Open forum, vol. 9, no. 52 (December, 1932)

THE OPEN FORUM

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

Vol, 9

DECEMBER 24, 1932, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

No. 52

By Grorce H. SHoar

jatriots, which masquerades under the

high-sounding name of the Better

Anerica Federation, was projected ostensi-

iy to "Americanize"' foreigners, induce

ienative-born to become more attached to

"Mmerican'" institutions, and promote

`"onstitutionalism"' among all citizens who

jyear allegiance to the American flag.

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B. A.F. UNMASKED

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Tp organization of self-constituted

tually, the organization has operated to

jot every alien whom it thought un-

isirable, make union Labor a thing to be

`med by the working class, and fasten

yon this country that importation from

aistic Russia-the infamous criminal

yndicalism. law.

v

"Besides fighting the right of labor to or-

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mize for higher wages and better condi-

`ins of life, the Better America Federa-

im, in recent years, has. concentrated all

batteries in a general assault upon the

fomng sentiment for common ownership

id democratic control in the United

`ates, While the forces of liberalism are

ilvays its hostile objective, its particular

get of attack is the Communist' party.

Imphatically, the immediate and _ ulti-

ine purpose of the Better America Fed-

tution is to maintain the status quo. "My

lmiy Right or Wrong' is its boasted

wan. An army strong enough to sup-

es domestic revolt against plutocratic

mmy, and a navy sufficiently powerful

denforee American commercial exactions

`anst weaker nations, are among its

ie demands. Whatever the ruling rich

`ste in the nature of special privilege,

`a, the Better America Federation labors

itcure. The aspirations of the working

"is, at home or abroad, always are laugh-

or ee Rin acyely opposed. Le

ally, the outstanding sponsors o e

`ter America Federation ia and always

`ie been, the most notorious champions of

Mi en shop. Their policy for the work-

ie one of low wages, long hours and

ferent conditions of toil. Despite their

peations of patriotism, their real ob-

hi ves the establishment of a Fascist dic-

ae in this country under which the

ie mt be ground beneath the heel

he `uing class more completely than

h / Poe pny group or eae

ti 0 ae y h the eet were

tien S denounced by the Better

ie ederation as a public enemy to

| cuted and prosecuted.

iy ee yee the organization of sim-

ner lents elsewhere, the Better

ting : ederation came into existence

lV euro hectic days following the World

thet e disturbed state of the country

linn me due to the return of the soldiers

teasire cf, Seemingly warranted unusual

leg ie Prisons and penitentiaries were

J ingt Ith political prisoners. The exter-

lds of the Industrial Workers of the

Huey Was ruthlessly carried out. The

West Federation of Labor was given to

be db at its tenure depended upon

Move 1. avior. Enforcement of the es-

tinal pS Virtually nullified the consti-

wn slarantees of free assemblage and

ih, For once in the history of the

Dublie aie :

" COnscientious objectors to tyranny

Teta i

Nene `need, and plutocracy reigned su-

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0s :

h iygeeeles, historically and hysterical-

`dbp S WAS an infertile field for union

Oy oy

by hig litical propaganda. The reason

Mi ang th Cund in its geographical loca-

euro character of its citizenry. At

no time before the World War was it ever

a manufacturing or industrial center. Its

population came largely from the southern

and mid-western states. Its commercial

and financial leaders were men bent on

growing rich regardless of the common

good. Their opportunity for acquiring

wealth consisted in exploiting the resources

of the region, which were climate and real

estate.

vertising they succeeded in luring to Los

Angeles immense hordes of eastern tourists

who came, saw and bought. The majority

of these newcomers were individualistically

inclined small-town people who brought

with them their restricted outlook and

small-town psychology. When the business

leaders announced their opposition to union

Labor and radical politics, quite naturally

the announcement met the approval of

many of the newcomers as well as the old-

timers.

During the World War, and subsequent-

ly; many industrial enterprises were es-

tablished in and near Los Angeles. Cheap

power and cheap labor were the induce-

ments which led to the establishment of

these industries. In fact, it was noisily ad-

vertised throughout the country that be-

cause of the emasculation of the Los An-

geles Labor movement, manufacturers could

turn out products here more cheaply than

anywhere else in the United States. To see

to it that the local Labor movement should.

remain emasculated and powerless, and to

prevent, if possible, the formation and op-

eration of any movement inimical to the in-

terests of the employing classes, the Bet-

ter America Federation was conceived and

born. The principal mouthpiece .of the

Federation from the beginning has been,

and is, The Los Angeles Times, although

the Federation issues a monthly bulletin to

its membership.

