The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-07-14
BY DAVID RAMSEY
Science and FasciSm

1870 Ns~A'AA
EVENTS in Italy and Germany
have proved beyond doubt that
knowledge is despised and feared
by fascisrn. Dying capitalism can
not tolerate facts. For facts are the
most merciless critics Of the cap
italist scheme Of things. Facts point
out that fascism is the enemy Of
everything that makes for progress
or a higher civilization. Of every
one who utilities reason and science.
knowledge is forbidden and stifed
by the fa.scists. Scientists are beat
en-, killed, exiled or forced into
silence. The mysticism Of blood"
replaces scientific explanation.
To the scientist under fascism
when he is not forced to endure
compulsory labor or military drilD
there remains only one field in
which he can labor and please his
masters. He can do research to
perfect the weapons of war. Death
and frightfulness become the priced
detectives Of scientific research.
Every scientist who is permitted to
work must toll and sweat so that
the Thyssens and Krupps can con-
tinue to clip coupons.
Technicians and scientists, con-
slider the Third Reich The most
progressive and modern architects
have been driven out Of the coun-
try. German fascism forbids the
construction of modern housing,
which it describes as houses with
out roofs in the oriental desert
style" Architects are urged to con-
centrate on new kinds of master
pieces-"on military roads, gas
proof cellars and concentration
camps"
Professor Ewald Banse - Spen-
gler's chief competitor for the job
of official Nazi theoretician - as
signs the following function to
biology:
Biology will make war into an
instrument of wholesale annihIa-
ton. We anticipate: injecting
drinking water with typhoid ba-
cilli; the dissemination of typhus
by fieas; and spreading bubonic
plague by artificially infected rats.
The biologist, like the chemist
and the physicist, becomes an in
strument Of mass murder.
Physicians are no longer per-
mitted to have as their function
the healing of the sick. They are
forced to sterilize helpless political
prisoners. They are not permitted
to give sexual information to work
ing class women. The latter must
breed more sons for the coming
slaughter.
Engineers and scientists are re-
minded by Ernst Domier, another
Nazi theoretician, that technology
is not intended to be an instrument
utilized for the benefit of mankind.
"The profoundest and only great
significance Of Technology lies in its
relationship to War. Technology as
comfort, as entertainment, as prog
ress, are things that must be for
gotten. Decisive in the worlds
political struggle, and enchanting to
the manly spirit, is Technology as
a war weapon"
MOST scientists in America and
ln England are righteously in
dignant about such a state OF af-
fairs. But unfortunately many of
them refuse to admit that they are
facing the same conditions in their
own countries. They attempt to dis
tinguish between fascism and ode
mocracy" - as if in England and
America the ruling classes are not
doing their best to beat down the
working class and establish fas-
cism. Scientists and technicians
must learn a decisive lesson. Their
enemy and the enemy of all that
is decent and important in human
culture, is not merely fascism-it is
capitalism in all its phases and
forms. FaScisrn is the last desperate
effort of the bourgeoisie to save
their system. In America, Roose-
welt, taking his orders from big
business, is driving toward fascism.
He will be stopped only If the work.
ers defeat his program of hunger
and war.
The overwhelming majority OF
technicians and scientists in Amer
lea are proletarian in economic
status if not in political belief.
Ninety-five per cent of architects.
IS per cent Of engineers, and IS per
cent of chemists are unemployed.
according to a recent survey.
Trained Phi. DIS are glad to get