Evening star., 1935-02-04
POLITICAL SPO|LS
HIT At TOWN HALL
Or. Bohn Says Battle for
New Democracy Has
Just Begun.

cent with the Roosevelt administra-
tion In its efforts, to better the lot Of
the average man, DR.. Frank Bohn, au-
thor, lecturer and former college pro-
fessor, declared before the Town He'll
of washington held In the Shoreham
Hotel last night that I'VE must eradi-
cate the spoils system in the Nation
and particularly here in Washington"
DR.. Bohn made this statement dur
ing the period Of questioning that fol-
lowed his address, entitled "The Amer
lean Reply to Communism, Hitlerism
and Fascism," in which he expressed
the faith that the people Of the United
States would lead the world to bet
ter democracy.
II fear the spoils system more than
any other thing In the conquest OF
economic democracy" declared DR..
Bohn.
As a remedy for another twin evil,
the political machine, especially in
the large cities, DR.. Bohn said that it
takes its rise because of the ignorance
of the people, who have it in their
hands to expunge the evils. As an
antidote for this, he urged wider edu-
cation.
Battle Just Begun.
Surveying for his audience "the
black tyranny" which he said exists
today in Russia, Italy and Germany,
DR.. Bohn said that "the battle for the
new American democracy is only be-
gum and insisted that the New Deal
cannot be won in two years-it may
take 20 years, 80 years" He told his
hearers that mo % months in history
has done so much"
IF we lose this fight our children
will have to take up the struggle under
conditions not nearly so advantage
ous," said the speaker. Many a
simple minded American looks upon
the New Deal as an antidote. This
Interpretation misses the main point.
material and spiritual forces of the
Nation and, hence, of our whole people
and Is the most vital process of their
history. For half century we have
been as a people perishing from the
earth. There are fewer first-rate
Americans alive today than there were
at the time of the Civil War. AS
Emerson said, machinery has been in
the saddle and has ruled mankind
We are now determined to rule the
machinery"
Sees Germany as Tragedy.
Delivering his address following the
expouading of Communism, Hitlerism
and Fascism, given by speakers on
previous Sunday nights before the
town hall, DR.. Bohn characterized the
present situation in Germany as "the
greatest single tragedy known to mod
ern times" He said that had it not
been for the Polish Corridor and rep
arationS the German Republic would
have lived. This brought applause
from the audience. Germany, he said,
is now "a traitor to civilization" and
emphasized that both his parents were
German and he bore no ill-will toward
the nation.
OF Russia DR.. Bohn said that Marx
never taught that you could take q
backward peasant people,, 900 years
behind Western Europe-and make
them into industrialists in five years %
Lenin and Trotzky, he contended,
never understood Marx"
Senator Costigan, Democrat, Of
Colorado, a member Of the panel, in
sisted that the speaker was confusing
American ideals with American prac-
tice and cited his own experiences in
Colorado, where people are denied
civil rights under an industrial autoc-
racy. There is fight under way in
Congress, he said, for an anti-lynch
law so that millions can get fair
trial
Would Defend Rights.
DR.. Bohn's remedy for this was to
do battle for constitutional rights
every day and expressed his faith that
"this land will not surrender"
William E. Sweet, former Governor
Of Colorado. now associated with the
Public Relations Division of N. R. A..
attempted to draw DR.. Bohn into a
discussion of freedom of the press
under the present governmental regu-
lation, but the speaker conceded that
he has not read the newspaper code.
Mrs. Florence P. Kahn, Republican,
OF California, another member of the
panel, wanted to know what DR.. Bohn
proposed to do about the spread of
pernicious doctrines by the educators
and he replied that "the attacks upon
the schools are not greatly important"
and said he never personally has met
q teacher spreading un-Americanisn.
DR.. Frank N. Trager, former Johns
Hopkins University professor, another
member Of the panel, objected to DR..
Bohn comparing the situation existing
In Europe with what is projected in
America and said that the comparison
should be on the basis of realities.
The automobile codes are being ex-
tended without the collective bargain
ing clause, said DR.. Trager, and the
unemployed have not economic
freedom.
IF people do not battle for their
freedom, they are going to lose It,"
said DR.. Bohn.
Genator Barkley, Democrat, of Ken
tucky. speaking from the floor. wanted
to know how DR.. Bohn proposed 10
give workers a greater share in the
new industry. The doctor replied that
the task Of organizing labor Is one OF
the greatest facing the Nation. He
said that labor has great future, but
1t must prepare for 1t.
Presiding was DR.. John W. Stude-
baker, United States commissioner OF
education.
Old Vases Bring Help.
Desperately needing money, poor
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