Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-20
THOMAS AND FISH
ARGUE CAPITALISM
Socialist Asks Relief Fund as
Opponent Proposes Giving
Needy Wheat.

Needy Wheat.
Socialism and capitalism were roundly
| denounced and fervently defended last
night in a debate between Representa-
tive Hamilton Fish. jr Of New York,
and Norman Thomas, former Socialist
candidate for President.
There was no hint of disorder as
the good-natured crowd Of more than
1000 persons listened to the friendly
exchange of cauStic remarks by the
champions of opposing beliefs, but once
the debate proper ended and the audi
ence began to file out OF the Masonic
! partisans in the gallery heaped abuse
upon each other in loud voices. They
departed, however, without coming to
blows. Special police details were
present, but made no arrests.
Fish and Thomas debated on, SIS
Capitalism Worth Saving?" with the
former contending 1t is. There were
no judges, and DR.. John A. Ryan of
Catholic University, who presided, made
no effort to determine the winner by
the modern method of weighing the
applause. Although both speakers fire.
Quently were interrupted by cheers, the
audience obviously was pro-ThomaS.
The spectators ranged from corduroy
clad working men to members of Con-
gress. Men barely outnumbered the
women.
Thomas Asks Relief Fund
Thomas insisted upon a $4,000, 000,-
600 loan fund to buy food for the I'M
employed, the money to be supplied
by the Federal Government. Fish pre-
dicted an early return Of prosperity
and condemned any program smacking
of the dole
Thomas declared capitalism is an
archistic and wasteful. He declared
that regardless of the present depres-
sion the country has a reservoir OF
unemployed ranging from 100000 to
1000, 900 people in normal times. This
he blamed upon capitalism. He argued
there is a racketeering spirit In big
business.
"To steal a pail of COAL" Thomas
asserted, sis robbery, to steal two or
three mines is high finance. Because
we have more bathtubs than Henry VIII,
the capitalists say we are better on.
Regardless of whether the rich are get
ting richer and the poor are getting
poorer economic insecurity Is getting
worse all the time.
Socialists Fear DebacIc.
ION a recent trip to Kentucky saw
children dressed in burlap bags; miners
living in tents and shacks where
wouldn't keep a dog or COW cared
anything about. These are the fruits
Of capitalism.
IT have not time to discuss our pro-
gram in detail Two immediate meas
ures must stress. First, the $5,000,-
O0O, 600 hunger loan, to be repaid out OF
income and inheritance taxes, the pro-
ceeds to be used mostly for public
works, including the abolition Of slums.
There is no other way to meet the pres
ent crisis.
May Ask Boycott Of Japan.
Second, q willingness to bring eco
nomic pressure on Japan by refusal OF
loans or war supplies If she persists IN
ignoring her obligations as Signer OF
the Kellogg pact and the Nine-Power
treaty. Trade with an aggressive ma
ton is completely In war. If war lasts
in Manchuria, with America supplying
japan, almost certainly the time will
come when we shall be urged to go to
war to support Japan as the up
holder of western civilization that is.
capitalism, against the yellow hordes
of China and the red horoes OF Rus
STA"
Fish said the Republican and Demo-
cratic parties are more sound than the
Socialist party. He attacked the Social
list plan for government ownership OF
business. He said If the Socialists de-
velop any good ideas the Republicans
viii place them in their platforms and
enact them into law.
Proposes Wheat for Relief.
1.-THE poor are not getting poorer"
Fish claimed. Even in depression
we have $4,000 900 people in this coun-
try riding to work every day in auto
mobiles. We don't propose to permit
any wage earners to starve or freeze.
We don't want the dole. 1t caused the
economic ruin Of Great Britain. pro-
pose to re-introduce on the first day
the House convenes bill to have the
Farm Board turn over to the Red
Cross 200, O00, 900 bushels of wheat 1t
now has on hand in order that it may
be processed into -four and distributed
to prevent starvation this Winter.
"I'm tired of all these notes OF the
United States Government. Japan
must be groggy from them. Would they
send us notes for what we do in Haiti,
Nicaragua or Cuba?
There have been and probably al
WAYS will be abuses, evils and defeats
in our economic system, but as they
develop IIlcy dAC NOAAOANOAAJ
solved or ameliorated by acts OF the
various State Legislatures and by the
Congress of the United States.
Holds U. S. Better on.
Fifty years ago labor worked IL and
| IA hours day on pttiful wage scale
and under insanitary and unsafe work.
| ing conditions. One by one the con-
ditions, hours and wages Of labor have
been improved, and employers liability
and workmenS compensation laws nave
been passed and child labor, widows
pensions and old-age pension laws nave
been enacted. all for the benefit OF the
American wage earnerS. For the past
| so years our wage earners have been
better paid, better fed, better housed,
better clothed and more contented
than under any other economic system
in the world.
"The answer is that today, If our
immigration barriers are lifted, 10000
900 foreigners would strive to get into
the United States, and, on the other
hand, If the emigration barriers Of
Soviet Russia were lifted half Of her
terrified, undernourished, pathetic pop
ulation would leave that country in
60 days.
Plays Soviet Press Gag.
Communism and Socialism in many
ways are much alike. In Russia they
have Communism. The result is they
have no freedom Of the press, no free
dom of speech and no trial by jury.
They couldn't possibly have a debate
on capitalism in Soviet Russia. If they
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