Evening star., 1946-12-07
Letters to The Star
Prefers American Capitalism to
Russian Communism

Russian Communism
TO the Editor Of The Star:
John J. Motley. acting chairman,
Washington area, American Veterans
Committee, in a letter to The Star, pub
lished November 80. condemns the
American press for not undertaking an
explanation OF the existence Of Russian
communism or Of our own New Deal. /"
But he is not clear as to what he asks Of
the press. BY an explanation" does he
mean Justification? Certainly, the exist
ence OF Russian communism has received
sufficient space in the press. The con-
ditions In Russia which permitted the
emergence Of communism have had full
discussion, too. The one phase OF Rus
sian communism that has not been fully
covered by the press is what has been and
is happening under Russian communism.
But is the American press to blame?
just what is the situation in Russia
today? What are the purposes OF Rus
sian communism as regards the world?
What information does Mr.. Motley have
that the press has not published? am
sure there are millions Of Americans
that would like to know Has the Amer
lean press had an opportunity to study
the story at first hand, to dig out the
facts? Can American correspondents
go into Russia with the same freedom
that Russian correspondents can In
America elliot Roosevelt to the con-
trary Notwithstanding? II conmu-
nism Is SO good. why does not Russia
let us look it over?
Mr.. Motley quotes Newbold Noyes, jr.,
THAT the philosophy OF free-for-all cap
italism, or anything family resembling
laissez-faire economy. Is washed UP
everywhere except in the United States. /"
The obvious comment on this quotation
is that the world except for the United
States is In hell of fix. Few Amer
leans want to find the United States in
the same fix, either. Mr.. Noyes' article
does not give IAN explanation of the
existence of Russian communism" He
cautions America not to swing too far to
the right for fear Of the effect upon that
part OF the world struggling against
communism. Mr.. Noyes' article cer-
tainly. is worth consideration, but that
he Is right is debatable question. If
swinging to the right will make America
q stronger Nation and demonstrate that
the American system produces higher
living standard, a larger measure of in
dividual liberty and greater economic
opportunities to its citizens, what greater
encouragement could America give to
those nations seeking to avoid COM
munism?
Webster defines 'laissez-faire" as "A
letting alone, noninterference; term
especially used in regard to the inter-
ference Of government with social,
commercial or other matters" It seems
that is what Americans voted for last
November S. Thomas Jefiersons oft
quoted "The government that governs
least, governs best" sounds as il 1t.
together with Had Enough?" was the
battle cry of the majority on that date.
Maybe Mr.. Motley is too young to re-
member America before the depression
and gets his views from those who find
it politically profitable to picture Amer
ica OF the past as he'll hole OF oppres-
sion. I pity Mr.. Motley, If he never
experienced the thrill America gave me
in my youth. We had confidence in
America, we had opportunity.
=. Look at what capitalism has done to
the United sStatesi We are burdened
with plenty to eat, to wear. the most
comfortable homes in the world. the
best educational opportunities, the best
recreational advantages, the greatest
amount OF individual freedom in the
world, and no concentration camps as
a morale builder.
Maybe in a hundred years Russians
will enjoy better food, better housing,
better educational opportunities, greater
individual freedom than Americans.
When they do, the United States had
better adopt communism. But not until
then. J. E. 8.
Invasion Story Recalled
To the Editor OF The Star:
was interested in the letter written
by Mrs. F. j. Rebman and published
in The Star of November 80, under the
heading who Remembers Invasion
Story?" Mrs. Rebman says that she
read the narrative in serial form in a
London paper in 1906.
recall reading sometime around
1908 book entitled THE Riddle of the
Sands" by E. Chiders. 1t was colorful