The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-02-28
RADICAL BATTING
met WITH TWO
SHARP RETORTS
Socialists and Richmond
Pastor Rap American
Legion, Jr. 0. U. A. M.
By Times Special

By Times Special
RICHMOND, Ind, Feb. 2S.-Re-
cent action Of the local American
Legion post and the Junior Order of
United American Mechanics in de-
nouncing socialism and communism
has brought vigorous replies from
two quarters.
In a statement issued today the
Richmond Socialist organization
declares.
I'VE want the people of Richmond
to know that we are not Reds, COM
munists, bolshevists or riot max
ers.' We are socialists. The local
socialists have not caused nor made
any trouble in Richmond. They have
stayed within the law. They are
square with everyone and expect the
same in return"
On the heels Of several denuncia-
tions from the pulpit, the Rev. G.
Franklin Koch Of st. Pauls Luther
an church, one of the leading min
listers of the city, make a statement
in which de decried the wave Of the
hysteria which followed the recent
meeting here which was addressed
by Norman Thomas, noted socialist.
The Rev. Mr.. Koch said:
cit is rather unfortunate that an
other wave of hysteria has hit GER
tain groups in our city, and that
such hysteria has been expressed
from pulpit and through resolutions.
I refer to the phobia of communism.
cit appears that the public ap-
pearance here Of Norman Thomas,
candidate of the Socialist party for
President in 1928, is being inter
preted as subtle attack of Com
munism on our constitutional gov
eminent. Well, well! Silence the
man and save the government
Points to Differences
For the sake Of clarity, let me
state that Socialism and Commun-
ism are not synonymous. A man
may be a believer in the principles
of Socialism and not be a Com
The Socialist party in the
United States is not Communistic
as may be determined from a re-
view Of its platform promulgated in
1928.
81 hold no brief for Norman
Thomas. am not a member Of the
Socialist party, neither am I one
of those who could be easily de-
ported Gas many advocate for all
who disagree with them) since on
three lineages can trace my an
cestry back to pre-Revolutionary
war days, and on the fourth line
for more than eighty years, all in
Pennsylvania, but Thomas is not a
Communist, although a Socialist, as
any one who heard him here could
easily determine. I heard him twice,
first at Earlham college, and later
at the Morton high school building.
Nothing was said in either speech
to which any fair minded citizen
could object.
Nothing he said in criticism of
our government, and all such criti-
cisrn was confined to its handling
Of the unemployment situation, was
half as bitter as that published in
the February number Of the Allan
tic Monthly under the caption, "A
National Political Arnistice,' by
Edward P Costigan, former Cover
nor of Colorado, and United States
senator-e ELECT from that state.
Declares Both Parties Fail
zone thing is sure and certain.
The two old parties have bungled |
things until wehave reached al
critical economic situation, for the
solution of which neither Repub-
licanS nor Democrats have any
adequate program. They are af-
flicted with sterility of ideas and |
bankruptcy of action. Many think
ing people are looking for g modern !
Moses to lead us out of the chaos
in which we are wallowing, and un-
fair denunciations and accusations
against those with whom we per-
chance fail to agree does more harm
than good.
"The anomaly Of the present n.y.
sierra is that the organizations OBJ
iecting to granting freedom OF
speech to Norman Thomas, or any
other Socialist, profess as one of
their purposes, support of the fed
eral Constipation. Has it escaped
their notice or memory that the
of the United States
guarantees freedom of speech and
press to all citizens?"