The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-12-21
Liberal Viewpoint
BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES.

THE Chamber of Commerce of the United
| Il States has launched another hysterical on
saught against the Reds. 1t demands a statute
making it an offense to be affiliated with a
Communist movement or to disseminate Com
munist propaganda" 1t proposes to make it a
crime to advocate the overthrow of government
by force. In short, it would take steps to out
law the Communist party in the United States.
The Chamber apparently does not realize
that at least two of our most honored Presidents
would have come within the scope Of such re-
pressve legislation. Jefferson repeatedly praised
violent revolution and held that the tree of
liberty could only be properly fertilized by the
blood of tryants. Lincoln declared that the
right of forceful revolution was one of the most
sacred rights of mankind" At another time he
said that the international bond of the working
man was the most sacred thing in human So
ciety next to family ties.
Further, one may prof1tably call attention to
the fact that such proposals as these of the
Chamber of Commerce were harbingers of the
Fascism brings a greater RECOMMENDATION of bust
ness than anything the Chamber has ever COM
planned about under the New Deal.
DUT neither of these are the most important
- considerations in the present discussion.
The most cogeht reminder which can be brought
to the attention of the Chamber of Commerce
puts its own house in order it will have not the
slightest reason to worry about the Reds or
about the growth of the Communist party in
the United States.
If the Chamber of Commerce sees to it that
American business starts to humming once
more, the Reds will make no more progress in
this country than bathing suit salesman try
ing to vend his wares in mid-Sahara
Such things as the present burden of I'M
employment, inability to get a job under capital
ism, the failure to convict insult and the recent
publication of income figures by the Bureau of
Internal Revenue do more to stimulate recruits
for the Reds than a thousand radical concIaves
in Union Square.
On the very day read of this latest out
burst against the Reds received the bulletin
of the dignif1ed and conservative National AS
ISOLATION for Credit Control This was mainly
taken up with a number of facts which might
we'll be brought to the attention of the Chamber
Of Commerce of the United States.
TN 1890, we had 24O79 banks with total assets
i of $4,000 900 000
In 1888, we had only 1921 banks with assets
of S51 900, 900 600.
Our total masSed debts, public and private,
long and short term, are estimated to be $780,
100000
Our total public interest bill is estimated to
be $40 900 900 ,000
In 1929, our total annual national income
was estimated to be $4,000 900 OO0
In 1885, such income was some SAL 900 OO0.-
OOO
At this time the estimated number of I'M
employed is 100000. The estimated number
of persons on the relief rolls is reported to be
100000, or nearly one-seventh of our total
population.
The national debt has increased from some
Sl6OOO0OO,0OO in 1929 to some S27,5O0 100000 in
Dec. l, 1884.
These are relevant facts for the Chamber of
Commerce to bite into and get to work on The
social conditions which are reflected in these
figures are what furnish the most fertile breed
ing ground Tor radicalism. When the Chamber
OF Commerce can turn in a favorable balance
sheet on American business and financial opera
lions the Reds will need pulmoter rather than
a policeman.