The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-09-30

Washington, D. C., Sept. 30- Coming a new phrase, the SIXTH COLUMN, which gne characterized as the greatest threat confronting America today, Mrs. John L. White hurst, president of the General Fed. eration of Women'S Clubs, la&ned out with Q Stinging attack on the appalling apathy of the American people toward the dangers confront- ing democratic governments and iri- StitutionS.
 "Out of the war in Spain came the term, Fifth Column, as applied to spies and trait0S. would like to coin another term, the SIXTH COL UMN, for those who, innocently or otherwise, contribute toward Amer ica's greatest enemey today, Apa- THY, said Mrs. WhitehurSt. sixth Columnists include those who air NazI propaganda by listening to Its 'Goftening up phrases and then ask ing, Why fieht?'; by fostering ra. cial and religious discrimination and through lack of interest and under standing, widening the breach be- tween capital and labor.
 Senator Wheeler and MT. Lind bergh and others who are vocal on the side of isolation, are, believe, honest in their conviction. They cannot be chased as Fifth Column ists and American because they speak their minds. When free speech is no longer possible, we will not have c democracy to fight for. However, believe that those men and others who believe as they do, have no Idea of the irreparable damage they are doing. have heard many remarks of disloyalty toward our government and our leaders, following radio speeches by Senator Wheeler and Mir LIndbergh. cannot think that they intended to divert our people from their al- legiance to our form of government and our elected leaders. But they DID. IsolationistS should be able to air their views without criticizing and belittling those in power and without stirring up racial and reli- gious hatred. When will we awaken to the fact that in order to sell democracy we must praise it--not criticize t, appreciate it-not de- nounce it, and then beStir ourselves in order to fight for 1t, yes DIE for 1t If necessary.
 Another group of Sixth Column istS Is our luxury loving people, who are unwilling to exert themselves to defend the very democracy which made possible their luxurious tastes and habits. Still another group of Sixth ColumniSts are those who lack in patriotic fervor Instead of be- ing taught the fundamentals of pa- triotism, many children hear noth- ing but criticism of our government and its leaders in their homes. Re- gently in a motion picture theater the President of the United States was delivering one of his most vital speeches, when IS year old girl seated near me said: Who is that old guy and what is he croaking about?'
 Another group which should be listed in the Sixth Column are those political candidates who try to con- vince the people that everything is wrong with the government and its leaders. and then after election, stating that it was simply campaign oratory.' No activity is of greater help to Germany than this practice of seeing how many condemnatory utterances can be made about an opponent in contest for public of- flee.
 My appeal is for unity. Even in our effort to dispel apathy We must not create such differences of opn- lon as will divide ourselves. Such a division of opinion will divert our attention to local problems and make us forget the paramount job Saead of us-the defense of our. calveS from the greatest menace the world has ever known--Hitler.
 "Women have worked for peace