St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-10-18

muaistic infiltra- NAFTALIN
ton" is a vital issue in Mime
sofa" He charged his opponent for
the U. s. Senatorship, DR.. TheO-
dore Jorgenson, with remaining
strangely silent on this issue"
In Thye's view, American COmmu-
nists are creating disunity in Am
erica and other nations as a means
Of thwarting resistance 10 expan-
sionist aims Of Russia.
Thye declared that state COP
spokesman had made their party's
position clear. He was apparently
referring to an address by Luther
Youngdahl, Republican nominee for
governor, who advanced the follow
ing question as the basic issue Of
the 40 election. "DO we prefer TO
solve our national and international
problems under a free society, or
in a society where man is a crea-
ture Of the state7"
The matter Of Communism also
popped up in the Fifth Congress
ional district. Douglas Hall, DFL
nominee, denied rumors that he was
a Communist. By way Of defense,
he declared that he favored the
loan 10 Britain and that he sup
ports a Jewish homeland in Pales-
tine, both positions, he said, which
are not in accord with the Com
munist Party line. In crossfire Of
questioning that occurred at the
Saturday Lunch club in Mime
apolis, where he spoke, Hall de-
clared that Russia has not been an
aggressor and that she has been
no worse a violator Of international
agreements than America and Brit
ain.
In the Eighth Congressional dis
trict, COP Congressman William
Pittinger has been pushing the
charge against his DFL opponent,
State Senator John Blatnik. Pit
finger claims Blatnik Is advanc-
ing a Communist position by sup
porting Tito, ruler Of Yugoslavia,
where Blatnik served as an Ameri-
can paratroOper during the War.
Blatnik insists his remarks concern
ing Tito's rule are distorted by his
opponent. BlAtnik is accorded the
best chance Of any DFL candidate
to win in this years election. His
endorsement by the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor in Duluth, which
has been in the forefront Of the
states anti Communist elements,
should go a long way in the direc-
ton Of dispelling the Communist
charge. =.
Communism as an issue is not
new to Minnesota or national poll
tics. II was advanced as the central
issue by the Republicans in 1888
when Harold Stassen defeated Ell
mer Benson, and the charge was
heard many times in clashes be-
tween right and left wings Of the
old FArmeT-Labor party. In fact,
il has been raised so frequently in
the past that its effectiveness as
an issue has been worn thin. Com
munism Is an acknowledgement
word, meaning different things to
different people. Its interjeetion at
this point is arousing so many di-
verse reactions that the result is
certain to be confusion rather than
enlightenment.
Many conservatives use the term
Unfortunately to condemn any
piece Of social or economic reform
that they do not like. The Dies
Congressional committee on I'M
American activities reduced the
term TO an absurdity by suggesting
that even Franklin Roosevelt and
Shirley Temple were in league with
the Communists. As a result, the
epithet "red-baiter" is equally po-
tent as a political symbol. Today
many American liberals are genu-
inely concerned about the menace
Of all types Of totalitarianism, both
Fascist and Communist, and they
are in the forefront Of opponents
to Communism. Yet these liberals
find themselves condemned as Com
munists by Conservatives and as
"red-baiters" by persons who be-
lieve any discussion of Communism
among progressives is a disruptive
technique and therefore not to be
tolerated.
The result is that liberals and
progressives are divided and con-
fused on what position to take with
respect to Communism. On the one
hand, they are unwilling to be a
part Of Dies Committee smear"
process, and, on the other hand,
they are genuinely opposed to the
undemocratic influences Of Com
munist organization and leader
ship. Yet in their desire to see
victory Of progressive forces.
they are reluctant to contribute to
further division among the liberals.
Many, fearful that they will be
condemned as "red- baiters" for
even suggesting a positive break
with all Communist Influences and
fnrces are intirnihnteh infn silnnca