The Wilmington morning star., 1947-10-28
AS Pegler Sees It
BY WESTBROOK PEGLER

fered by several eminent, inveterate pol
lutionists of the Hollywood White House
Kremlin axis, that they didn't know they
were hosts to Communism in the United
States, is fair example of the contempt
OF this rogue industry for the intelligence
OF the American people. On the basis of a
long and profitable experience, during
which the movies have Knocked the de-
cencies and inhibtions of the American
natives and sneered at every political
ideal, this attitude is justified These men
sell phantoms originally intended for the
innocent amusement of the people. Theirs
is mechanical elabor alton of the hand
shadows on a sheet by which the fathers
of the American gener alton next before
entertained the children until o'clock
curfew.
It is unthinkable that any such house
hold magician ever projected any moral
or political corruption, but the same can
not be said of Hollywood. In this way,
the movie industry became commercial
and political giant, won entree to our
Presidential palace and even put Roose-
velt under obligations by loans and other
favors to his family. Statesmen consulted
the political whims of gross vulgarians,
including mincing Castle Garden Gre n
horns of so years before. Tendril daugh-
ters of the common man strewed them
selves in their way and the government
of the proud United States besought such
people to make movies which wo''7d he'n
to save the nation from the Nazi, as
though the Americans had been reduced
to this to save their lives.
The proposition here was that even
though Russia was Germany's natural en-
emy, nevertheless Russia might quit the
war and join Hitler against us if our coun-
try did not constantly court Stalin's whin-
sical favor. Therefore the political movies
must flatter Russia, extol Communism,
and deceive the great American boob.
Many of the great men of the moving
picture industry were born in old Russia
under the last Car and, without embrac-
ing Communism, nevertheless ac'-nov''
edged Stain as savior who had helped
to slay an ancient oppressor.
In time, Hitler came along practicing
the same prosecutions and Staln's repu-
tation prospered even more in Hollywood
That Stain presently joined Hitler for
season is a trivial matter. In due course,
Hitler kicked him in the flask as he
stopped to stuff his pants in his boots and
so, by Hitler's error, Russia was purified
of treachery and became trustworthy
ally of the U.S.A.
Not much of the information elected in
the current hearings by the Thomas COM
nitee on Un-American activities is actu-
ally new. The same characters, identified
last week as Communists in Hollywood
devoted to the conquest of the United
States by Moscow, had been named in
the records many times before Most of
them are natives of the United States, but
some are lisping interlopers who have
trouble with our language. Of the natives,
about one in four goes under an assumed
name adopted for purposes of disguise,
and, as George Sokolsky often writes in
honest scorn, for reasons of shame.
AS to the refugees or displaced persons
in the Communist front it should be re-
membered that Breckenridge Long, one of
the late Roosevelts political backstairs
staff, once testified secretly before COM
mttee of the House that he gave prefer
ence to writer's of this type, and other
esthetes and intellectuals, in arranging
flight to the United States. He wasn't both
erlng to rescue farmers, carpenters or
bakers. Their lives, by some standard of
values, were less precious, not that we
had too many farmers, carpenters or
bakers Or needed any more writer's, ac-
tors and lecturers, particularly evil in
CRATES now found in the Communist con-
spiracy against the people who gave them
asylum.
There are few plain truths WHICH -'''
on the floor in the commotion at the pub
lie hearings last week and need to be
picked up.
One magnate, in glow of that political
emotion called democracy or Liberal
ism," both counterfeits. said he abhorred
Communists and would fire them if he
could but did not dare can man on
mere suspicion of Bolshevism. Not on
would this invite a libel suit, an expensive
business, win or lose, but it is almost
impossible to get rid of an offensive en-
plovee under our laobr laws and union
rules.
A few nights later, finding myself in
the wise company of lady only few
years past renown in the Hollywood make
believe, I was dsillusioned to hear her
say that a movie magnate hadn't had
much trouble firing her and several others
whom recall as equally toothsome'
''The language they use is blunt" said
she. "They just say to a girl 'or else
Couldn't they think of something just as
clever to say to get rid of Communist"
AS a journeyman Word-Worker OF long
experience and wide acquaintance have
learned that ours is trade or craft and
not an art. have read the acclaim of
thousand books and plays which We"
living, human documents in the last rs
wears, not one of which had any more
artistic merit than the routine tapplngs of
tired fingers on any newspaper. The great
est acclaim has been heaped on dirty
minded men and women according to the
violence thew do to American morals and
orr ,nolitical establishment But actually,
there the are no Communist writer's musi-
clans. directors or actors in Hollywood
whose patriotic equal, at least, cannot be
found also in Hollywood or in the younger
crop in the first place.
The producers can clean house when
ever they decide to. All they need do IS
draw the list of Communists initial it
PASS it around and never pay one of them
another dollar They will scream that this
would be a conspiracy and that they could
be sued, prosecuted and punished, but
| All is all fraud. They have done the