The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-08-03
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BY THOMAS J. o'FLAHERTY

A N American missionary, Haysmefr
"A by name, pleaded guilty in Co
rean court of having branded small
native boy with acid on both cheeks
because he stole some fruit from the
missionary's garden. No doubt the
clergyman inflicted this punishment
on the lad for the latter's Spiritual ben
eft. Did not the Roman inquisitors Of
the middle ages tear their doubling
brethren asunder on the racks, to the
accompaniment of tinkling bells and
priestly mumbling of prayers?
DARON MUNCHAUSEN made Sc
II rious mistake in getting born too
soon. That delightfully."- imaginative
person would not only enjoy himself
immensely at his favorite profession,
but he would find lucrative market
for his wares. Since the world war
broke out the art of lying has come
into its own. Hitherto prevarication
was somewhat of a monopoly in dip
lomatic circles, but the necessities of
the situation made lying a mass occu-
patton Two cities became famous or
misunderstanding on the sympa-
thies of the reader-for the efficiency
of their lie mills. They are Helsing-
fors in Finland and Geneva, Switzer-
land
XEFHEN the central powers were de-
W feated the liars turned on Soviet
Russia Tho the volume of produc-
ton has decreased, it must be ad-
mitted that the quality has not dete
riorated. Riga has taken the place of
Riga and Geneva is too busy handling
the league of nations trade to be a
serious competitor. Paris now steps
into the ring with a version about the
present difference of opinion of the
Russian Communist Party that it is
worthy of space in this column.
THE yarn is by Paul Scott Mowrer,
L one o. the Chicago Daily News
European correspondents. 1t appeared
in the News of July 30. The early
edition had an intelligent and reason
ably correct story of the situation
from Junius Wood. who is stationed in
Moscow. But Mowers fable kicked
it into the melting pot Briefly, he
tells us that European diplomatic cir
cles see in the struggle between the
viewpoints of Stain and zinoviev
last stand fight of the extremists"
among which Zinoyiev is listed, against
the opportunists. Stain is head of
the latter faction, says Mowrer.
HERE is where the pot begins to
L boil furiously Bubble, bubble
The correspondent takes another drink
of cognac and says that Dzerzhinsky,
famous head of the former Cheka, was
an extremist and the last remaining
hurdle In the way of the opportunists.
He was slated for removal and refused
TO leave. He pulled gun on Trotsky,
but was disarmed and ordered exc
cuted. This was accomplished by the
unusual method of suffocation. Then
follows the usual stories of disorders"
here and there, troops rushing back
and forth and friends of Dzerzhinsky
getting arrested And, of course, when
Dzerzhinsky's room was searched the
usual discovery of jewels, ETC., was
made.
THOSE who suspect everything in
the capitalist press to be lie until
proven otherwise will pay no atten-
ton to those yarns, but there are
thousands of others who take obvious
propaganda in the capitalist press as
gospel. Mowers yarn is too silly
10 do anything but laugh it of 1t is
a case of the wish being father to the
thought.
CALIVA drips from the mouth Of in.
~ ternational capitalism as it contem-
plates the profits it could wiring out
Of the Russian workers and the ire
mendous raw wealth of their country,
if they could only restore the former
regime. They know that serious dis
unity in the Communist Party would
weaken the power of the workers and
peasants to defend their freedom SO
they welcome any sign of division and
lie without limit. But their lies will
prove ineffective where their bayonets
failed.