With the organization of the Communist

party in Los Angeles, the Federation grew

exceedingly active. It realized that the Com-

munist party was a distinct menace to the

rule of the exploiting classes. In its attack

upon Communism it played upon the pre-

judices of the multitude by exaggerating

the atheism of Communist leaders, and de-

claring that a Communist victory would be

equivalent to the annihilation of Almighty

God. It retailed the story fabricated by the

eastern capitalist press to the effect that in

Soviet Russia women were the common

property of men. Every yarn emanating

from the lie-factories of Riga and Warsaw,

adverse to the success of the Soviet experi-

ment, it published and advertised with glee.

In order to execute its mandates against the

local Communist movement it sponsored

the organization of the Red Squad.

That the position respecting God and

womankind, taken by the Better America

Federation, is insincere and hypocritical is

evident from the fact that its preachments

are never directed against purely atheistic

movements in Los Angeles, and the loose

women in the community are never the ob-

ject of its moral solicitude. Itis a matter of

common knowledge that many of the spon-

sors and backers of the Federation have

as little faith in the existence of a God as

have the leadership of the Communist

party, and the private lives of many Feder-

ation members reveal that they are not

averse to having a community interest in

their `"`kept'? women.

(Continued on Page 2)

By judicious and unscrupulous ad-.

"Degradation" of Matt Sullivan

Denounced by Rabbi S. S. Wise

New York City, Dec. 12-Matt I. Sulli-

van, former judge of the California Su-

preme Court, is characterized as "a symbol

of the degradation to which men may fall

when they forswear reason and con-

science," in an open letter to him by Rabbi

Stephen 8. Wise of New York, one of the

fifteen signers of the recent protest against

Sullivan's advisory report to Gov. James

Rolph, Jr. in the Mooney-Billings case. Dr.

Wise's communication to the ex-jurist was

made public today through the American

Civil Liberties Union, which sent the origin-

al letter to Judge Sullivan.

"The case, we concede, should never

have been submitted to you," Rabbi Wise

declares. `Our quarrel must be with Gov-

ernor Rolph, who entrusted so great a re-

sponsibility to one as unjudicial as you have

proven yourself to be. In truth you did

not report on the Mooney case. You did

nothing more than recapitulate the biases

and prejudices and passions which have

been accumulating under the regime of

lawlessness in your community."'

Dr. Wise is rabbi of the Free Synagogue

of New York City, which he founded. He

was pastor of the Beth Israel congregation in

Portland, Ore., from 1900 to 1906, founded

the Oregon State Conference of Charities

and Correction, and served as a member of

the Oregon Child Labor Gommission.

The complete text_of Rabbi Wise's letter _

follows: :

"The San Francisco Daily News of No-

vember 28 quotes you in the following

terms: `I am too old a man to be reading

any more Mooney reports. I won't read

this latest attack.' You thus say of your-

self, `I am too old a man to be reading any

more Mooney reports.' We have known

that for some time. We tried to indicate in

our earlier statement that you could not

with intelligence and without prejudice

have read the documents submitted to you

by the Governor of California in the Moon-

ey case.

"We have no quarrel with you, a bitterly

vindictive `old man,' lacking the decency

squarely to face the issues of a case which

involves the honor of your State and of

the nation, a case which is at the center of

the world's moral interest. The case, we

concede, should never have been submitted

to you. Our quarrel must be with Governor

Rolph, who entrusted so great a responsi-

bility to one as unjudicial as you have

proven yourself to be. In truth you did

not report on the Mooney case. You did

nothing more than recapitulate the biases

and prejudices and passions which have

been accumulating under the regime of

lawlessness in your community. As an of-

ficer of the law, you were entrusted with a

task to which you have contributed nothing

save the rehearsing of ancient spites and

unspent venom.

"If remembered at all in the Mooney

case, your name will be a symbol of the de-

gradation to which men may fall when they

forswear reason and conscience in order,

for one reason or another, to serve injustice.

