criticize the Methodist ministers who side

with the boys in their protest against militarism

infesting our schools. You characterize their stand

as "rotten," and themselves as pacifists! As if

preachers of the gospel could or should be anything

else. And yet you say you uphold the church!.

If the legislature is responsible for such a law,

perhaps you may remember that men have gone to.

jail for breaking unjust laws-Thoreau for instance.

The State has no right to force men back to bar-

barism, especially now that it has promised us that

we need never fight again.

To you, war means progress; to thinking people

a continuation of it means the end of progress and

civilization. You certainly are not a proper person

to talk about "respect and reverence for American

ideals." Just what are these ideals that a rampant

warrior like yourself needs to defend them against

young idealists who believe in a better way?

-K. C. G.

Why Not Be the Leader?

Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles, Calif.

Gentlemen:

In your editorial today (May 20) you seem to ap-

prove "war burdens for all" and advocate that all

other nations be induced to adopt the method sug-

gested by General MacArthur, that of mobilizing men

and money for the next war, which never can come

if governments live up to their promises and keep

their agreements. What a stupid and expensive ges-

ture, simply to frighten each other! Haven't we yet

thing that has been said, and every conclusion that

has been tentatively put forward, is quite frankly

speculative and uncertain. ... We cannot claim to

have discerned more than a very faint glimmer or

light at the best; perhaps it was wholly illusory, for

certainly we had to strain our eyes very hard to see

anything at all. "This will not please the dog-

matists but it reveals the humble, teachable mind of

one of the greatest living investigators and search-

ers after truth." Cece.

bill to Register All Aliens

Pushed Through Legislature

Word was received by the Civil Liberties Union

on May 19 that a bill providing for registration of

all aliens had been quietly rushed through both

houses of the Michigan legislature, without publicity

and without any opportunity for public hearing on

the issues of civil rights involved.

Immediately a telegram of protest was sent to

Gov. Wilbur M. Brucker by Forrest Bailey, director

of the Union, urging the executive to refuse his sig-

nature to the registration bill. "This measure," Mr.

Bailey's message declared, "would facilitate discrim-

inatory treatment of a class already subject to har-

assment and persecution by police and Federal

agents. It would besides be a source of annoyance

to citizens, especially naturalized citizens, and would

be a step in the direction of registration for all. On

these grounds Congress has thus far rejected pro-

posals for registration under Federal auspices."

New Mooney-Billings Pamphlet

We have just received a supply of the new pam-

phlets issued by the National Mooney-Billings Com-

mittee, entitled "The Scandal of Mooney and Bil-

lings." It-is by far the most able and comprehensive

pamphlet yet issued on this famous case. Its sixty-

four pages contain the decisions of the California

Supreme Court (including the dissenting opinion of

Justice Langdon), the Advisory Pardon Board's re-

port, cuts of the two prisoners and of several other

prominent personages connected with the case, and

Send 15 cents for a copy of it

postpaid. Address American Civil Liberties Union,

1022 California Bldg., Los Angeles.

fearued that the way to get rid of war as a method

of national policy is to get rid of the habliments of

war? Why continue to Squander money on useless,

outworn, outgrown and outlawed methods to settle

disputes between nations-now that we are sup-

posed to have reached a state of enlightenment

wherein murdering men does not settle an argu-

ment? -

If General MacArthur really hates war, let him

find a way out, without building up an army and

navy just to scare the rest of the world. The rest

of the world is just as anxious to get rid of the

incubus of war as we are. Why not be the leader?

The money saved for constructive purposes would

provide food, clothing and shelter for everybody, set-

ting him free to work out his own Salvation. Why

NOE try it? -K. C. G.

The Courage of Peace

Henry M. James,

Pasadena Evening Post.

Pasadena, Calif.

Dear Sir:

Just why you consider a pacifist "insane" and "dis-

loyal" is beyond understanding. Gandhi is a pacifist.

