The Washington times., 1936-09-23
OBEY MOSCOW.
SOCIALIST
ASSERTS

Communists are actively sup.
porting President Roosevelt for
reelection, Norman Thomas, So.
cialist presidential candidate,
flatly declared here yesterday,
This Communist support is di
rected from Moscow. Thomas as
serted. The Socialist leader said:
"There has been . bewilder-
ing change in the attitude Of
the Communists towards ROOse-
welt in the last two years.
There is . new attitude.
REDS IN CAMPAIGN
Support is q strong word,
but the Communists are giving
Roosevelt a left-handed but &C
tive support. They are in 1t
the campaign. We don't have
to prove it through secret dOcu-
ments. It's just sO.".
Thomas made this statement
amplifying his views on Com
muniSm and the presidential cam
paign after addressing 800 mem
bers of the National Press Club at
luncheon.
The former clergyman declared
his opposition to the international
aspect Of communism, in which
Moscow seeks to influence other
countries to adopt communism
for the benefit Of Russia.
Answers Query
It was in answer to questions
that Thomas turned to his attack
on communism after denouncing
the "capitaliStic" theories of both
the Democratic and Republican
"preSidentiar candidates.
Asked the difference between
communism and social lis M
Thomas said:
my main quarrel with COM
muniSm is that it denies all
civil rights. 1 am opposed to its
violence and assassinations."
Thomas said two years ago the
Communists had fought Roosevelt
but now they had changed and
had become more adroit by sup
porting him.
Not Concerned
The Socialist leader declared:
"T am not concerned in the
metamOrphOsiS of Earl BrOwder,
Communist candidate for Presi-
dent, who would have you vote
for him and at the same time
not defeat Roosevelt"
Thomas decried the Socalled
"blood purge" in Russia following
the Kirov murder, in which several
score persons were reported slain
and the murder convictions Of an
other large group following the
Zinoviev assassination.
Emphasizing the swing OF the
Communists toward. Roosevelt
Thomas said the Communist organ
in America, the Daily Worker:
"Is awkwardly and shyly kiss
ing Roosevelt"
Quit Party
Thomas also revealed that sew
eral hundred Socialists have re
signed from his party to support
po0Savelt adding.
"That goes to show that even
Socialists can have a relapse"
Questioned as to who would win
the presidential election, Thomas
replied:
81 should be most surprised If
Roosevelt did not win handily,
but then what?"
Thomas flayed Roosevelt, Gov
ernor Alfred M. Landon, the Re
publican candidate, Representa-
tive Lemke of North Dakota, and
the Townsendites, Coughlinites
and followers of Gerald L. K
Smith.
Attacks Roosevelt
Asserting that Roosevelt had not
been explicit about his future
plans, Thomas said:
"RealIy there is not much left
Of the old New Deal, except at
mOSphere. We are having some
temporary recovery but we will
learn that we can't spend our
selves out of depresSiOns."
Thomas branded the Roosevelt
relief program as "extravagant
and badly organized" and de
clared the new farm program q
confession of failure of the old
program.
Thomas said the Roosevelt legis
lative program has been make
shift" and most Of it had been
outlawed by the Supreme Court