We must assume, in justice to you, that you

were not and are not a free agent, that you

were under the compulsion of acting as

you did, and that the masters who employ-

ed you demanded nothing less of you than

the report which will endure as the epitome

of all that so-called law and lawyers can

do at their basest. .

"With pity rather than contempt we

turn from you to the Governor whom you

(Continued on Page 8)

She Learns About Reaction

From Daughters of Revolution

Editor The Open Forum:

Years ago, in my callow youth, a period

when many queer ambitions flourished, I

had an idea that some day I should like to

join the D.A.R. I was, and still am, proud of

my Revolutionary ancestry, but for differ-

ent reasons than those that influenced me

at fifteen. Then I thought my forefathers

conferred on me a sort of title of nobility;

now I glory in them because they were

such brave radicals. I hope I inherit from

them the courage to break away from tra-

dition and think freely in forms fit for a

new social order.

But for all my interest in the D. A. R's,

I never attended a meeting of that order

until Thursday,Dec. 8. It was held in Los

Angeles , and it took me back to my youth

-to the time of Ladies' Aid meetings in the

church on Main Street. There was a silk

flag pinned up behind the chairman, Mrs. ,

McCollough; about thirty-five women were

present in a very modern little theatre of

the Edison Building. Two men sat on the

platform. The first speaker talked about

the need of more guns and battleships.

In the course of his talk it appeared that

he was the author of a military text book

that had recently been rejected by the

authorities as out of date; and perhaps it

was natural, under such circumstances, for

any author to long for guns.

Next came a Mr. Murphey who took it for

granted that every one agreed with his fund-

amental assumption that Communists are

all public enemies. He named the Civil

Liberties Union, Dr.Ryland, Roger Bald-

win, Leo Gallagher, Yetta Stromberg and

a lot of other good people under the gen-

eral head of public enemies.

During the course of his remarks he

startled me into interrupting him with a

denial of the truth of one of his statements.

He told how his friend, Mr. Elson, prin-

cipal of the Roosevelt School, refused Yetta.

Stromberg her graduation certificate, not

ecause she did not meet all of the school

requirements for graduation, but because

she did not take the oath of allegiance. My

goodness,l never took the oath of alleg-

iance when I graduated. Did anybody?

IT did not know there was such a thing. I

wonder if Mr. Murphey took it?

This little matter though only puzzled

me; what startled me into open denial was

his statement that Mrs. Gartz had spent

$100,000 of the Crane Company's money to

take Yetta Stromberg's trouble about grad-

uation up to the Supreme Court of the Unit-

ed States, which august body, taking the

expensive time of the nation to rule about a

school girl's diploma, ruled against her

ease. The inaccuracy of this statement can

scarcely be surpassed. I exclaimed aloud

that the case carried up to the Supreme

Court of the United States of America had

nothing to do with Yetta Stromberg's grad-

uation, but with the validity of the Red

Flag law, for the violation of which Yetta

Stromberg, with others, had been arrested ;

and that the Supreme Court had held the

law invalid because it violated the funda-

mental constitutional right of free speech.

Mr. Murphey was accorded a round of

applause when he finished his talk. Then a

woman asked, "May we be told who Mr.

Murphey is?" A large lady, very gaily

attired, informed them that he was a busi-

ness man, not now in business (could she

have meant unemployed?) and was from

Pasadena; he was declared to be a very fine

public-spirited citizen; she wished there

were many more Mr. Murpheys. The pre-

siding officer added: ``We are very glad to

know that Pasadena possesses one citizen

of the character of Mr. Murphey. For we

are painfully aware that it has other citi-

zens of quite a different character."

My great-grandmother was a daughter

of the Revolution, and went to the little

meeting house of her period and meekly

listened while the men explained the new

doctrines of the Constitution; my grand-

mother was a granddaughter of the Revo-

lution; my mother, a great granddaughter ;

while I am only a great-great grand-

A Generous Subscription Offer

In order to increase the circulation and in-

fluence of The Open Forum we are going to

offer to send the paper six weeks on trial for

only ten cents. But in taking advantage of

this offer you must send in at least five names

and addresses, accompanied by fifty cents or

more. Now get busy, friends of civil liberties,

and help us put this little sheet into the hands

of thousands of people who should receive

the message which it carries. Send all lists

to 1022 California Bldg., Los Angeles.