Is he disloyal? Cowardice is not in the makeup of

such men. They have the courage to stand out

against murdering their brothers for some stupid

political or economic question. Let us arm, if you

will, against thieves, highwaymen and kidnappers,

but war against the "flower" of all nations is quite

another story. That old argument about locking

doors at night is no argument at all applied to great

nations slaughtering each other's people by the mil-

lions, not even knowing the reason, as happened in

the late, last. war... We were told it was to end war

forever; to make the world safe for democracy. Have

we done this, after such an orgy of squandering?

And yet you want more of it!

Let our strength live in our mad rush to deal

justly with all dwellers on earth, then no man will

want to attack us, and our "benign" influence will

extend to the ends of the earth. Pacifists are the

only friends of peace. If "alien propaganda" played

any part in their making, let us be thankful to such

propaganda. hCG

Increased means and increased leisure are the

two civilizers of men.-Disraeli,

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

Clinton J. Taft Editor

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

i Upton Sinclair Kate Crane Gartz

Doremus Scudder

Leo Gallagher Ethelwyn Mills P. D. Noel

Lew. Head

John Beardsley

Edwin P. Ryland

John Packard Charlotte Dantzig

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. 18, 1924, at the

post office of Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 8, 1879.

LOS ANGELES, CALIF., MAY 30, 1931

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.

Write the Governor Now!

Within a few days a petition will be pre-

sented to Governor Rolph asking for the par-

don of Tom Mooney. It will help greatly if

the friends of Tom everywhere will write the

Governor urging an unconditional pardon. You

have helped before. Perhaps you are now tired

and discouraged about getting justice for

__Mooney. But please do this one more thing.

Just deluge Governor James Rolph, Sacra-

mento, Calif., with thousands of letters, show-

ing that public interest in this famous case is

not dead nor dying. -C. J. T.

A petition to Governor Rolph in behalf of

Tom Mooney and Warren Billings is now being

circulated widely throughout California. Have

you signed it? If not drop into the office of the

American Civil Liberties Union, 1022 California

Building, and put your name to it. Better still,

come in and get a petition to circulate among

your friends.

Colum's "Balloon" at Potboiler

The Potboiler Theatre is offering Padriac Colum's

four-act fantasy, "Balloon," this week at the Theatre

Mart, 605 Juanita St., Los Angeles. The play opened

last Tuesday night and will be presented tonight

~ (May 30) for the last time. Elaborate settings have

been produced. Thirty-two actors form the :cast, di-

rected by Ole M. Ness. The play expresses the con-

' fiet between high aspirations and hard facts.

Berlin

| Paris

New York

Acclaim

"STORM OVER ASIA"

Produced by Mejrabpomfilm of Moscow

Will be shown in Los Angeles Wednesday and

Thursday Evenings, June 3 and 4, at

T.-Vv. G. Auditorium, 936 W. Washington

Continuous showing 7-11 Admission 35cent

Habeas Corpus Writ Delays

Chinese Youth Deportation

Deportation of Tao-Hsuan Li, anti-imperialist Chi-

nese student at New York University, which was

scheduled for May 15, has been delayed by a writ of

habeas corpus, obtained from United States District

Judge John M. Woolsey in New York City. Isaac

Shorr, attorney for the International Labor Defense,

asked the court to sign an order requiring the De-

partment of Labor to permit Li to go to Russia, de-

claring that if he were deported to China he would

be executed .for his Communist activities.

Judge Woolsey took the motion under advisement

on May 19. He said he deemed it "silly for a man

who wants to overthrow this court to come to this

court to seek protection." But, in commenting on the

1929 immigration law, the judge said: "This law

was meant for a final divorce and not merely a

separation between ourselves and a person we con-

sider an undesirable alien. Perhaps, if it means a

definite exclusion, it won't make any difference one

way or the other whether he goes to China or Rus-

sia. Certainly we don't want to send this poor chap

to death."

Li is a Boxer Indemnity Scholarship student. On

May 15 he surrendered himself for deportation at

the Barge Office in Battery Park. One hundred and

fifty Communists were already there and staged a

protest with impromptu speeches. Fifteen policemen

broke up the meeting, using clubs on the heads of

those who were slow to move. Several women were

knocked down. A newspaper photographer's camera

was smashed and he was arrested by mistake for a

Communist.

