Evening star., 1936-09-22

Il firmly rooted in Russia (though
lately 1t has modified itself slightly,
fascism Is firmly rooted in Italy and
Germany. In Spain there ID savage
civil war between the two. In France,
there Il political and intellectual con-
fiict between the two ideals. with the
Communist ideal growing.
Here are five out Of the six large
countries Of Europe together with
some smaller countries) subjected to
one or the other Of the new concep-
tions, or backgrounds on which the
two contend. Everybody agrees that
the tide Of social revolution u still
rising.
U. 8. May Face Choice.
For America, the question Is: Can
we ride through this storm without
taking on some variation OF either
communism or fascism and without
becoming q battle-ground on which
the two contend? It Is living ques-
ton and a growing one. The Euro
pean political terms. LEFT" and
Right" have become. during the past
few years, almost rs familiar Is
Democrat" and Republican" The
terms communism" and "fascism" are
becoming familiar; there is hardly .
political speech that does not men
ton them. The most explosive de-
velopment in, the present campaign
is the charge that one of the candi-
dates is supported by Communists.
If any one knows which outcome
of this campaign Is the best to avoid
what has happened in Europe. that
Is the outcome America ought to seek.
There is . school Of thought which
asserts that Mr.. Roosevelt has the
best way, that his alternate yeering
to left and right Is a good sailors
method Of weathering the world storm.
This Is probably the best argument
made for Mr.. Roosevelt's course rs
President and for his reelection. The
dificulty Is the net of Mr.. Roosevelt's
course finds him. at the end Of four
years, pointed in the direction which
the country wants to avoid, and which
he says he wants to avoid. When'the
Communist leaders say they want Mr..
Roosevelt reelected, we must assume
they know what is best for their pur-
pose.
Class Strife . Factor.
What causes the Communists to pre-
fer Mr.. Roosevelt is not. mainly, any
direct steps he has taken toward COM
munism. Communist Presidential
Candidate Browder says himself that
Mr.. Rooseelt Is capitalist minded"
Mr.. Roosevelt's service to the social
revolutionists lies mainly In his stir
ring up of class hatred. Glass hatred
is the soil in which revolution thrives.
For the moment Mr.. RooSevelt's
speeches are mild. But the spirit Of
his speeches as q whole Is passion
provoking. After he delivered his
address to Congress last January even
his devoted former aide and present
supporter. Gen. Hugh johnson. said
the address was q 'rabble rouser /. {.
deliberate appeal to passion the
joy Of every advocate Of class hatred
here and in Russia -"
That speech, We may assume, and
others similar, and the expectation
that Mr.. Roosevelt will make still
others like it-that is probably the
main reason the Communists want
Mr. Roosevelt reelected.
There Is q school which feels that
to avoid social upheaval, election Of
Landon is the best outcome Of
the campaign. This may be true if
stated with q necessary qualification.
II Gov. Landon should be elected,
and II he should be mere stand
pat conservative trying to take the
country back to old conditions, he
would not avoid social commotion; he
would further it. The American sys-
tenn imperatively needs certain modi-
fications. The expectation that Lam
don knows this and will bring the
notifications about is the best argu-
ment for those who support him.
tCopyright, 1880