The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-08-16
Liberal Viewpoint
by DIR. HARRY ELMER BARNES

| NM HEN Hitler carried out MS famous ana
w bloody plIge of German Fascism early in
July, 1884 it evident that he and his asso-
ciates were sitting on the lid of great caul-
dron. The question was raised as to how long
they could keep the lid on. Relying for support
upon the aid and friendship of numerous and
bitterly opposed classes the Nazi obviously could
not please all of their ostensibe supporters. The
purge of last year showed that they were turn
ing definitely toward economic conservation,
though with no intention of going SO far with
political conservation as to welcome the return
of the monarchy.
The present disturbances in Germany indi-
cate that the unrest is once more becoming
critical The Jews are always good for brutal
foray to stir up patriotic ardor, and there has
been the customary anti-Semitic f1are-up. But
more fundamental have been the repressive poll
cies with respect to the war veterans and the
Communists
Some Of the former are feared lest they
agitate for a restoration of the monarchy and
the recalling of the Hohenzollerns. And there
are many radicals among the veterans who
would like TO see some of the SocialiStic aspects
Of national socialism put into operation. The
Communists are of course, the natural and Bit
ter foes of Fascism, which is devoted to the
maintenance Of the capitalistic system by force
and unconstitutional methods.
DERHAPS the best analysis of the background
l. of the present rumblings in Germany is that
contained in r. r. Brauns book "Fascism, Make
or Break" international Publishers, $3.50, which
is devoted to the German experience since the
purge of last year. Mr. Braun makes it clear
that the Naz are only the front" for the great
financial and industrial moguls who really domi-
nate Germany:
"Fascism relinquishes the economic COM
mand to the flnance-capitalists. The whole of
industry is placed under small group of para
site capitalists. The Fascist state smoothes the
way for their dictatorship. The result is that
the basis for the existence of the workers and
the small middle classes dwndes still further
Thus Tar the finance and monopoly capital
lists in Germany have been able to extend their
control over German economic life under the
Nazi regime The exploitation of workers and
the middle class has taken the place of the
exploitation of colonial natives which was pos
sible before the war, Nevertheless, their success
is temporary and dubious. Crisis ever lies just
around the corner. The more exploitation, the
greater the discomfort and the greater the dis
content the more need for pressure. suppression
and espionage.
The Fascist state watches the effects of this
social pressure. Through its organizations it
keeps its finger on the pulse of the working
classes in order to discover the hot-beds Of
danger. 1t is a class struggle, carefully thought
out and centrally organized, that the Fascist
state is waging.
TINE classes that are economically weakest.
Il that are least able. individually or in or
ganized groups, to defend themselves are in part
being economically worn out in the process, and
are permanently on the verge of absolute pauper-
ism. These are the young workers. easily re-
placeable, available in abundance-the youth of
the impoverished middle classes the women
workers, the agricultural workers. the workers
in the small enterprises They form reservoir
OF labor, whose unrestricted underpayment is to
enable the small and medium enterprises to re-
lieve the pressure eyerted on them by the big
monopolies.
The workers in the larger undertakings are
SUBJECT to no less pressure. But from them there
is more to fear, they can more easily and more
quickly organize collective resistance and be-
come an openly militant anti-Fascst mass force
FaSciSm knows this danger; consequently it
floods every large-scale enterprise with its spies
and watches all former MarxiSts with the utmost
care.
Wage cuts here are often carried out in
roundabout way: for example by exchanging
better paid workers for half-starved UNEMPLOYED
Since, however, these are generally not so we'll
qualified. the former are often taken on again
OF course, at lower rates of pay"
German rearmament is designed only in part
to meet the responsibilities imposed by possible
foreign war Hence for German imperialism.
complete Iearmanent to the utmost limit is
least Of all financial or technical question: it is
above all a question Of security against the
enemy at home against the proletarian class"
Yet. as the crisis deepens and discomfort be-
comes more marked. it may be necessary to TO-
ment foreign war in order to submerge domes-
tic resentment. Then. however. the government
will be faced with the danger Of armiag millions
Of discontented workers and peasants and asking
them TO lay down their lives to defend govern
ment and a system which has ruthlessly ex-
plotted them. Therefore, foreign war would be
as likely to encourage as to ward of internal
revolution.