The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-03-15
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

ONE often wonders how some of our eminent
~ industrialists and financiers can be so ap-
parently dumb, blind and impervious to changes
which would save their own scalps. Indeed so
immune do many of them seem to elementary
logic that they need to be saved from them
selves.
Perhaps the answer is to be found in the
kind of books they read, when they read at all.
Taken by himself alone Congressman James M.
Beck will appear to most sane readers a high
priest of the Constitution cult. Compared with
the thorough-going Constitution mongers, how
ever, Mr.. Beck seems the embodiment of dignity,
urbanity, sound sense and liberalism.
The most extreme and unfortunately, the
most influential of these frantic worshippers of
the Constitution is Mr.. Harry F. Atwood of
Chicago. We are assured by no less person
than Mr. John E. Edgerton, formerly president
of the National Association of Manufacturers
that:
1.-THE work of Harry Atwood will endure for
ever and its incalculable values undoubtedly
will grow with the years. have known no man
OF modern times who was more eloquent or
more powerful interpreter of American in
situations . Whatever revival of reverence
for the Constitution of the United States has
taken place during this century is undoubtedly
more due to the efforts of this great American,
Harry Atwood, than to any other individual"
T.. M. KIRBY, vice-president of the Woolworth
Il Company further affrms that: Harry
Atwood has left his mark on the history of this
country the United States owes Harry At
wood a debt of gratitude for straight teaching
of the Constitution and the helping of other
people to understand it,"
elsewhere have referred to earlier books by
Mr.. Atwood, such as his Keep God in American
History Safeguarding American IDEALS" and
Back to the Republic"
1t has amazed me that these books could be
read without a strong feeling of nausea by any
one above the level of a moron with an eighth
grade education.
Let any one who thinks that I am exag-
gerating or am unfair to Mr.. Atwood get these
little books and form his own judgment They
are so incredibly unScientific that they could be
ignored completely, were it not for the fact that
they have encouraged tens of thousands of our
economic leaders to resist any progressive legis-
lation which might save the American system
from ruin and collapse.
Now, in one of the most critical periods of
our whole national history when we need above
all to adapt our institutions to the crisis of the
day, Mr.. Atwood comes out with another volume
entitled, Orderly Progress or Chaos?" and dis
tributed by the Constitution Education Associa-
ton Of Chicago. 1t is on the same subsoil in
telIectual level with his earlier efforts.
l. IT'S Mr.. Atwood regards as the most
crucial and important in the three million years
that man has lived on the planet.
Not only has the Constitution of the United
States provided the best form of government
ever known to mankind 1t also has been direct
Iy responsible for our industrial progress from
the wooden spade to the steam pillow and from
the oX-cart to the Pullman car and airplane.
Even the material prosperity of the other coun-
tries of the world has been due to their imita-
ton OF the American form of government IN
ventorS count for little.
Mr. Roosevelt and his associates are by i'm
phcatlon branded as superficial and hypo-
critical demagogues" who are trying to betray
our national heritage through the same methods |
OF direct action that led to the fall of Greece
and Rome and to the conviction and crucifxion
OF Jesus. He ends up with ringing warning
against following these false prophets:
But if We want the Constitution to continue
to be rising sun and don't want it to 90 into
eclipse as the charters of other nations have |
we Will have to be true to that anchor of faith,
we will have to be loyal to the Ark of the
Covenant.
If We are not and if we continue this drift
from representative government toward direct
action; from individual property rights toward
Communistic, Socialistic and government owner
ship tendencies; from individual responsibility
for individual conduct, toward class conscious |
ness, class action and class legislation: saw
II We continue that drift-we will 60 the wav
that other nations have gone which have been
without anchor of faith or Ark of Covenant