The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-26

Dl lIIC dk1I III Il dSCAOlll
confined to complaints in the news
papers. And here is where the crUx
lies. Capitalists are not accus-
toned to bow to plans merely be-
cause these plans happen to ex-
press the illusions of the petty
bourgeoisie.
Sinclair Begins to Retreat
The bourgeois press of California
has launched a campaign against
Sinclair in which nothing of agi-
rational value is spared. Charges
against him range from atheism to
Communism. As soon as this on
slaught started Sinclair began to
retreat. Answering charges that he
is a member Of such an organiza-
ton as the Civil Liberties Union,
Sinclair swore that he did not know
that this organization was secretly
supporting Communists. Also he
complained that radical elements
frequently put his name on docu-
ments which he had never read.
BY defending himself in this
manner, Sinclair overlooks the fact
that if all he says is true it is
poor recommendation for a man
who promises to abolish poverty.
For if the radicals" can put some
thing over on him, where is the
guarantee that the businessmen.
who are slicker and shrewder, won't
put it all over him? For the sake
Of winning his election, however,
Sinclair resorts not only to what
is known in polite parlance
sycophancy, but he is already
abandoning part of his program
Thus his security for old age and
sickness has slowly disappeared.
And this is before more powerful
pressure has been invoked than
newspaper ballyhoo,
AS the election campaign will
gain in momentum, the reactionary
terrorist organizations of California
strike fame will emerge. And what
do you suppose they are going to
do-watch with equanimity how
Mr.. Sinclair will proceed to expro-
pirate capital?
On the Way to Fascism
Mr.. Sinclair swears that he has
no such intentions, that he is ready
to pay any amount to the CAPT
talists for leasing their property,
that he does not want anybody to
be dissatisfied, because he is sure
that the productivity of labor under
his plan would be so high that it
could easily bear any cost. How
ever, even if the capitalists be-
lieved these splendid prospects Of
Mr.. Sinclair, they are not likely to
believe that the American workers,
with industry and agriculture in
their control, would want to raise
the productivity Of labor, not for
the purpose Of improving their liv-
ing conditions but to keep up the
pleasant disposition Of the capital
lists. The same California capital
lists Who set into motion all the
State forces Of violence in order
to crush a simple strike, have suffl-
Gent means to prevent the election
of legislature which would be
prepared to carry out a program
to end poverty. But even If SIN
clair succeeded in winning the
governorship and in obtaining a
majority in the legislature to SUP
port his plan, there would still re-
main all the means by which capt.
tai is able to influence the minds
of the popular electors" through
whom 1t could deprive of finances
a State power which would attempt
policy inimical to its interests.
Sinclair's campaign to abolish
poverty by the ballot will end only
in bankruptcy. But it may have
also very positive results from the
standpoint Of the further develop
ment of the United States, because
1t will serve as an object lesson to
the masses. 1t will show them the
true forces and the true ways of
history. The legendary Hercules,
according to tradition, was stronger
than Sinclair, but when he cleaned
the Augean stables he did not use
tooth brush.
The true nature of things, how
ever, is far deeper. Mr.. Sinclair
says he abhors fascism. In reality,
however, he is already stepping
along the path of barren fascism"
its "barrenness" is transient
phenomenon.