Prof. John Dewey of Columbia University wrote

Secretary of Labor Doak asking that Li be permitted

to leave the country voluntarily. A like request was

made in a telegram from nine members of the New

York University faculty.

"Transport of Fire" Here

"Transport of Fire," an outstanding Russian ci-

nema with strong dramatic situations and swiftly

moving action, opened May 29 at the Filmarte Thea-

tre in Hollywood. The story is strikingly presented,

centering on a few of the events that made the year

1905 of such historical significance in Russia, and

the cast, headed by Gleb Kuznetzov, offers excel-

lent characterizations.

Alexander Ivanoff, director, introduces innumer-

able types that help build up the background, and

~ each face that flashes across the screen leaves its

imprint on the drama, so well has it been chosen to

represent a certain idea or emotion.

As is usually the case with Russian films, the

photography wins special praise, and Alexander

Gintzboorg at the camera offers some fine pictorial

views of whirling snow in desolate steppes and of

Moscow in darkness. "Transport of Fire" takes its

place among the artistic achievements of the screen.

Hard Times Offer

Because of the continued financial depression

we are going to make you a very special offer

-_THE OPEN FORUM eight months to new

subscribers for only fifty cents. Get busy and

flood us with new subscriptions.

THE OPEN FORUM

1022 California Bldg.

Los Angeles

FILMARTE THEATRE

1228 Vine Street-Hollywood

Beginning Friday, May 29

BRILLIANT RUSSIAN CINEMA

e 99

"Transport of Fire

SILENT DRAMA OF FAST ACTION

Directed by Alexander Ivanoff

Los Angeles

OPEN FORUM

Music Art Hall

233 So. Broadway

Come at 7:30 if you would not miss the tremen

dously interesting and instructive talks on curren}

events with which the meetings are opened each

week by Prof. Arthur E. Briggs.

May 31-THE REVOLUTION IN RUSSIA AND Iy

INDIA, by 8S. G. Pandit, brilliant Hindu lawyer, who

has addressed our Forum on several former occasions,

He will show the relationship between the revolution

now going on in his native land under Gandhi andj

the revolution in the land of the Soviets.

June 7-"WHY THE SOVIET GOVERNMENT Js

OPPOSED TO THE CHURCH," by Martin fF

Charles of Oakland. Russia's attitude toward re

ligion has caused no little criticism in this country

and elsewhere. Why has she taken such a stand'?

Mr. Charles will attempt to explain the situation and

show how tenable is her position.

June 14-ONE-ACT PLAY, by Harbor Allen, "Mr,

God Is Not In," will be presented by the Rebel

Players. There will be an address by `Mother'

Bloor on "The Imperial Valley Case." It is a year

since the prisoners were sent to San Quentin and

Folsom. 25 cents admission.

Emergency Dental Laboratory

Plates Repaired While You Wait

Plates Repolished

D. G. Nadaner, Mgr. 202!4, S. Broadway

INSURANCE

Fire and Automobile

Best Board Companies

P. D. NOEL

301 WEST AVENUE 43 GArfleld 4336

on

SIDNEY L. JANOW

Tel. TUcker 6789

A working jeweler, a confidence-inspiring man

to whom you may entrust all your jewelry

needs, be it the purchase of an expensive

diamond, an insignificant repair job or en

graving.

611 Jewelers Bldg. 747 So. Hill St

Coming Events

LOS ANGELES BRANCH of the lL. W. W. #

Bryson Building, free reading room open evel)

day; business meeting every Tuesday, 7:30 P.M.

MOONEY-BILLINGS BRANCH, I. L. D., pusinel!

and educational meetings every first and third

Tuesday, at 120 Winston Street.

FREE WORKERS' FORUM, lectures and discut

sion every Monday night at 8 o'clock, Libertarl#!

Center, 2528 Brooklyn Avenue; dance and entertall

ment last Saturday in month.

SOCIALIST PARTY, headquarters 429-30 Dousl!

Building. Telephone MUtual 7871. Offices open 4

day. Young Socialist League meets every Wednee

day night. NEW ERA, local Socialist paper, g1.(l

per year.

_-_--

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