The Daily Alaska empire. [volume] (Juneau, Alaska) 1926-1964, 1939-07-11
BY JAMES A. MILLS

NEW YORK. July It'll d
world of power politics and dicta-
tors, the most powerful man in the
world sits cross-legged on mat
beneath the Indian sun.
He rules not by force or violence
but by the sheer power of his per-
sonality and spirituality.
He IS Mohandas K Gandhi, who
wears no uniform except loin-
cloth and holds no job except that
of midas private Citizen No. l.
He hates adulation, pomp, violence
and intolerance. And instead of
exhorting followers to thrust cut
their chins, he tells them to turn
their other cheek.
Yet he yields more influence
than any fuehrer. To 360000,000
dusky Indians, he is both political
leader and spiritual guide. Many
worship him not merely as saint
but as a god His followers COM
pare the bizarre little 96-pound
wrath to Buddha. Confucius and
Christ.
| Gandhi's influence is felt far be-
yond India. The hearts of English
men 4,5OO miles away skip a beat
each time he skips meal. To my
mind he is one of history's most
remarkable figures.
Duce Too Bullyish
Because of the gulf between him
and the dictators, was anxious to
get his reaction a few years ago
when he talked with II Duce After
the interview he greeted me with
sly smile and whispered:
That fellow is too much of a
bully and blusterer to suit a per-
son like myself"
Gandhi derives much of his ire
mendous power from the fact that
his non-violent tactics exemplify
the national character. Indians are
the most submissive people in the
world. Many refuse even to kill a
mosquito.
Under his leadership the back
ward people have made phenome-
nal progress toward self-goYern-
ment OF the II British provinces
in India, nine are now admins
tered by Indians.
II is Gandhi's dream that India
will have obtained independence
from the British Empire or at
least dominion status-before he
dies. He is now TO-
Fasts Effective
His threat Of fasting till death is
still effective in forcing concessions
from the British. If he should ever
die as the result of such fast,
the reaction among the natives
might be extremely serious.
Despite his power, the British
find him preferable to Subhas Rose
and similar Indian leaders who
clamor for immediate freedom.
Most Britishers realize that Gan
dhi's death would be as great
loss to England as to India because
he is the only one who speaks with
full authority on behalf Of the IN
dian masses and who advocates
liberation in dealing with the Brit
ish government.
Though aging, he is alert and as
tute and speaks English easily. He
| desires passfonately to visit Amer
lea but doesn't feel he can spare
! the time now. One reason the
United States appeals to him is
that before 1776, it too was striving
to break away from the British
empire.
/ Gandhi still drinks his goats
milk daily; and has often asked me
| to share it with him. He drinks the
milk not to be eccentric, but be-
cause he has found it helps relieve
II his chronic complaint, high blood
pressure.
The puny leader lives like the
most abject untouchable. He dress
es in loincloth and "dhotf'
tshawD because that is the nation
al garb of the untouchable. In fact,
he calls himself "unt0uchable." All
his money goes to the poor. When
not travelling he lives in a mud
hut in the Wardha district Of
Central. India or like a gypsy in
the field.
He abhors crowds, possibly be-
cause admirers nearly bowl him
over in trying to kiss his feet. It
was at his protests that correspon-
(meaning Great Soul'o in favor
of plain Mister. He once said OF
dents dropped the title Mahatma
the title Mahatma:
1T. stinks in my nostrils. | am
not a Great Soul or a saint !
am made of the same corruptible
| flesh and have the same frailties
and weaknesses as the poorest UNI
p touchable." - AA