Grilling of Einstein Impels

Request to End Inquisition

Action by the Senate and House com-

mittees on foreign relations to end the in-

quisition of distinguished individuals con-

cerning their political beliefs, such as Dr.

Albert Einstein met with lately in the Ber-

lin Consulate General, was asked by the

American Civil Liberties Union in letters

to Senator William E. Borah and Repre-

sentative J. Charles Linthicum, respective

chairmen of the two committees.

Roger N. Baldwin, director of the A. C.

L. U., sent to the two members of Congress

copies of correspondence on the Einstein

situation between the Union and Secretary

of State Henry L. Stimson.

Issuance of Dr. Einstein's visa for en-

trance into the United States was held up

while he was questioned concerning

charges by the Women's Patriot Corpora-

tion that he was a member of communistic

organizations. Those allegations proved

unfounded.

"Tf," said Mr. Baldwin's letters to the

two congressmen, `"`the routine practice of

the State Department is to send abroad to

consuls any baseless charges against for-

eign visitors, we are in for a practically

limitless inquisition of such visitors, humil-

iating to them and to our country."'

"Obvious lack of common sense' was

laid to the State Department because. it

forwarded unverified charges against Prof.

Einstein to Berlin, in one of the Union's

protests to Secretary Stimson. From all in-

dications, the Union pointed out, the pat-

riot corporation presented no actual evi-

dence in support of its charges. "In the

absence of such evidence," the Union told

Mr. Stimson, `"`we are at a loss to under-

stand why the department should have dig-

nified this communication by transmitting

it. Your own records would have shown

how unfounded such charges are."'

Urges Congressional Inquiry

On Policing of Hunger March

Investigation of police treatment of the

hunger marchers in Washington when Con-

gress convened was asked of the Senate

and House committees on the District of

Columbia on December 14 by the American

Civil Liberties Union. In letters to Senator

Arthur Capper and Representative Mary

T. Norton, chairmen, the Union offered to

furnish witnesses to establish that the polic-

ing of marchers was inhumane and wholly

unnecessary.

"It is undisputed," the A. C. L. U. wrote,

"that the hunger-marchers were isolated on

a concrete highway hemmed in by ropes at

one end, by an embankment at one side

`topped by machine guns, and by a deep

railroad cut on the other. The marchers

were segregated in. their trucks, exposed

to the weather, without toilet facilities, and

with inadequate arrangements to get food.

"When permitted to parade to the Cap-

itol, they were surrounded by an unwar-

ranted display of police force, with an

arsenal of weapons in evidence.

"Nothing in the marchers' conduct nor in

their objective warranted such inhumane

treatment."'

daughter ; but these ladies are regular D.

A. R.-lings of a long-past age, which be-

lieved in force and violence as a method

of defending ourselves against possible en-

emies instead of the arbitration method of

modern times.-Marion Foster Wother-

spoon.

Va. Mayor's Vagrancy Charge

Against Unemployed Man Fails '

Abe Tomkin, organizer for cent

mond, Va., Unemployed Council, oe a

when he appeared before Justice T, @ :

Haddon in police court on a warrant

charge preferred by Mayor J. P, Byj Me

The mayor had ordered Tomkin's ane

when he protested against cancellation yen

a permit to the council to meet in the

auditorium. oy

Tomkin had exhibited a letter fr

bert Benjamin, secretary of the Nationd

Committee of Unemployed Councils, not.

fying him to work as an organizer in Rich-

mond at a stated wage.

Services of the American Civil Liberties

Union's attorneys had been offered to Tom.

kin in case of need.

(Continued from Page 1)

If the Federation is so bitterly opposed to

atheistic propaganda, and fights Commun-

ism because its principal proponents do not

worship the orthodox God, why does it not

order the Red Squad to suppress the severa]

atheistic organizations now flourishing in

Los Angeles?

the loose women of the street, and break up

the practice of its members, and others of

the ruling rich, who make it a habit to se-

duce and. ruin the daughters of the work-

ing class? An atheist can take his stand

on the Plaza, or hire a hall, and denounce

the very idea of God, and neither the Fed-

eration nor the Red Squad pays the slight-

est attention. Let a Communist question the

integrity or justice of the capitalist system,

and immediately all the terrorism of the

Federation is unleashed.

