The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1936-07-31

/ GULu 1IOIIl G414O pO1uI OUT, DIlCl
ly, certain serious flaws in Mr.
RoOsevelt's record as a progress
sive. l do not think that we neeC
to be alarmed at the concentration
of power in his hands which 81
concerns those famous lovers of Ii
berty, the DuPonts and other ma
gnates who understand by liberty
the freedom to grab what you can
and keep what you grab. I an
more concerned for things left I'M
done. l refer specifically to the
Presidents failure as the great
leader of his party to put through
such vital measures as the Pure
Food and Drug Act, and the Wag-
ner Housing Bill; the former had
been seriously awakened; the lat
ter was inadequate; yet both were
essential to any truly progressive
record. The Administrations fail
ure to use housing instead of made
work to conquer both unemploy-
ment and slums is among the most
serious of its failures.
l refer also to the way in which
the Presinent and his party are
lodging the constitutional issue.
Eight out of ten New Deal mea-
sures were thrown out by our judi
clal Ollgarchy, and the most that
the Democratic platform says is
that if the court keeps on kicking
its hound dog around the Demo
Gratis will seek a clarifying a
This is pussyfooting
a vengeance. Is the President wait
ing till after election to spring
something? By contrast l again
call attention to our specific pro-
posal to amend the constitution so
as to give Congress power to enact
laws necessary for our economic
and social wellbeing.
Most serious of all as a reproach
to the Presidents progressivism is
his silence concerning the fog
glng, night riding and terrorism
for which his own supporters are
responsible in Florida, Arkansas,
and elsewhere. With this must be
included his silence on laws most
in Democratic states
Which deny democracy by making
t virtually impossible for a min |
'rlty party to get on the ballot.
Thus, in Louisiana, a Democratic |
state now loyal to the President |
Vt least since certain income tax
Prosecutions have been dropped, |
ne Socialist party, to get on the
allot, requires 1000 signatures of
hose who can satisfy the parish
Jerk that previously when there
7as no Socialist party on the bal
OF, they had been acknowledged
SOCIALISTS. You see the catch?
.Iorlda, the worst state of all, re-
uIres that a party, to be on the
allot, must have had 80 per cent
I the vote at the preceding elec-
ION. North Carolina requires TO-
10 signatures of citizens; who
ract1cally pledge themselves to
ote Socialist. Ohio requires, under
er present law, $4,000 sigma
1res! Each campaign sees worse
avs and strieter or more arbitr-
ry Interpretation of them. Poten-
al Socialist voters are intimidat-
4 from signing for fear of loss of
DDS or relief. Add poll tax laws
nd other determinations. racial
nd economic, and you will see how
nreaI is our democracy. But the ,
resident, as well as his party, /
nd Of course, the Republicans,
old their peace. Do you wonder at
1r Socialist skepticism when we
ear these politicians proclaim
lelr devotion to democracy?
But this hypocrisy is at least
'glcal. Those who support capital
m IN their day and generation
lpport a system which, bv its
ature, denies a true democracy.
rue freedom, as we'll as LASTING t
eace and abundance for all de ]
7nds upon the ideals and institu- q
ones of Socialism. It demands the i
Id OF private ownership of the t
sources which the life of all of
J. depends. The Socialist platform f
is year, even more than ever. in 2
SITS on planned production for \
e, not private profit, as essential A
a good life. That requires social 1
Vnershlp and democratic manage 4
ent. 1t is consistent with .snch T
reforms as we have ont n
led. But not immediate reforms. f
t Socialism, the only alternative
1asclsm-that is our message. Y
/ i