Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-09-14

Editor The Witness, Episcopal Church Weekly
Sec'y Church League for Industrial Democracy
lot Of smart people are writing these days
on the Choice Before Us, but it seems to me that
few Of them get down to brass taeks. They all
know that the world is in mess and that
changes are inevitable. But most of them are
looking for an easy way out.
As a Well-known writer said, people are will
ing to do anything for the workers but get
off their backs. So today we find mild reforms
advocated by all sorts of people. | was talking
with one OF them the other day
He was arguing his head off about the per-
manence of the present economic order. slightly
reformed but ended the conversation by saying
well whatever happens, | am set. | bought
farm the other day so that If things smash COM
pletely can raise potatoes and turnips and at
least eat" That is the amount of confidence
that he has in the reformed capitalism which
he was defending so belligerently.
Present Order Finished
The simple fact is that the present order is
washed up. There is no possible way for the
present rulers to maintain their power short
OF dictatorship, and capitalist dictatorship
means Fascism And Fascism doesn't mean
fundamentally, jew batting Negro batting
Black shirts. Brown shirts, castor oil and all
the rest of the silly business that we read about
i'm the papers, bad as these secondary charac-
tcristcs certainly are
1t means the limiting of production by the
owners of the machines and the starvation of
the great masses of the people in order that
their profit system may be maintained a while
longer 1t means even worse than that-it means
War for part of their program is to seek en-
port markets for the goods denied the starving
millions.
Economically we have the beginnings of
Fascism here i'm the United States Codes are
limiting production and the government is Or
dcring the farmers to burn their wheat, pillow
under their cotton and kill their little pigs
Why? Because people have no need of these
things? Not at all. 1t is because the profit sys-
tenn can be maintained only if there is a scarcity
OF goods, and the masters are determined that
there shall be profits even if it means starva-
ton and misery for the vast majority
We are suckers if we allow them to get
away with it, and by I'VE" | mean everyone
for all but the very few on top are going to suf-
fer more and more as this thing develops 1t
means, first of ALL starvation. 1t means further
the suppression of all liberties and the enslave-
ment Of mankind.
Churches In Danger
The churches will become the handmade
Of the state, just as they have been made to
buckle under in the Fascist countries in ErI-
rope. All who prize religious freedom must OPP
pose Fascism Educators are enslaved- witness
what has happened to them in Germany and
Italy.
Trade Unions will be put out of business.
Civil liberties will most certainly be rutheSsly
denied with any one daring to express an opin-
ion displeasing to the masters, either killed or
thrown into concentration camp or prison.
All Of us-noW that the Second Congress
Against War and Fascism approaches, all of us
Christians, Jews, Atheists, Conservatives, Lib
erals and Radicas-must fight this thing be-
fore it develops any further. The way to fight it
is first of all to understand the economic forces
that are driving us rapidly in that direction
New System Needed
The only ultimate escape, | believe, is into
new social order. Here we will find not starva-
tion, but plenty for all; not dread of destitu
ton in old age, but the assurance of security:
not the denial of all that makes life worth the
living, but the releasing of power in man that
makes for the free and abundant life.
The American League Against War and
Fascsm appeals to the fOrward-looking men
and women of America to join in the great u. s.
Congress Against War and Fascism to meet in
Chicago the last three days of this month, to
discuss the problems arising out of this threat
that hangs over us all.
There further impetus will be given to that
nationwide organization that was launched last
year. an organization that is determined to give
real battle to the forces in our life that are
making for Fascist enslavement and War.