Quite obvious, therefore, is it that what

the Better America Federation most fears

and hates in the Communist party is not

the party's disposition to ignore matters re-

ligious, nor the party's attitude and treat-

ment of women, but the fighting determina-

tion of the Communist party to educate and

organize the working class for the conquest

of capitalism. In the Communist party the

beneficiaries of predatory privilege recog:

nize a stubborn and an uncompromising

foe. They foresee that if Communism

triumphs, they will have to surrender their

privileges and go to work. With them as

well as with the Communists the question

is one of economic determinism.

The Communists assert that they do not

mind the opposition of the Better America

Federation, if the Federation would fight

squarely. Officially, the Federation 1s not

one of the law enforcing agencies of the

state. It has no more legal right to direct

the activities of the Red Squad than has the

Communist party. It can carry on its He

paganda to strengthen and perpetuate the

capitalist system, but it can not deny. oF

thwart the constitutional right of the of

munist party to agitate and organize OF

the overthrow of that system. The Com-

munist party has just as much right to oN

der the Red Squad to invade the offices 0

the Federation and conficate Federation

literature as the Federation has to ee

the Red Squad to the invasion of Ce

ist party headquarters. If there 1s m | in

fornia a movement more un-American vie

object and activities than the Better aaa

ca Federation, real Americans wou

to know it.

` SN ener

THE RED FOG LIFTS

by ALBERT MULDAVIN

Recommended as s

"Sincere," "readable," "true,

"engaging"

Picture of Russia

hd

`"Btched by the Russians' own hands

UPTON SINCLAIR SAYS: |

"The best book I have read on Russia.

Price ... $2.10

Order from The Open Forum

1022 California Building

"

Why does it not prosecute

dicted on Two Counts of

| ic S.. Trial Settor January

Peter Panagopoulos, who was arrested

Jecember 7 in connection with a raid by

jeLos Angeles Red Squad on the Workers'

wok Shop, 224 South Spring Street, has

ipetl indicted on two counts of criminal

gndicalism. In the first one he is charged

with membership in the Communist party ;

nd in the second with having sold the fol-

wing seditious literature: "Programme

| Young Comintern," "Struggle Against Im-

gial War," "Tasks of the Communist

ligty,' "Manifesto of the Communist

marty (U. S. Rye? "Foster and Ford for

fd and Freedom (election pamphilet),"'

fn Years of Comintern," "Capitalist

(abilization Has Ended," "Working Class

Hfasus Capitalist Class," "Toward Revolu-

mary Mass Work," "Communist Party

nition on the Negro Question,' ``Soviet

jusia Today, November, 1932," "Why

ery Worker Should Join the Communist

Paty,' "Imprecor, October 20, 1932,"

`communist International, Vol. 9-16, Sep-

tmber 1, 1932."

He was arraigned before Judge Elliot

(wig and entered a plea of not guilty. Bail

jas first set. at' $2500 but was reduced to

000 after urgent request by Attorney

j Allen Frankel. He will be tried in De-

wiment 27 of the Superior Court before

lige Charles S. Burnell on January 12.

Itis interesting to note that although this

ase arose nearly a month after the K. K.

{raid in Long Beach, Panagopoulos' bail

is fixed at double the bail of these felons,

md his trial has been set ahead of that of

ieraiders. The Ku Kluxers go to trial

lmary 16. Draw your own conclusions.

(Continued from. Page 1)

we ill-served. He should have been dis-

ening enough not to ask you to serve as

visor. Had there been an atom of com-

msion in you, you would have refused a

mmission which foredoomed the victim

iiyour vindictiveness and cruelty. We can

ily wonder whether the Governor of your

late, acting under the advice and counsel

ithis masters, the creatures who have

ited Mooney from the beginning, was

inder the necessity of naming one whom

le Governor and his kind could rely upon

advise him without reference to either

ucts or law and to make his report nothing

ite than a quasi-legal and quasi-factual

tathmation of Mooney's guilt.

ltake no account, any more than do

hy associate signatories, of our earlier com-

lication to you, of your. comment upon

Nand our communication. We can do no

ite than hope that some day the man-

Ml and womanhood of California will

lake themselves felt despite every influ-

o Which has shackled one California

uot after another, to the end that not

fall Mooney be freed, but that Cali-

ee be freed from the shame that has too

Stested upon your State."

