Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-08-10
Reed Club Will
Write For Voice
BY Helen Steele

SEATTLE, Aug. 3 Several
new members met for the first
time with the John Reed Club
in a studio quarters donated for
the meeting by a friend, Aug. l.
Artists, musicians, writer's, and
players enthusiastically planned
their Joined activities for the
immediate future.
Pending appearance OF the
Clubs publication this fall the
artist group is working to pre-
sent an art show of workers and
left-wing artists. Block prints,
oils, Water-cOlors and examples
of Journalistic and book Illus
trations will be available for this
show. further details to be an
nounced soon.
The nucleus of a musician ;
collective was also present at the
meeting. A benefit performance
by the players and musicians is
TO be arranged for the John Reed
Club publication. The talents OF
more instrumcntaliStS and vocal
lists are needed. and many willing
to cooperate with the Club are
expected to align themselves i'm
mediately with this group.
Indictment" Sung at Meeting
A spirited example of the type
of music which will be fOrthconI-
ing this winter was the scathing
Indictment" sung at this meet
ing by its composer. the well
known concert baritone and IA
diO singer, Jack DeMerChant, ac,
cOmpanied by Lloyd Simpson at
the piano. A powerful denuncia-
tiOn, its text; strong music real.
istically written; indictment
needs to be heard again ana
again. That such music has en-
erged already should be an en-
cOuragement to other creGtiN G
artists in this country.
Those wishing to participate
in the John Reed Clubs work
through the mediums of music
art or the theatre are asked to
begin Immediately announce
ments of meetings will be print
ed in this column each week.
Stories, Sketches to Be Written
Most important decision made
at the meeting was that of the
writers who will hencefOrth take
over "a column each week in the
Voice of Action. Short sketches,
stories, satires, playlets, recita,
tiOnS are acceptable for this pun
pose. The literature of the North
west is so far barren of proletar
ian accomplishments.
The material exists everywhere
in the L. s. 1t remains only fOI
local writer's to get down to the
facts of life-a workers life. not
the pretty-pretty. the precious
the romantic Qualification of pop
Il lar mis- conceptions lauding
either the machine age as see
Ond golden age or rugged indi,
Ividualism as a desira BILE ambi.
ton for young men starting out
in life. This is not IA golden age
except for the MOrgans, Fords
ROckefellcrs, etc.
The pap and glucose of the
capitalist press including papers
magazines and the radio. must
not be ignored-it must be con
trOverted, contradicted! Probe.
tartan writer's can do no greater
service than to expose the illu
sions, the hypocrisy, the hollow
pretCnse of this trash. Too dan
gerOus to be ignored, the falsity
must be eliminated. and new
honesty put in its place.
Until the John Reed Clul
achieves its goal of establishing
a magazine this column in the
Voice of Action will serve as {
partial outlet for the energies o
club member writers. COmmuni
cations and contributions SHOULD
be addressed to John Reed Club
Voice of Action. Writers, artists
m us icians, vocalists. dancer!
wishing to meet with the clul
should call Vermont 1862 for fur
ther details.