Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-04-18
By HUGH s. JOHNSON

IN ana OUT oi government,
who want to push us further
toward involvement in shooting
war as fast as possible and re-
gardleSs Of our readiness are
finding increasing difficulties
which will get worse as they go
further. The reason for this is
that so great a majority of the
people are unconVinccd or in
outright opposition and are be-
coming more vocal daily
As a result the managers OF
the movement are redoublng
their efforts and Just now the
tactics are TO Try 10 diSCredit
any spokesman OF opposition to
them. This takes the form of
assertions that they are traitors.
affiliated with the NaziS.-wiShful
of German victory, appcaSerS
and worse. These choruSes have
reached the volume and repetl-
ton of very chant of defama-
ton.
Many of the accuSers are re-
SponSlble through past apathy or
official incompetence for the
shocking lack and lag of Ameri-
can rearmament while many of
their intended victims have been
and still remain leaders of opin-
ion for an undeleatable Ameri-
can defense. ?
Both sides are at last happily
in wholesome agreement on this
latter point but the latter group
holds that we should not plunge
II t..--t,tt' ..ts.--frrto rTrTrrcCCSSdTv
overseas war hut should build
up strong position IN readiness
and watch the progress of this
foreign contest, to see what fu-
ture use of our great and grow
ing strength would be better for
our country
TiiIS opinion is being called
i cowardly, diShonorable and
reasonable. Facts and argu-
mentS- arc more PERSUASIVE Than
names. The name callers know.
this but they are nearly out of
telling arguments. The purpose
OF the eplthctS is not so much
now TO convince the country.
II IS to silence the men who
argue on the other side.
Chief among these epithetS is
a new one which recently has
crept so consistently into every
diatribe as 10. suggest some CON
cert of purpose. 1t is TO accuse
all those who are opposed TO inn
mediate involvement of invoking
racial and religious prejudice
and of being anti-SemiteS.
This is the most ruthless.
cruel and unfair of all such tao
lies Since IL is obviously in
tended 10 incite Jewish resent
ment against those who oppose
immediate war, il is an obvious
use of the very hateful practice
II ascrlbeS to others to arouse
racial and religious prejudice.
Because in no instance OF the
charge against any individual or
group has the assertion been
accompanied by relation of one
single word act or attitude TO
support the Indictment. such
tactics become even more deS-
plcahle,
on that basis. the charge
bollS down TO this TO be against
immediate war is. 81 itself 10
he against the Jewish people"
That is a doctrine as dangerous
as II IS untrue and unfair
4 MONG the people thus
4 charged are some of our
most liberal men some who
have been among the foremost
champions of religious tolerance
and enemies of antlSemitiSm in
any form
Anti-SemitiSm in this country
IS confession of a kind of cave
man ignorance of American his
tory and sociology so dark and
dense as TO be incredible.
Here is a race that gave us
our religion. some Of our finest
instances Of traditions of ideal
home and family life. examples
Of unhounded philanthropy. char
lty and civic service. and more
than IFS share Of tho greatest
contributions and forem oSt
figures N every one of the Sci-
CnceS. arts. professions. indus
tries and trades a peace-l loving.
iuSiiee-lovnC people
20 Most of the careless charges
that these people own or con-
troll any diSproportionate share
of the wealth or industry of this
country or influence in IT'S az
fairs have been proved over and
over again 10 be Untrue and
groundlcsS
Now. even in ordinary times.
any American could hold any
prejudice against such a valuable
strain in the American blood
stream passes understanding In
this world agony when their
klth and kin overseas arc being
subjected TO the most hidcoIS
mass persecution. torture and
humiliation ever suffered hv
any people i'm the history Of the
world nobody with spark Of
humanity could feel for them
anything hut sympathy and ar
lection.
To charge The particular men
included IN these war smcarS
with any other feeling is plain