, Wise ends his letter "with deepest

et a great cause should have come

thhands ag your own."

Saaee

HELP Us SAVE POSTAGE

ts ae Postage the American Civil

hee Union hereafter will mail re-

bay only in case you send cash to

iin pledges. Cancelled checks

Piha orders will serve as receipts

ton leally, _ In order to still further

tise ts our time and money for the

Tote e would suggest that you send

fof Contributions without waiting

tl notice that they are due.

a ad in your renewals for The

to do a also without being urged

toney - In the aggregate a lot of

{ Could be saved if you would

J) "tus ;

f "Perate with us.

he necessity of being entrusted to.

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.

Roger Baldwin Nails Lies of

Pasadenan About Local Branch

In an effort to disprove charges made by

Kilmer R. Murphey, wealthy Pasadena pat-

rioteer, "that the American Civil Liberties

Union, as far as it pertains to Southern Cal-

ifornia, is evidently a Communist organi-

zation," Roger N. Baldwin, national direct-

or, has addressed a communication to each

member of the national committee.

The Pasadenan stated that the Sunday

night Open Forum conducted by the Union

discloses a patronage ``ninety percent Jew,

evidently of foreign birth, tables loaded

with copies of the Daily Worker and the

Moscow News and radical publications.

The meetings are conducted under the

sponsorship of the friends of Soviet Russia,

and the whole program is anti-American

in every particular."'

"Even if these statements are true, they

do not make the Civil Liberties Union a

partisan of Communist activities," said Mr.

Baldwin. `The weekly paper, The Open

Forum, published by our Southern Cali-

fornia branch, expressly declares on its

masthead that, `This paper, like the Sunday

night Forum, is carried on by the American

Civil Liberties Union to give a concrete il-

lustration of the value of free discussion.

It offers a means of expression to unpopular

minorities. The organization assumes no

responsibility for opinions appearing in

signed articles.'

"If the meetings conducted by our Branch

lean toward Communist topics, it is due to

the fact that no Communist meetings what-

soever are tolerated in Los Angeles, indoors

or outdoors. This Forum is practically the

only place where the banned subjects can

be discussed."

Mr. Baldwin suggested to Mr. Murphey

that if he is a friend of free speech he

would do better to turn his efforts against

the present lawless policies of the Los An-

geles police department rather than those

who are Offering the only opportunity for

suppressed doctrines to be heard.

California Strike Organizers

Mobbed; C. L. U. Demands Action

Demand by the American Civil Liberties

Union for action against the persons who

lately took six fruit strike organizers from

jail in Vacaville, California, and painted,

flogged, and deported them, has caused the

sheriff, district attorney, and police chief

to begin ``a rigid investigation to appre-

hend the guilty,'"' the Union has been ad-

vised.

"Steps have been taken to prevent a

repetition of this outrage,'' Police Chief O.

EK. Alley telegraphed to ,the A. C. L. U.

"Assure you we are anxious to wipe out

this blot against Vacaville."

Protest had been made by the Union

after Alley was quoted as saying he "`gues-

sed" the mob, was made up of irate towns-

people `and farmers. The organizers were

described in the chief's telegram as "`out-

of-town agitators," and the kidnappers as

"unknown persons." Vaca Valley fruit

pickers are striking for a $1.50 wage.

Additional information was asked of Al-

ley. "It is hard for us to understand," the

Union wrote, "how persons could gain ac-

cess to your jail to remove those prisoners,

if the jailer were on the job. Possibly it

is so constructed that it is easier to get into

than out of. We would like to know where

the jailer was, and whether any resistance

was offered."

FROM VARIED VIEWPOINTS

Anti-Censorship Council Moves

To Bring in Book as Classic

The three-year-old ban on George

Moore's book, "A Story-Teller's Holiday,"

by the New York Customs Bureau on

grounds of obscenity, was contested Decem-

ber 15 in a petition addressed by the Na-

tional Council on Freedom from Censorship

to Secretary of the Treasury Mills, asking

that this work be admitted as a classic. It

was recently sent from England to Dr. Ern-

est Sutherland Bates.

