The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-15
Liberal Viewpoint
= BY DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

y important appraisal Of year Of the New
y Deal has come from the American Civil
Liberties Union. 1t has published its annual
report on the fate Of civil liberties during the
last year.
In those fields where the fundamental eco
nonic struggle between labor and capital is
not involved, the New Deal thus far has had a
very favorable influence upon the revival and
enjoyment Of our liberties
The Roosevelt administration has had such
general public support that 1t could afford to
be tolerant of criticism. Moreover most articu-
late criticism has come from the Republican
party and has been Of political nature. 1t
obviously would not be expedient to attempt TO
choke this of.
Likewise, with respect to its attitude toward
the press. the radio and the movies, the admin
stration has not lent its support to any proposal
for censorship.
THE encouraging aspects Of the New Deal
l. in relation to rights and liberties are the
more tolerant policies toward aliens, toward IN
dams, the Presidents amnesty on Cnrlstmas re-
storing civil rights to those convicted under the
espionage act during the war, and the treat
rnent for example of the bonus army in Wash
inpton last summer, in contrast to It's treatment
under the Hoover administration"
When it comes however, to the fundamental
conflict between capital and labor, there is quite
a different story. The administration encour-
aged labors hopes and activities by Its eXpan-
sive promises to labor and more specifically by
Clause IA of the NRA which explicitly guaran-
teed to labor the right Of collective bargaining.
When labor took the administration seriously
and acted in a manner consistent with us pro-
nouncements the government calmly walked OUT
from under:
THE government has not INTERVIEWED to stop
EMPLOYERS interference with union activities. 1t
has not outlawed company unions. 1t has tenoeo
to restrict the right to strike. Tt has discrim-
mated against left-Wing and Independent traoe
unions 1t has not given labor representation OH
the code authorities. The present tendencies are
TO take labor into camp as part Of the govern
mental industrial machine and thereby to lull
opposition to sleep by making the workers be-
leve the government will look after their own
interests"
WITH respect to injunctions against labor
w the federal record for the last year mas
been fairly good. The constitutionaHty OF the
Norris-Ia Guardia anti-injunction bill has three
times been upheld in the federal courts ana
denied once An appeal to the United States SUI
prene court is now in progress and test case
certainly will come before the court IN It's SEES
sions of 1934-35. Not until March, 1884, hao a
federal Injunction against labor been issued since
the passage of the bill. There has, however,
ASSN'SNN $1,000
judges.
With respect to political prisoners the condl-
ton has not been altered greatly. A Mooney ana
Billings appeal to the federal court has oeen
denied by both the district court and the circuit
court of appeals The present plan is to carry
the appeal directly to the supreme court. Only
one man still remains in prison in connection
with the Centralia case of 1919. The prisoner has
refused to accept a parole. No one now is
serving a sentence under state criminal synol-
calsm or sedition laws. The Scottsboro case still
hangs fire in spite of the singing reouke OF Che
prosecution by Judge James E. Horton.
The attitude of the department Of labor to-
ward aliens has been as sensible and liberal as
possible within the limitations imposed by laws
The preposterous attitude of the Republican ad-
ministrations with respect to visits to the coun-
try by alien radicals has been reversed Fe[-
roits have been granted to such notable radicals
as Tom Mann Henri Barbusse and Emma Gold
man.