The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-18
Lindbergh AS A Militarist Kite
By 7. J. O'FLAHERTY

the American empire, he did not leave us in sus-
pense very long.
At a banquet given in his honor at the Commodore
Hotel, Lindbergh repeated his speech with fresh
addition. This is whore Lindbergh comes out in the
role Of miltarist decoy. We quote from report
OF lis speech that appearedsin the New York Times
of Wednesday. June Is;
an the meantime the most important thing
for us to do is to develop the trans-continental
branch lines, which we already have. A COM
mercial air service in America gives reserve
in case of war; which we can develop in
other way Experienced pilots cannot be trained
as quickly rs ar7lanes can be built. We do not
invite war; yet of the surest ways Of
averting it is to have trained personnel which
can be modified quickly in of war.
commercial air service win give that per-
sonnet in the matter Of fighting planes in
forced into conflict. Our planes in the
army air port are the most developed in the
world, although we have very few of them. And
have no hesitation in saying, without the least
exeggeratiOn, that Tire pilots Of the United
States army have 80 equal in the civilized
world"
Of course we admit that it would be utopian to
expect that even a strong .wed person, placed in
the position Iindbergh is in at this period of the
heyday CT American capitalism could resist the pow
elful influences that are being brought TO bear ON
him by the ruling classes. No well informed person
would believe for moment that Lindbergh would
receive the necessary financial backing govern
ment sanction for his attempt unless the capitalists
were perfectly sure of him. His financial hackers
risked their money the flight in the hope that
success would make their factories hum with in
creased business and the government knew what
valuable salesman for larger military appropriations
the first man to fly the Atlantic would be.
If Lindbergh a pacfist anAanti- militarist,
instead Of a willing tool Of capitalism his welcome,
when he arrived here would consist of a customs
Inspector going thru his baggage.
Last Wednesday Lindbergh was guest of honor at
a luncheon given by the State Chamber Of Com
merce and Merchants Association. The "fat boys"
cheered HIM from the depths Of their barrelled
bellies. Lindbergh did not dsappoint them.
This country did not want war he said What
country does? But the best way to avoid a war is
kaiser Of Germany back in the peaceful spring Of
1914. We have not sufficient personnel nor enough
equipment for air force. To quote him directly:
Commercial aviation should be developed in
this country The personnel and equipment that
would result from such development would be
If great value in the event Of war.
''New York would be a vulnerable spot in case
Of war because il has net a proper airport
hope in the near future This VIII be corrected"
This is the cut-and-dried preparedness propaganda.
And lest he might offend the feelings of the Of
ficer class and the manufacturers of batteships,
heavy artillery and shells. Lindbergh showed that
he is a good diplomat He snid:
"The air force viii meyer take the place Of
the army and navy. but the army and navy
need a strong air force"
And those owners of billions stood on their seats
and rocked the ceiling with their cheers. And well
they might. Here a godsend. The "Flyn' Fool"
of aviation, had developed into the ~Flyin Tool"