One tariff law section permits the secre-

tary, at his discretion, to admit "books of

recognized literary or scientific merit."

Testimonials from American authorities on

the quality of the Moore work were in-

cluded in the petition. In 1929 the same

narrative was seized by the customs offic-

ials when imported by Paul Hyde Bonner,

collector, and the Customs Court upheld

the ban. --

Ga. Official's Counter-Charge

Manifestly False, Spivak Avers

Allegations by Judge Vivian L. Stanley,

secretary of the Georgia Prison Commis-

sion, that John L. Spivak, New York auth-

or, posed as a Federal agent in getting the

information on which he based his recent

charges of inhuman treatment of men in

Georgia prison camps, is characterized by

Mr. Spivak as a "manifest attempt to divert

public attention from the facts."

In a statement issued through the Ameri-

can Civil Liberties-Union, Mr. Spivak said:

"Judge Stanley knows that I did not im-

personate anyone in getting the photo-

graphs and documents of the atrocious

tortures Georgia inflicts on helpless con-

victs. I have his own letter of introduction

to wardens to prove it."'

Stanley asserted that the author hired a

Negro in a South Georgia camp to pose for

pictures used in the book, "Georgia Nig-

ger." See aaa LL

"That charge also is absurd," said Mr.

Spivak. ``And I did not bribe Warden J.

D. Williams. of Early county, yet I photo-

graphed him in the act of breaking a con-

vict on the Georgia rack-virtually pull-

ing his arms out of their sockets."

Bigotry

Rides the ass

Of Ignorance

The muddy road-of Intolerance

Leading through the morass

Of hatred.-William Allen Ward.

SEVENTH BOOK

By KATE CRANE-GARTZ

More of those Pungent, Purposeful

Letters of Protest

FIFTY CENTS IN PAPER

Get. them at 1022 California Bldg., L. A.

" Mrs. Gartz's Earlier Books at Half Price

While They Last

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Union

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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

Upton Sinclair Kate Crane Gartsz

Doremus Scudder

Leo Gallagher Ethelwyn Mills P. D. Noel

John Packard John Beardsley Charlotte Dantzig

Edwin P. Ryland

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Entered as second-class matter Dec. 13, 1924, at the

post office of Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 3, 1879.

DEC. 24, 1932, LOS ANGELES, CALIF.

. 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.

i

Music, Magic, Mirth at Forum

Instead of the usual address or debate at

the meeting of the Los Angeles Open For-

um, 233 South Broadway on Sunday even-

ing, December 25, we are going to have an

entertainment. Since the depression came

the Forum has failed to meet expenses on

many nights, and it is hoped by means of

this special program that a good sized sum

can be realized toward the deficit.

Roland Plato, the conjuring comedian,

has been secured to provide most of the

entertainment for the occasion. For over

tssrants: sears he has been on the stage-

five years as a magician on the Orpheum

circuit. He is a member of the Interna-

tional Brotherhood of Magicians. The

masterpieces of magic and mirth will be

presented by him.

Musical numbers will be included in the

program, making altogether a most enjoy-

able evening. The admission price will be

25 cents.

"LETTERS TO JUDD" |

ONLY TEN CENTS NOW

This book by Upton Sinclair, setting

forth his views on wealth and poverty,

prosperity and depression, has always

sold for fifteen cents-and it is well

worth it. It is brim-full of sagacious

comments that apply to our present

economic impasse. You can scarcely

read any volume that fulfills the old

motto, ``Much in little,'"? as does this

one. Send for a quantity of them and

give them away. Twelve for a dollar,

postpaid. Order from the A. C. L. U.,

1022 California Bldg., Los Angeles.

A Generous Subscription Offer

In order to increase the circulation and in-

fluence of The Open Forum we are going to

offer to send the paper six weeks on trial for

only ten cents. But in taking advantage of

this offer you must send in at least five names

and addresses, accompanied by fifty cents or

more. Now get busy, friends of civil liberties,

and help us put this little sheet Into the hands

of thousands of people who should receive

the message which it carries. Send all lists

to 1022 California Bldg., Los Angeles,

Mooney Mass Meeting Friday

Arrangements have finally been com-

pleted for the holding of a Mooney mass

meeting in Los Angeles. The date and place

agreed upon at length are the Labor

Temple auditorium on Maple Ave., Friday

evening, December 23. Paul Callicotte of

Portland, Ore., the man who confessed to

having unwittingly carried the suit case

containing the bomb that exploded during

the 1916 Preparedness Day parade, will be

the principal attraction. There will be sev-

eral other speakers, including Sam Ornitz,

Dr. E. P. Ryland, Leo Gallagher, Charles

O'Brien, Sam Goodwin, and Irvin Goodman

of Portland, Ore.

