The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-14
ARMY and NAVY
GRAB LIMELIGHT
FROM LINDBERGH
Utilize Popularity for
Militarist Propaganda

Young Lind5ergh, attractive, modest,
courageous and highly skilled as an
aviator, flew across the Atlantic,
alone, to Paris. When he reached the
French capital he was welcomed with
an enthusiasm for which the Latin
peoples have a natural tendency, but
which on this occasion they raised
to the level OF hysteria. This young
American had challenged their mag
nation their love of heroes. And he
did not come as a soldier or nessen- /
ger Of war, but as a pioneer Of inter
nationalism in the air The French
were tired Of criticising America. |
And their government had its own
political and economic reasons for en-
couraging this friendliness.
So we had the statesmen and scien-
lists and soldiers Of France hasten
ing to honor this American flyer.
And then came Belgium's royalty to
do the same. Next the British peo-
pie responded to the appeal Of the
hero, and their royalties and dukes
and admirals and generals fell in line.
They could not help liking Lindbergh,
and there was no harm in sharing the
linelight with him.
American Publicity Seekers.
This limelight in Europe pleased
the American public. Times Of
peace, when they are times Of rapid
accumulation Of wealth, lend them
selves to ventures in organized en-
thusiasm. Advertising has come to
be one of the peculiarly American
sciences. It was called into service.
Lindbergh was "sold" to an eager
public in millions Of printed words
daily. Calvin Coolidge annexed his
reception, ordering him home
promptly to receive a decoration be-
fore the President should leave for
the Black Hills. And the army and
navy and the munition manufacture
ers saw a golden opportunity for
themselves.
Here was a young hero whose faith
er, as congressman and as candidate
Of the Non-partisan League farmers
for governor of Minnesota, had
been the fearless enemy of "Wall
Streets war;" and had published
book to prove that Morgan & Co. and
other big banks of Wall Street had
conspired to bring the United States
into the world war for the purpose
Of further aggrandizing the big
bankers and to further enslave the
wage workers and farmers of this
country. Why not take this young
hero and make military figure out
of him? Why not make the public
forget that he flew to Paris as a
private citizen, civilian, on a pure
ly civilian voyage with which the
army and navy had nothing to do?
Army and Navy.
So Lindbergh became more and
more emphatically Captain Lind
bergh, and then Colonel Lindbergh.
when the military clique discovered
the ironic humor Of the situation. He
was ordered home on a cruiser. He
was met by an army dirigible,
navy blimp airship and some 80 ar
my planes. He was given a military
uniform. And military parade was
staged on Pennsylvania Ave. This
made people forget that the elder
Charles Lindbergh, student of bank
ing and stalwart foe of big bankers
and their militarism, had been
sneered at by the regular Republi-
cans in 1917, 1918 and 1920. And it
suggested more money for militar-
ism.
Secretary Of State Kellogg was
prominent in the welcoming cere-
monies. Kellogg, as senator from
Minnesota in the war period, was
one Of the ugliest-mannered Of the
spokesman Of the steel and banking
and grain buying and railroad clique
that tried to terrorize the state into
mobbing the elder Lindbergh in 1918.
Kellogg is credited with calling
Lindbergh a German agent at that
time; he did at least furnish much
of the strategy Of that persecution Of
Lindbergh and the farmers organi
zation. Now he welcomes the son
who in those years was his fathers
close confidant. Minnesota farmers
drove Kellogg from the Senate. but
Coolidge made him secretary Of state.
And political expediency and a hope
of using the son to serve the militar-
ist and banker cause has led the agile
Kellogg to the grandstand.
Militarlst Holiday.
Back Of the public hysteria over
this fine young man is sense of
relief that the age Of personal adj
venture in pioneering is not gone by.
A machine age has not killed the
chance for young man to challenge
the elements and win great fame.
There is also the hunger Of com
fortably-fed people to be thrilled.
And gratitude that this can be done
without war.
But the army and navy will make
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