Imperial Valley press., 1940-05-20
TIE sixth COLUMN
L ms IT'S AGITATION

11JUIS Us AGITATION
Before the United States can stamp
out the deadly poison of Fifth Columns
Wft1ain its frontiers, il must meet and
conquer the menace of those who might
be said to constitute Sixth Column.
"A Fifth Column is a compact, highly
s. organized group dedicated to so under
s MAlssing nation from within that 1t will
I'll cay prey TO tine aggression OF what
Gje& other nation the group owes secret
Ance to. The Fifth Column knows
V1mt It wants to do, and uses every means
AZ ~ disposal to accomplish its vile
purpOse.
The only difference between the
Fifth Column and the other group next II
nnmber-the one We shall call the Sixth
Columns that that one is Intentionally
tfAitOrOnS, the other may be moved by
nothing else but an ignorant SeltlshncsS
In the end they achieve the same thing
II they are not curbed.
The Sixth Column is potentially as
dangerous if not more so. than the other.
It offers a vehicle through which alien
agents may broaden their objectives and
achieve their goals without themselves
appearing particularly active.
hlSnC now, IL III anu OlAlu
alike in the United States are bending
every effort toward sabotaging the de-
tense program on which fully nine-tenths
of the nation is united.
We have no quarrel with those who
b oppose the defense program because
: they honestly believe it may lead the
United States into war through the
eventual desire to make use of gigantic
military machine. We do believe they
are wrong, but we believe also it would
be wrong to attempt to silence their ar
gumentS They are entitled to express
their opinions. They have an equal OPP
opportunity to attempt to convince the
speople that huge defense program is a
mistake. Under the democratic system,
if they fail, they are bound to abide BY
. he desires of the majority. They are,
short, pledged through their paricipa-
ON in a democratic form of government
20 do all in their power to see that the
defense program decided upon by the
! majority is carried out as expeditiously
land as efficiently as possible.
Our quarrel is with those who, ignoring
democracy and jeering at the wishes of
large majority insist on doing all they
can to impede. hamper and delay defense.
John l.. Lewis is one of those.
LEWIS is CUTTING
THE THROAT or LABOR
Lewis, CLIO chicftain, told union dele
gates in New York the other day that
"labor" will insist upon the right TO or
ganize in the air industry and other
speedily expanding national defense in
--dustries Further, he said, labor will
demand collective bargaining in these
industries, will fight for protection of
"eivil liberties" and will assume a voice
in national defense policies.
To anyone who knows the history OF
the CLIO, those words mean only one
thing: trouble through strikes, walk-outs,
sabotage and propaganda.
II was significant that on the same
day Lewis voiced his threats, the Mari
time Federation. CIO unit which has
been described time and again as Com
munist dominated, attacked the natiOnal
defense program bitterly, opposed it
strongly, and said Labor has nothing
to gain
Talk about Sixth Columns.
Lewis. greedy and selfish, is cutting
labors throat by putting personal inter
ests above national safety. If labor it.
self does not get rid Of him. the day may
come when the nation must.