The daily worker., 1925-01-12


are vying with each other in giving a
in Europe Hiram X. Moderwell, and
F. A. Mackenzie are the two men. The
exigencies of their duties (as brass
checkers) requires that both lie like
hell, the former in glossing over the
outrages of fascism and the latter in
trumping up lies about Sovie Russia.
In the issue of January Z, Moderwell
has a dispatch dealing with Mus
solini's most recent effort to remain
in power. He consumes most of the
space in dilating on the fascist pro-
gram for complete national control,
a program which as we know, they
are putting into effect thru persecu-
dispatch gives no inkling of such
things. However, it explains that
Mussolini has been compelled to dis
perse 95 political bodies, make Ill
arrests, suppress 25 opposition organ
izations and search 655 homes and
Offices, in order to prevent plots and
seditions." The whole article pur-
ports to place these acts in the most
defensible and legitimate light. AL
tho the most undisguised terrorism is
being used to intimidate the people,
Moderwell affects to maintain at at
titude of benevolent neutrality. The
much vaunted American hatred of
tyranny-which his fellow correspon-
dent so hypocritically parades when
he deals with the Communist govern
ment Of Russia-does not stir in
Moderwell at the sight of violent ex-
cesses of the fascist. He is fully
agreed that Italian capitalism must
be saved at all costs. The last para
graph of his dispatch is illustrative
Of attitude. He writes: "The govern
ment's recent measures, tho unusual,
has not been unconstitutional, because
they have been based on broad inter-
pretations of existing laws"
One of the days the Italian prole-
tariat will rise and overthrow Mus
solini with similar disregard for
existing laws. And then Moderwell
and others of his prostituted profess
sion will not deal Of It in terms of
benevolent neutrality, but in terms of
opposition, hate and abuse.
Mackenzie's article, which was pub
lished in the same issue with Moder-
wells, is strongly reminiscent of the
days of 1918 when the panic-stricken
bourgeois press knew no limits in it's
attacks on Soviet Russia. Mackenzie
sheds bitter tears over the sad lot Of
political prisoners in Russia. After
the manner of the most approved fic-
tion writer's, he goes into great de-
tail in describing prison life on a
lonely island in the White Sea-which
place he admits never having visited.
Nevertheless, this does not prevent
him from giving minute descriptions
OF the inhuman treatment accorded
the prisoners by their ferocious
Communist guards. II cannot be
denied that Mackenzie has a
fertile imagination, but he should
exercise more discretion in trying to
pan fiction Off as truth. Unfortunately
for him, innumerable observers and
visitors in Russia have testified that
the prison system there is the most
human in the world, and that both
penal and political prisoners are ac-
corded the best treatment. In fact II
Mackenzie were to be truthful, he
would have to report that which he
as well as everyone who has been In
Russia has observed, namely that II is
less afflicted with crime than any
other country in the world. But, of
course. that sort OF news. while pos.
sessing the incidental merit of being
true, would be unacceptable to the