The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1945-03-29
! COMMENT ON WORLD
EVENTS
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Thanks to the courage, toughness
and independent mindedness of the
Firms, the Finnish election seems to
have expressed the will of the voters,
despite veiled official threats from
Russia that the election must go as
the Communist dictatorship desired.
Before the election, Pravda, of Mos
cow and other Soviet organs plainly
told the Firms they must purge" the
nation of alleged pro-Nazi elements
at the election. This indicated of
course that the Soviet government
wished sweeping victory for the
pro-Russian Popular Democratic
party.
Well, the Russians didn't get their
purge" as far as can be judged now.
The Popular Democrats cast a large
vote but ran second, with the Social
Democrats in the lead. Owing to the
proportional representation system,
the Popular Democrats will have
some 81 seats in the Finnish Diet and
the Social Democrats 523. Four other
parties not of revolutionary tinge,
will also have Diet seats.
The net result of the Finnish cleo
tion is that the democratic forces are
still in the ascendent. There was no
revolution, no wholesale switch to the
cleft" This is significant in view of
the chanting of various press and
rodln ,fot h1xy {h0cA of
Communist sympathies, tn a t all
Europe would have nothing of the old
order and was hell bent for revolu-
tion. The Finnish election indicates
nothing of the sort.
The Washington Post and other |
papers comment that there was no
evidence of any Russian attempt to
interfere with the balloting 1t is to
be hoped this is true. If it is, it is a
happy augury of elections to be held
in Poland, Bulgaria and other nations
bordering on Russia and subject to
possible Soviet influence and coer-
cion.
The Swedish labor organ, Morgon-
Tidningen of Stockholm remarks that
the large number of votes cast in the
Finnish elections is good evidence of
The determination of the Finnish peo-
pie to take their fate in their own
hands. Incidentally, it may be noted
hat votes were cast by 80 percent
If the electorate, record even for
Finland. This is record never at
aimed in the United States and prob
IDLY in few of the nations which like
o boast of their democracy.
The American Civil Liberties Union
makes suggestion in the interest of
Americanism and preservation of
democratic ideals against radio at
acks from totalitarian nations.
Noting that in the last year several
ado stations have been sold to new
wners who abruptly cancelled
oreign language programs, the union
ecently wrote Paul A. Porter, chair !
nan of the Federal Communications
suggesting that the COM
mission might wish to make a condi
ion of future sales that the new own
rs continue foreign language pro-
rams as "very valuable public 1
ervice."
The liberties union told Chairmant
'orter that foreign language pro-
rams perform unique service in !,
arrying the message of American ;,
fe and American democratic institu- I
ons to the very persons who are
lost in need of, and eager for, exact
, this information. Radio often is
he instrument that bridges the gap =
etween two cultures and gives large
egments of our population a sense =
participation in American life. v
"Such programs" the union said in Il
inclusion, "are especially valuable
} counterbalance the effect of propa- 6,
4nda from abroad"