The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-02-15
Communism Definite
 Menace To Waterbury
Walter Jarvis Explains LegOn's Attitude, Efforts to Combat Radical Movements Education Is Weapon


 the past several months have been gaining both national and local at- tention are regarded by the Amer ican Legion as definite. menace, according to Walter A. Jarvis, Standardization officer of Corporal Coyle post.
 interviewed by, William T. Far rington, city editor of the Water bury Democrat, over station WATR yesterday, Mr Jarvis, "a. past com mander of the local post strongly assailed fcommhntst principles and promised full support of the legion in the ant-communist movement sponsored throughout the nation by the Ellss.l 7, <, 1T 4,aasS g
 T believe oopamunism to be real menace to, Waterbury, and the country at large" MT Jarvis said.
 No Strikes Here
 ''Waterbufy hhs$been free from industrial disturbances over a per- iod of years, but if these commit nists had their say, they would turn this peaceful and .law-abiding com munity into one of strikes and riots and deprive decent, law-abid- ing citizens of the privilege of working according to their own dictations. During the past year in other parts of the country we have had examples of communistic ac- tivities, and I refer you to the San Francisco strike where these con- munisitc supporters with the aid of other radical groups were able to shut off the city of San Francisco from its supply of milk and food stuffs and cause serious conditions to exist until effective. means were brought about to put an end to this industrial struggle. Communistic groups were behind strikes. during 1884 in Toledo, Detroit and Flint, Michigan, as well as other western cities where theJ communists are more active than they are at pres ent in this section of the country. It is my opinion that Waterbury is in no real danger of communisitc activities either In industry or oth- erwise, but do not feel that we should sit back and give them free rein and await results which would be none too pleasant for all of us."
 Education
 The most effective weapon with which to combat communism, MT Jarvis believes, is education. Where the communist breaches hate of this country and of the constitu- tional form of government, 1t is the aim of the legion to teach love of country, of the Constitution and of the privileges of American citi- zenship, he said.
 He described the objects of com munism as an "organized effort to overthrow organized governments, aiming at the specialization of the government, private property. in- dustry. labor, the home, education and religion"
 Of the announced plan of local communists to form a school teaching their principals to groups of students in the Waterbury schools, MT Jarvis said that the legion was investigating this activ- ity.
 "We have absolute faith that tenn will handle this situation in an intelligent and effective manner at the proper time," he said. "Just now this appears to be nothing more than an idle threat on the part of seme irresponsible people here in Waterbury in the interest of communism"
 The speaker praised highly the local educational system. "Where there are good schools you will find good citizens" he said. We think this is particularly true in Water bury"
 Local activities of the commu- nists are discussed by MT Jarvis in the following excerpt:
 Communists Active
 '"The local communists while not large in numbers are exceedingly active through various groups and communistic clubs. For example, the average citizen has neither never heard of or knows nothing of the background of, the Young Pioneers, a communistic group for youths. Then, there Is Young Communist league. another youth full communist activity; the Ma tional Students league; the Trade Unit league Gone of the most act i've in these parts); the American Civil Liberties. union;i the Indus trial union which comprises forty two communist unions. Most of us have heard of the International Labor Defense, and more recently the Workers schools, and there are others travelling under camou- fiage names and titles.
 we find the National Students league intensifying their efforts in q number of institutions of learn Ing throughout the country. The activities for this organization are centered in high school and col lege, but can truthfully say that we have not encountered any such activities in our local institutions. The communists have daily pa- per, which is published in New York and circulated throughout