Evening star., 1944-11-09
Letters to The Star
Says Republicans Unwittinsly
Aided Communists

astute politics played during the late
campaign, 1t unquestionably must 60 to
Earl Browder. There have been few
political strategems, more clever than
that which he fashioned.
In order to understand this one must
remember from where Mr. Browder
draws his support. It comes almost en-
tirely from the so-called "lunatic fringe"
the opposite side of the fringe from
which come the America Firsters, the
Silver Shirts and the Coughlinites. He
does not get any Murray for -Browder
support from intelligent or intellectual
people-at least not since the party
went through its ridiculous gyrations
OF the l930-4l period.
No one but lunatic or one totally
devoid Of independent thinking could
have stuck with the American Com
munists in their variable party lines
toward the war and capitalism.
There, however, is certain segment
OF the population who might be termed
professional minority -groupers," who
have a psychopathic opposition to the
status quo and an ardent desire to
champion the cause of any individual
who looks as though he is being perse-
cuted for opposition to the status quo.
In order to gain support from this
group, the only place he can get any
support, all Mr.. Browder Cor any other
minority-group politician) need do is
to claim an exaggerated amount of in
fuence, pose as champion of the
common man, menace to the cunning
connivers who dominate the status quo.
and then get himself condemned so
vigorously that it looks as though he is
being prosecuted.
The latter gives him the added ad-
vantage OF being able to claim that the
only reason his wildly visionary schemes
fail of accomplishment is because of
the dictatorship" and suppression"
of vested interests.
Two years ago it seemed that the
Communists were done for. Every
vestige of intelligent support had been
withdrawn from them, their leader had
just emerged from the penitentiary and
they had been publicly disowned by
their parents in Moscow. They were
discredited. disorganized. ridiculous
group.
Then MIR. Browder hit upon his bril-
liant strategy for reviving the Com
munists. He decided that II he would
just support President Roosevelt-sup-
port him outspokenly-the Republicans
would leap at the chance to pin his
name to that of the President 1t worked
like charm; he hung out the bait and
the Republicans nearly fell over them
selves as they bit.
Mr.. Browder's name has made. the
headlines as it never made them before.
To him has been attributed national
influence that exceeds his pretentions
to his own followers. Gov. Dewey even
added to the publicity personally. Mr..
Browder has been pictured as almost
synonymous with the President of the
United States. Quite a comeback for
discredited ex-jailbird!
The minority-followers he sought have
tumbled onto his bandwagon with gusto.
The more bitterly he is condemned by
conservatives, the more of these folks
Mr.. Browder The Communists in 1912
would have been lucky to count 10000
dues-paying members, but at the mo-
ment no one gives them credit for less
than 100000 The circulation of the
Daily Worker and the New Masses have
reached new highs.
II Gerald L. K Smith had but taken a
hr
would have supported Gov. Dewey as
strongly as possible. intimating that the
governor would really turn out to be an
American First pal after the campaign
died down. The Democrats might have
yielded to temptation and Mr.. Smiths
name would now be in headlines and on
the air from coast to coast instead of
languishing on the back pages. Mr..
Smith doesn't like his name there any
better than Mr.. Browder does. But Mr..
Browder knows how to get it up front.
1t may be that the Republicans have
garnered few votes from among scary
people by playing up Mr.. Browder to
such an exaggerated extent, but in doing
so they have done the country genuine
disservice by raising the Communist
party again to position of prominence
and alleged influence which in 1912
1t seemed unlikely that it could ever
again attain. GLENN D. EVERETT.
Tribute to a Taxi Driver
To the Editor of The Star:
Yesterday frail little woman from
Epiphany Church Home stood on an
island In crossing the street. She
placed her hand to shield her eyes from
the sun, thinking to make her crossing
secure, but made a misstep and fell full
force to the ground, striking her head
against the sharp edge of the island,
cutting a cash over her eye. A taxi
driver, parked in his taxi nearby, saw
the accident and ran to the rescue.
Confused with pain. the little woman
tried to get her handkerchief from her
bag without success, when the driver
said, Take mine," drawing a clean
white handkerchief from his pocket.
He assisted her to his taxi and drove
her to the building where her doctor
was.
When she opened her purse to pay
him, he declared, you owe me nothing" ]"
She insisted, But I want to pay you
for the ride and your handkerchief. too
NO" came the response. Then please
give me your address" she urged, but to
no avail. He expressed his best wishes
and drove away.
No one ever will know the identity of
that modest Samaritan taxi driver, but
fha uihraftox, x,f at mill ao..,