Evening star., 1937-08-29
"D|STRUST WITHIN"
DEMOCRACY PERIL,
ROOSEVELT HINTS
President, in Letter, Ques-
tIons Attitude of Group Pay.
ing clip Service"
INSTITUTES SESSION
IS SENT MESSAGE
Human Relations Unit Will Mold
Public Opinion Through Press,
Films and Radio.
BY the Associated Press,

WlLLlAMSTOWN, Mass. August
28.-President Roosevelt tonight oues-
toned the attitude toward democratic
government of "a small minority, DOW
erful and articulate, which. paying lip
service to democracy, seeks by every
means within its power to thWart the
will Of the majority"
The President raised the question,
without further identifying this mi
nority," in letter to DR.. Everett r.
Cllnchy, director of the Institute of
Human Relations. The institute opens
week-long session tomorrow night
to discuss Public Opinion in a De-
mocracy' under the sponsorship of
the National Conference of Jews and
Christians.
Commencing the purpose Of the
conference, the President wrote,
There are among us some who are a
little too complacant these days in
the assertion that democracy as a sys-
tenn Of government is challenged
abroad
Question on 'Distrust Within"
Then he asked whether 1t was Ger
tain that democracy lis not distrusted
right here within our own gates ''' ="
He added:
Let us not forget that eternal vigi-
lance is the price of liberty"
He counselled the American people
to make sure that the press, motion
picture and radio through adher-
ence to the highest ideals of truth,
justice and fair play are maintained
as public agencies for the creation of
| wholesome relationships among the
various cultural, religious. racial and
| economlc-lnterest groups which make
up the American people"
The institute, which will make a
special study of public opinion and
the newspaper motion picture and
radio. attracted lay and clerical lead
ers OF the Catholic. Jewish and Prot
estant faiths as we'll as prominent rep
resentatives of the agencies which
mold public opinion.
Objectives of Institute.
Two objectives we're before the In
stitute: First. TO consider the agencies
Of public opinion from the point of
view of their relation to ethics and
religion, and, second, to suggest how
these agencies can promote more
wholesome human relations in the
United States consistent with the
new world tradition of religious lib
erty. civil freedom and human rights
for all culture groups"
The text of President Roosevelt's
letter, released by DR.. Clinchy, fol-
lows:
I am glad to learn that the insti-
tute of human relations to be held
under the auspices of the National
Conference of Jews and Christians,
proposes to concern itself this year
with the consideration of an Ameri-
can public opinion which shall main
tain and develop democracy Few
subjects could be of more vital in
terest at this particular time The
very theme of the institute: Public
opinion in democracy is stimulating
as we'll as inspiring
Structure of Democracy.
The whole structure of democracy
rests upon public opinion. Indeed
under a Government which functions
through democratic institutions We
are ruled by public opinion. Only
through the full and free expression
Of public opinion can the springs of
democracy be renewed and its insti-
tutions kept alive and capable of
functioning.
There are among us some who
are little too complacent these DAYS
in the assertion that democracy as
a system of government is challenged
abroad. Can we be too sure that it
is not distrusted here within our own
gates by small minority, powerful
and articulate, which, paying lip
service to democracy, seeks by every
means within its power to thwart the
will of the majority? Let us not
forget that eternal vigilance is the
price of liberty.
I'VE have today three powerful
agencies in the creation of public
opinion: The press, motion picture.
radio Ours then is the duty to see
that these agencies through adherence
to the highest ideals of truth, justice
and fair play are maintained as public
agencies for the creation of wholesome
relationships among the various cul-
tural, religious, racial and economic
interest groups which make up the
American people. The sum Of these
complex and composite interests con-
stitute what we mean by American
democracy.
Our own Nation for its own guild
ance and for the guidance of other
peoples, if they will follow it, has ever
held aloft the torch of human free
dom-freedom of press, of speech, of
conscience, of assembly Ours is the
duty and the national conference of
Jews and Christians through this
forthcoming institute of human rela-
tions can be potent agency in guar
anteeing that our torch of freedom
shall never be lowered Rather must
we strive by every legitimate means to
increase the light Of that torch that
its rays may extend even farther
that its splendor may be seen by
all men"