The Wilmington morning star., 1946-08-06
Fair Enough
emergency.
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916, BY King Features Syndicate
Tna1

Grams COmIn1Ltee, a new Quill operating out
Of a New York headquarters, is that think
it has enjoyed an unfair advantage in s1anted
news coverage by writer's who are Intellectual
ly dishonest and sling the terms liberal" and
''progressive' into their pieces to promote
measures which are dangerous or, anyway,
unwise.
Let us forget about communism. The COM
munists are now pals with the Peron govern
ment OF Argentina, just as they were with
Hitler when it suited their purpose so to be.
The AVG urges continued opposition to the
Argentine government as a potential threat
to world peace so here it disagrees with
Moscow. l recognize its right to take their
position, but I say it is bad manners and
dangerous business for us to oppose the
government OF any other country. If we do
that, we have no right tc complain against
the interference of the world communists in
our internal affairs. Possibly all veterans want
to subscribe to that but if not, those who don't
should know that this is one of the things
that the v stands for.
The young fellows that I met at headquar-
tiers, Charles Bolte, Gil Harrison and Edward
McHale, are smart and full of ideas and
busting with energy. Building up the v is a
job and might say a competitive game with
them, the principal competitor among the new
outfits being the American Veterans of World
War II or AMVETS. The AVG are now trying
to raise 4 million dollars to spend on organic
ing but I doubt that they will get all that and
l think Lneir publicity is out of proportion to
their strength asmu as they have only
60, 900 members to date. Notwithstanding the
clamor.
Let US pick some items out OF the AVC's
PLATFORM. They say the last vestiges of fascism
should be destroyed lii Germany and Japan
and that they should Re 'deindustrialized,'
one OF those jargon jawbreakers that fill the
air these days.
Well, I am sorry, but It is inconsistent to
holler for freedom Ut conscience and belief
and then say we have got to eradicate the
political beliefs Of others because we disagree
with them and I say that the harsher the
methods we use the greater the resistance
will be In the subjects. Then, too, I detect
in their own program proposals which seem
to me to be fascist, such as the one providing
$5 a week for rs weeks tor anyone who Is out
OF a job because he refuses to cross a picket
line. Nobody Is entitled to six months a year
Oft at the expense Of people who keep on
working and paying taxes, but even If you
do agree that people who are actually out of
work for no fault o. their own deserve a dole
are you going to invite all the unioneers to
pull strikes offhand and throw millions onto
the relief rolls?
Any communist or underworld thug. such
as Joe Fay In New York, can call a strike
at will and send picketo to a plant whose
presence would make a couple of thousand
workers eligible for $25 a week. In no time,
the communists could tie us in knots. Musso-
lini was a great fellow among the Italian
Worknen, whatever You may hear to the con-
trary, because he told them he was their
pal and their papa and anybody who can give
$25 a week to millions Of Americans who
want to 60 to the bau-games or take little
s%ide-jobs while they are unemployed" can
build up a powerful following with the pub
lies money, as long as 1t lasts. 1 don't know
whether these kids even know that there is no
real legal definition Of a strike. They may not
know that any bum controlling a little local
can pull a strike to ingratiate himself with
his member by getting them SIS a week for
loafing. He doesn't have TO give any reason
for a strike. He just strikes and then these
young amateur politicians would start shovel
ing out money to the "unemployed."
'Deindustrialize" Germany? The purpose of
that proposal, way back, was to eliminate a
highly efficient and productive competitor of
Britain and France in ''iroustrial' production.
1t got so that even Ita.y and Japan were Sin
and Russia was coming along but
the Germans were the best Of the lot.
So now we would "deindustrialize'' them so
as to take a leading competitor permanently
out Of the play and make clods of the Ger
mans forever. We can look to our OWN South
for an earlier experiment in that and we can
look to some Of the loudest opponents of that
program in Germany for some of the most
mournful lamentations ever the stupidity of the
North and the prolonged economic and social
"backwarGness" Of the southern states. Now
they are blaming northern industrialists for
that, but regardless of where the guilt may
lie, the condition, itse!t, is what thew deplore
and yet they advocate the same condition in
Germany. I see no peace down that road.
Then V says, in its summary, that it
"backed universal lowering of immigration
barriers to all displaced persons" I don't find
that in any resolution hut that is what the
umna says and drawing a plain meaning
from plain language I suppose they would in
vite all D P.'s in Europe to rush over here.
Any veteran who believes In that should Join
the AVG.
told you yesterday that they want to sever
relations with Spain AMI propose a boycott to
force Franco out and restore the government
in exile" That probably would mean civil
war again in Spain and . few hundred thou
sand more dead and renewed hatred Of the
United States by a people who might be be-
ginning 10 like us. Here they agree with the
communists but that may be only a tempo
hands with Franco tomorrow and make mon
attitude.
The young men thought I did them wrong
recently in reporting that they had adopted
a slippery resolution rurporting to reject a
bonus for veterans but actually threatening
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