Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-10-29
Reds in u. S.
Thrive While
Nazis- ScorchI
Mrs. Roosevelt. Shelters
Stain Sympothizer
By wEsTBROOK PEGLER

BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
+ AM afraid that those of us
i who detest with equal fervor
both communism and nazism,
Stain and Hitler. sometimes tip
the balance slightly in favor OF
Germany in reminding ourselves
that the Soviet government is
not TO be trusted in any cir
cumstances.
Our own government is partly
responsible for this question. II
is true beyond any question that
many Communists and fellow
travellers have been given public
positions and other aid and COM
fort, by the three Roosevelt adj
ministrations in the guise OF
"progressives" and radicals"
No Nazi has ever been shown
such warm consideration. and
our rulers in Washington are
quick TO sniff a faint on many
Americans who may be Nazi
sympathizers and on some who
insist that they are not.
Nobody who is even suspected.
however wrongly, of sympathiz-
ing with the Nazis can establish
political or social relations with
this government.
But on the other hand teller
ance is strained on behalf of
hundreds of individuals who
have openly expressed sympathy
with communism, Russia and
Stain.
This is a bad mistake. becauS
il a pro-Nazi is a Quisling in
our midst. Stalinist or fellow
traveller is equally undesirable.
DOSSIBLY some true progress
Il sives" or radicals" are un-
justly accused OF Stalinism, but
If SO, they have many influential
friends and clamorous. not to
say abusive. defenders both in
office and in print.
On the other hand, the indi-
vidual who is falsely accused of
sympathizing with Hitler is
simply out of luck.
That unfairness by our own
government naturally arouses
resentment on their behalf. and
the official tolerance for Com
munists and fellow-travelerS
who have openly expressed their
sympathies creates suspicion
among people who. in their
hearts, damn both evils equally
And many OF us, IN our angry
determination TO expose th
Communists and fellow traveller
and drive them out of the pub
lie service, are tempted 10 sho
that HitleriSm is no worse.
stead of hammering away
the fact that they are equal
bad and practically alike.
When you argue that onc
thing is no worse than anothc
thing you find yourself defen'
ing the first thing.
I HAVE given up trying TO I'M
Il derstand why President Roosc-
welt, Mrs. Roosevelt and Harold
Ickes in the government, and
John Lewis in the union move
nent, believe they can associate
and colIaborate with Commu-
nists and fellow-travelers and
remain politically pure VIM
they all hold that any one " -
runs with the Nazis is bound 10
get some OF ii on him.
IL we can abide Communists
and fellow-travelers in the gov
eminent and in the union move
ment why not Hitlerites and
Quislings?
The only answer given is that
those who are called Commu-
nists and fellow-travelers are VIC
Tins of foul Islander, but the
same people who give this re-
ply are quick TO cry "Quisling
or TappeaseT. another SYNONYM
for traitor, at men who only con-
tend that the United States
should take no part in this war.
7 AM certain that IL Mrs.
i Roosevelt's political protege.
Joseph Lash, who is no youth
but a professional promoter OF
the youth movement and thus
an exploiter of American youth.
had ever run with the anti
American Bund. Mrs. Roosevelt
would have nothing to do with
him.
No Nazis. ex-NaZis or NaZi
fellow travelers are in her social
or political circle. but Lash is
persona grata and Mrs. Roose-
welt persistently ballyhoos with
him.
OF course. Lash is merely
irritating rather than important.
But Mrs. Roosevelt arouses
certain feelings in attempting TO
foist on the parents of American
youth in the guise of youth
leader a professional hustler OF
Lash's political background.
Not too many Americans OF
the standard type will accept
Lash as a model or leader for
youth.