Evening star., 1939-01-07
Congress for Peace
Receives MESSAGE
From likes
Secretary Fails to
Appear to Deliver
Scheduled Dies Speech

scheduled Dies speech
With Interior Secretary Ickes
sending in place of a scheduled ad-
dress a message condemning both
Fascism and Communism, the
American Congress for Peace and
Democracy held a preliminary meet
ing last night at the Rialto Theater
and opened formally today for q
series of weekend sessions.
Mr.. Ickes, who Cancelled without
explanation the speech he was to
have delivered last night, said of
Communism and Fascism in the
letter read to some 1000 delegates:
Neither of these systems of gov
eminent can be other than abhor-
rent to a democratic people. So we
must protect our institutions against
them; we must be alert to discover
and circumvent any insidious in
tent anywhere in our land to estab-
ish either OF them here"
Praises Congress- Aims.
Praising the aims announced by
the Congress, Secretary Ickes added:
THE best assurance for us of
peace Is democracy-real democracy,
democracy that glories in our Bill
Of Rights. The American Congress
for Peace and Democracy can
greatly hearten those who truly be-
lieve in democracy by raising its
voice in ringing terms for the ac-
cepted principles Of true democ-
racy."
Mr.. Ickes had been scheduled to
discuss the Dies Anti-American
Committee, of which he has been a
severe critic, and in some official
circles belief was expressed that the
cancellation Of this speech was due
to President Roosevelt's announce
ment that the Justice Department
was investigating the Dies charges.
The House committee declared the
League for Peace and Democracy,
which is sponsoring the present
meeting, is dominated by Com
munists.
DR.. Jerome Davis, Yale professor
and president of the American Fed
Grafton of Teachers, called on the
crowd that attended the meeting
last night to combat "the Fascist
terror abroad" and disguised forms
Of FaSciSm at home"
DR.. Davis said America "is enter
ing a period which might be called
'corpocracy,' where the corporations
and moneyed interests hold most Of
the power" He added:
IT the Dies Committee wants to
investigate the bases OF Fascism in
America they should turn to the
moneyed interests"
|. James Carey, executive secretary
of the Congress Of Industrial Or
ganizations said:
I'VE read about the victims of
anti-democratic forces, and we feel
a sense of horror and fear. We
don't want it to happen here"
Mr.. Carey added that labor knows
very well that it must fight anti
Semitism and prosecutions of min
critics."
Mr.. Carey said that "Dies and
other mouthpieces who scream red
at everything progressive" were tools
of labor haters and enemies of
democracy"
Surroundings for Radicals.
what is really interesting" he
added, sis that the Dies Committee
found out there was radicalism
among certain unemployed organ
izations and among other labor or
ganizations, particularly those deal
ing with lower-paid workers.
Surely this would seem to prove
that unemployment, insecurity, low
wages offer the best surroundings
in which radicalism can grow. Why
doesn't Mr.. Dies investigate this?"
Another speaker was Benjamin F.
McLaurin, fleld representative of the
Brotherhood Of Sleeping Car Porters,
who said the tight for the rights OF
the Negro people consists of the
hight for democratic institutions"
Beryl Whitney, director of re-
search and education for the Broth
erhood Of Railroad Trainmen, pre-
sided. Seated on the platform were
two former Representatives defeated
in the November elections, Jerry
O'Connen OF Montana and John
Bernard Of Minnesota.
Sessions Of the congress will con-
tinue until 8 pm. tomorrow. Rock
well Kent, noted artist, viii preside
tonight at . meeting that will in
clude q talk by Dashiell Hammett,
author Of mystery books; . play by
Bert Brecht and dances by Si-lan
Chen, concert dancer and daughter
Of Eugene Chen, 4 former foreign
minister Of China. o @