The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-12-19
Priest Urges
More Planes
For Defense
COughlin in Favor of
Building Large Fleet
For War Purposes
BY A. B. MAGIL

III AL Jan, MICH, DSC. IL
Father Charles E. Coughlin, radio
priest and organizer of a new fas-
cist-tinged movement, the National
Union for Social Justice, today de-
clared in favor Of building up a
large air force for National De-
Tense"
81 think we should have one plane
for every mile of coast line" he
said.
This would make total of 1888
planes--even beyond the War De-
partment's present demand.
Coughlin also revealed that he is
receiving inside information con-
corning the Senate Munitions IN
quiry from Senators Vandenberg
and Nye. land others" This indi-
Gates that the radio priest has di-
rect connections with Government
sources.
Talked at Press Conference
Coughlin's statements came in the
course of a press conference in the
basement business Office of his
Shrine of the Little Flower, his
million-dollar church built with
scab labor.
Asked by your correspondent
whether he was against big war
appropriations, he said: Absolute
ly," but Immediately went on: you
know, Russia'S got it on us like a
tent. They're not spending any
money on navy; they're building
an air feet. That's what I'm in
favor of. Ample defense is what we
need The Constitution is a Won
derful document We never use the
word 'Offense' in the Constitution;
all it talks about is National De-
fense."
When it was pointed out to
Coughlin that he has declared him
self against all war, he said:
I'm theory yes, but let's be prac-
teal; we're dealing with fallen hui
man nature, aren't we, and we're
talking about a defensive war"
Supports Imperialism
When questioned further on his
conception of defensive war"
Coughlin made it clear that he
stands for the Monroe Doctrine,
that is, he supports American i'm
perialist domination of LATINA
lean countries and the policy of mil
itary intervention to maintain wall
Streets oppressive rule.
Only moment before the priest
had characterized the Senate NUM-
lions investigation as "the greatest
movement toward peace the world
he's seen in two thousand years"
He subscribed to the taking-ths-
profits out Of war propaganda,
under cover of which the Rooeevelt
Government is going ahead with in
tensified war Preparations. but when
asked to comment on the Presidents
recent conference for the mcoiliza-
ito nof all war resources, he shrewd-
ly refused to discuss it.
Changes Subject
Coughlin also contradicted
number of statements he had made
in a talk in the chapel next to his
church last Tuesday night. In that
talk he had introduced an anti
Semitic innuendo when he ended
a discussion of usury by mimicking
Jewish accent.
Last Tuesday night he had de-
clared that per cent should be
the maximum interest allowed on
loans; but today he had forgotten
all about that and said 4 per cent
should be the maximum.
Last Tuesday he said the Govern
ment had made deal with the
bankers; today, 1.-THE new deal IS
trying to break away from the big
fnanciers." He also declared that
the policies of the Roosevelt Gov
eminent had nothing to do with the
increase in million dollar inconreS,
and fauded Secretary 1ckes for
ten billion dollar public works plan
as right down our alley"