The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-08-27
Observations
Friendship Of
Russia Riddle
For World

WASHINGTON - EyeryNhsre
you hear the question, What Will
Stain do neXt?' Translated this
m ans in the United states. Al
least. "Can America count on the
friendship OF the Soyier-s re-
ceiyed in yesterdays mail a poem
remarkable poem. which ! hope
does not answer this. thr h.gse 2
riddle OF the Second World Va
The poem is called "l20 Million
II was written by communist Mich
ael cold The friend who sent. me
"l2U Million is nov in Iran. Tie
copied the poem from a textbook
for learning English published by
the National Commission OF the
l. s. ; r. in Leningrad for sec
ondary schools in the grades o 20
To-
Nv friend explained that many
OF SUCH textbooks We're brought
out OF Russia by Polish refugees
who lived for time N Russia and
later managed to reach temporary
homes in Iran and Africa.
Obviously. since "l2O Million
was issued Officially the Soviet
Government wishes to educate
school children TO believe that
Michael Colds free verse is a pic
lure OF America Susceptible
minds thus absorb distortion irl,lt
on isolated incidents
Here is "l2Q Million
They told me 10 love my country,
America. But whore is America
! saw no nation in my WANDERING
between the oceans, | saw l20 mil.
lions. And they hated each othel
ina. war for money America is
not one il is many. The white man
huns the negro slave, the mill
boss whips little children, the Ar
my shoots down miners. the Army
shoots down weavers 1t is a land
Of enemies. I saw the sun rise
over the Rocky Mountains. ! saw
the wheat fields blaze in the plains,
saw millions OF American flowers,
and heard the bird songs OF Amer
"a. In is strong and beautiful
earth and. /. a worker, loved II.
But how could | love those who XIII
workers. America. cannot wor-
ship your money God. this monster
whose heart is Ford car. whose
brain. is a cheap Hollywood movie.
whose litsny is OF fur coats and
silk stockings, whose worshipers
die Of nervous glut. whose victims
die OF hunger. who killed Sacco and
Venzetu? Not you. Oh, Mississippi
River. Who extorted Ahe world 5
gold? Not you. Oh. Allegheny
Mountains. 1t will come, the ruin,
defeat and sorrow for you. fat
America And the spirit OF Lenn
will walk among you 100 million,
sooner or later, Lenin. First or last
Lsnin. Lenin, Lenin. | see the
bloody birth you will bring, ! see
FIRE and ashes. and my own land
rising from the ashes, / see peace
for the 100 million, I see hammer
sun by day. a sicklemoon by night
shining on a new America, work
ers' and farmers America.
Not pretty thoughts-these 81
Colds poem. l believe their senti-
ments are not common TO all Rus
slams. The above quotation IL
given In the Soviet textbook, the
general title "12O Million" which
Michael Gold. himself. gave 10 a
full yolumn or poetry. ! devontly
hope. as does every other Ameri-
can. for workable and lasting
friendship between the L. s. s. r.
and the L. s A. But ! also think
il well to embrace such a friend
ship with eyes wide open and feet
prepared for pitfalls.
Relief workers. so my friend add
ed in his letter from Iran, have
been worried by some refugees
hatred OF America. Evidently, he
continued. communistic doctrine
finds place in the distracted
minds OF many victims OF war he.
fore American friends arrive with
food. clothing and medicine. often
II has been the delicate task OF re-
lief workers TO change suspicion
OF America into trust OF America