Evening star., 1946-02-08

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the General Mo-
tors strike began Esse =
Eill confirm this Frank R. Kent.
statement.
= It is a new development In this
country, although the Communists
and Socialists have been working
toward 1t for rs years.
Efforts to offset this by conserva-
tive propaganda have failed. The
direct radical propaganda from or
ganizations avowedly radical Is not
only greater than conservatives can
supply, but indirect stuff that comes
from supposedly impartial sources
such as newspaper writer's, radio
commentators, magazine articles
authors and motion picture pro-
ducers, is of far greater volume.
In addition to this free access to
the channels of communication, the
radical propaganda has other ad-
vantages. First, it is more attrac-
tive to large part of the public
1t promises things everybody wants
more money, less work, secure jobs
social security" etc. 1t promises to
get these through Government
spending which, they say, will cost
the public nothing.
Called dollar Propaganda"
AS one economist says: Radical
propaganda is dollar propaganda,
with the Federal Treasury supplying
the dollars. Since 1888 1t has been
big business and good business to be
radical. Conservative propaganda
has had the coldly unsatisfying
task of counteracting the plausibility
Of radical promises"
Second, radical propaganda Is
more effective because it appeals to
the unsuccessful and incompetent,
against the successful and competent,
who are in the minority. No
counterpropaganda with equal
power has been devised by the con-
servatives.
A third advantage Is that the radi-
calls are far more proficient as
spokesmen. A fourth Is that while
radical propaganda has had great
support from the Federal Treasury
the CIO and its PAC, and from GER
tain rich organizations and individ-
uals, 1t always indentifles itself with
the masses, while the conservatives
are regarded by the public as the
special privilege" class. In addi-
ton, the radical cause is supported
by the publicity Of many Govern
ment agencies and, not infrequent-
ly, by paragraphs prepared by radi-
cal writers in speeches by the
President and other officials.
Finally, 1t is a provable fact that
conservative propaganda has only a
small part Of the voluntary support
given radical propaganda by col
umnists, radio broadcasters and
commentators generally. However,
the fact is that while a majority Of
the whole writing groups, as well as
radio news analysts, actors and
kindred folk, lean toward the radi-
cal side, the big thing that gives
the radicals so wide a market for
their stuff Is the entrenchment of
radical government In Wash
ington.
Influence Felt on Radio.
This they have had since 1888 and
against 1t conservative propaganda
cannot compete. Especially, the
Government influence is felt on the
radio. "The New Deal" says a
student Of this situation, found 1t
easier to control radio than the
newspapers because of the club in
the hands Of the Federal Communi-
cations Commission, which probably
has more radicals in proportion to
desk space than any other govern
mental unit. The big radio chains
found 1t expedient to ease the way
for expression of liberal opinion
while making things difficult for ex-
ponents of the opposite view. In do
ing this, many radio people per-
formed a congenial chore. These
observations may be equally applied
to stage and screen. Political SYM
pathy Is always present and those
who determine policy feel that they
can now get away with left-wing
propaganda because the Govern
ment supports it."
Much more could be said to sus-
tain the contention that today the
radical propaganda is vastly better
than the conservative. So clear Is
this that intelligent conservatives
assert that propaganda is now Sec
ondary and their real problem Is to
find some other way to put con-
servative government in power. The
first essential for this, obviously, Is
the existence of conservative
party.
COP Action Urged.
The Democrats being the radica,
or liberal party, it is contended that
as matter of high principle the
Republicans should make theirs the
avowed conservative party. Ours Is
a two-party system. 1t cannot
function unless the party out oil
power serves as a check and balance
to the party in power.
"It iS," writes one of the leading
Republicans in the country, "the
duty of the party out of power to
provide political home and leader
ship for those citizens who want a
change In the character and direc-
ton of the Government. In this
duty the Republican party has three
times failed the country. It must
fail no longer. This is not an appea,
for a return to any good old days.
There never were any good ole
days
1.-THE same basic problems will
confront our country, regardless oi
whether the Government is radica,
or conservative. The Republican
party should make clear It's under
standing of this fact. But it also
should make clear that though the
problems will be the same. the