The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-04-16
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES


Il to the Strachey case. to the Hearst cru
SADIE against liberal teachers and the like has
unfortunately distracted attention from the less
spectacular but more dangerous efforts being
made in our state legislatures and in Congress to
crush out the fundamental American liberties
relating 10 free thought and expression.
Many of those who expect Fascism to come
to America are looking for it to emerge in col
orlul fashion through the plotting Of some dra-
matte figure. While worrying about Huey Long,
Father Coughlin, Gen. johnson and the like,
they fail to discern the manner in which Fas-
cism is very really creeping upon us from behind
through laws engineered by reactionary and pa
triotic societies.
Unless this movement is exposed and checked,
we shall not need any man on horseback TO END
democracy and freedom in the United States.
Hence the article on Patriotism Dons the Black
Shirt" by Raymond Grant Swing in The Nation
is very timely.
There are five major types of drives against
civil liberties which are now under way in TINS
country Cd Compulsory loyalty oaths exacted
of teachers; (2) attempts to keep the Conmun-
ist party off the ballot and thus make revolu-
tionary activity its only means of expression
80 the imposition Of heavy penalties on anybody
agitating for the overthrow Of government by
force of violence; (4) provision for the suppress
sion of propaganda among the armed forces OF
the government. and go the ousting and eXclu-
PASP"G0AA~'~'
TINE silly loyalty oaths for teachers are now
Il required in Is states. They have been put
on the statute books chiefly through the action
of the Sons and Daughters of the American
Revolution, the Elks and the American Legion.
Far more serious than these loyalty laws Is
the effort to outlaw the Communist party. The
usual pattern of such bills is the following:
No political party shall be recognized and
given a place on the ballot which advocates the
overthrow by force or violence OF our local. state,
or national government"
Inasmuch as the chief objection to the Com
munist party by patriots is the fact that it adj
vocates unconstitutional methods of achieving
reform, it is singularly illogical to compel it to
abandon such constitutional methods of express
sion and activity it uses today
Still more menacing as affecting many more
Americans is the Kramer bill now before Con-
gress which would impose fine of $4,000, or a
sentence of 10 years of both on the following
types Of persons
whoever by word of mouth or in writing adj
vocates, advises, or teaches the duty necessity,
desirability, prOpriety OF overthroWng or over
turning the government
whoever, with intent to overthrow or over
turn the government D.. by force or violence or
any unlawful means, prints publishes edits, is
sues, or knowingly circulates, sells, distributes,
or publicly displays any book, paper, document,
or written or printed matter in any form con-
doctrine that the government should be
overthrown or overturned by force, violence, or
by any unlawful means.
XXTHOEVER organizes or helps to organize,
w or becomes member Of or affiliates with
any society, group, or assembly of persons
formed to teach or advocate the overthrow or
overturn of the government
Since the government is obviously in no dan
ger of actual overthrow by force, it is obvious
that this bill is designed chiefly to prevent the
expression of radical opinion criticising the pres
ent economic order.
Particularly sinister is the Mccormack bill,
now before Congress, which would impose heavy
penalties those who in any way advocate dis
obedience of the laws or regulations governing
the military or naval forces of the United States.
The ostensibe purpose of the bill is to protect
the Army and Navy against radical propaganda,
but its deeper aim is to curb any criticism of the
use of the armed forces of the government in
putting down civil disorders arising out of in
dustrial disputes. EXhortation to a soldier to
refrain from shooting down a striker could
legally draw two-year prison sentence.
Perhaps most absurd of all is the DickStein
bill which would authorize the deportation or
exclusion of any type of foreign propaganda.
AS active representative of the Pope in America,
or of the British League of Nations Union could
be proceeded against under this bill. If for
eigner asked disconcerting question at public
forum, he could be thrown out of the country.
Some of the state bills almost incredibly
absurd and far-reaching In Connecticut, it was
proposed to outlaw even pictures which advo-
Gated or encouraged any change in the govern
ment of the United States. Under this bill even
a progressive cartoonist would have found him
self hamstrung and liable to punishment.