The meeting is to be held under the aus-

pices of the Mooney Molders' Defense Com-

mittee, backed by a strong united front of

local organizations.

Kirby Page Dinner

Arrangements have been completed for

a Kirby Page meeting Thursday, January

5, at 6:30 p. m., at the First Unitarian

Church, 2936 West 8th Street. Mr. Page's

subject will be "The Price of Social Pro-

gress." Reservations for the 50c dinner are

to be made by phoning FEderal 5116.

ee

Hard Times Offer

Because of the continued financial depression we

ar 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 Building LOS ANGELES

American Outpost

A Book of Reminiscences by

UPTON SINCLAIR

THE FIRST 35 YEARS OF AN

ADVENTUROUS LIFE

""Contains some of the best writing you

have done.'"'-Henry L. Mencken.

Clothbound . . . $2.50

Order from

Open Forum, 1022 California Bldg.

Announcing

Upton Sinclair's Kaleidoscopic Picture of the

RUM TRAFFIC

The Wet Parade

"His Most Daring Novel"

Order from THE OpEN FoRUM

Clothbound "" $2.50

Special Offer

We will give a copy of this thrilling account

of the farcical enforcement of the 18th Amend-

ment for five new annual subscriptions to THE

Open Forum or ten new 8-months' subscrip-

tions at 50c each.

Now It Can Be Told!

The Mooney-Billings Report

Suppressed

by the WickersHAM CoMMIssIoNn

Available to You

Published by National Mooney-Bill-

ings Committee, a unit of the Ameri-

can Civil Liberties Union.

Obtain your copy from

Open Forum Office

1022 California Bldg., Los Angeles

$1.50 if called for; 15c extra by mail

Se q

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 current

events with which the meetings are opened each

week.

Dec.

PROGRAM OF ENTERTAINMENT. R

land Plato for an hour and a half will pre.

25--MAGIC AND MUSIC-4

0-

sent the mysteries of magic. He isa master

of the art-for more than twenty years

a

successful entertainer on the public plat.

form. , Excellent musical numbers will he

interspersed throughout the program. I

will be an evening of rare pleasure. 25

cents admission.

Jan. 1--THE MENACE OF RUSSIA TO

THE PRESENT WORLD ORDER by

George T. Ashley of Hollywood. This is 4

good subject with which to open the ne

W

year, and Dr. Ashley is a good man to pre-

sent it.

He has made a careful study of

Russia; his interpretation will be heard

with much interest by our audience.

FOR ONLY $1.00--

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Coming Events

SOCIALIST PARTY, headquarters 1

26

North t. Louis Street. Office open all day.

Young Socialist League meets every Wed-

nesday night. New Era, local Social

paper, $1.00 per year.

LIBERTARIANS-Lectures: Monda

8:30, at Libertarian Center Forum, 420.

Soto St.; Thursdays, at Libertarian Uni

Forum, 224 S. Spring St.

PROLETARIAN

ist

ys

N.

on

PARTY, Room 303,

Phillips building, 224 South Spring Street.

Marxian Forum every Tuesday at 8 D. Mm

and study class every Monday and Frid

at 8 p.m. Admision free.

WORKERS' SOCIALIST i

Monday at 8 p.m. Class on Economics 4

Current) Problems.

Admission free. 82344 Santee Street.

ay

PARTY every

n

All workers welcome.

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EXPIRATION NOTICE

Dear Friend: If you find this paragTa

with a blue pencil mark it means a

scription to "The Open Forum " has expired.

inue

Enclosed find $.-..--------s--+-+-020 for which cont

Subscription to the paper fOP-.-------ecerseer-"

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