The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1940-05-30
Facing the Facts
With PHILIP PEARL

NSlI lSSucu d uiIcCl WdIlililS W lllC l'
ton against "fifth column" activities
by hostile groups.
Likewise, the Executive Council of
the American Federation of Labor,
in Washington, declared 1--WE
must redouble our vigilance against
treachery and the creation of Trojan
horse organizations" by Communist
and Nazi adherents in this country.
In this column last week it was
pointed out that Communist penetra-
tion and control over CIO unions con-
stitutes an already established "fifth
column dangerous to the safety of
our country.
Just how dangerous this situation is
and how much more dangerous it may
become is aptly illustrated by the pres
ent activities of the Communist labor
movement in Mexico, which parallels
the CIO in this country.
According to a dispatch from Betty
Kirk to the Washington Post, genuine
alarm was expressed in Mexico City
when 10000 militarized workers, men,
bers of the Confederation of Mexican
Labor, marched through the streets of
that city on May Day. These men had
been trained by regular army officers
under the so-called sports s-military''
program of the Confederation.
The Fifth Column" in Mexico
"This alarm mounted to consterna-
tion," the article continues, "when five
days later the Workers University
maintained by the C. T. NJ, blandly
announced that it would start mill
tary college for the training of officers
"Since late in September the C. T
M. has been so closely identified with
the Communit Party that all moderate
elements have been alienated from it
Moreover, it has played role sc
belligerently political, both in nationa
and international affairs, that no doubt
is left as to its intentions and its
affiliations.
ats newspaper, Ell Popular, is the
mouthpiece for the most anti-demo
cratic propaganda published in Mexico
closely paralleling the propaganda Of
Nazi agents here (in Mexico). Accord
ingly, parade of militarized C. T. M
workers, which year ago would have
aroused only complacent pride from
the Mexican populace, today is viewed
as threat to public peace and ma
tional government"
We believe that these quotations
from Miss Kinks article in the Wash
ington Post demonstrate beyond al
doubt that the "ffth column" is ;
reality in Mexico. Apparently evel
the Mexican authorities, hitherto unde
the thumb of Communist labor move
ment, have awakened to the danger
4 for tie Mia:s>D a.',z.ss . 4 tioiial Defens
in a strong statement declared tina
the existence Of an independent militi
Cannot be tolerated." {gr 81
. Vincente Lomhardo Toledano, hea
of the Communist c. T. M. and clos
friend and collaboration of John |
Lewis, has for some time been the abe
hind-the-scenes dictator" of Mexico
Now he is under attack from man
sources. His activities are denounce
, in the newspapers as bordering O
"subversion."
"a. Let's Clean House in America
This leads Miss Kirk to the concll
sion that Mexico "needs no Marti
: Dies to expose it's weak spots for it
ready to do its own housecleaning
She sees the Governments crackin
down on Toledano's military ambition
as merely a preliminary step in
:. campaign to rid itself of "alien il
huences and avoid the mistakes whic
have been made elsewhere when tc
: great leniency toward either Con
munist or n All maneuvers we
shown"
We hope the conclusions of this il
y formed writer are true. We note wit
y interest that Canada, our neighbor
= the North, has now officially declare
; the Communist Party illegal and ht
: begun a wholesale cleanup of Red
, This is encouraging news. We Wou
= feel lot better, about it ii our oW
:. country took President Roosevelt's az
! vice and became increasingly alert
fifth column" activities in our ow
midst.
We believe it is worthy of mentic
. that John l.. Lewis and Edwin
Smith, member of the National Lab'
Relations Board, bestowed their bles
ings on Mexicos Communist and ant
democratic labor leader, Toledan
when they spoke in the Mexico Cit
: bull ring two years ago at his invita-
= tion and were greeted with the Cor
: munist salute by his followers.
: 1t is also noteworthy that M
: Lewis has denounced President Roos
: welt and practically every other lead
+ in American life but has never had
harsh word to say about Stain or Il
Stalin-Htler pact.
y Isn't it about time for the C1O
c renounce Communism or make publ
It confession that it is disloyal
!: America?