The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-29
COunter-Attack

NO1kIAkk O1IxOC w
The Star has made reference to eff
forts to build up membership of the
Communist party in the United States.
believing that all communist activities
are directed toward ultimate seizure
of the government.
The viewpoint has been questioned
by some earnest souls who contend in
a free country any political group has
the right to promote it's interests and
encourage recruits to Joint forces with
it.
They overlook the fact that COM
munism, as it is practiced in Russia,
is antagonistic to our form of govern
ment, and that if it gained control here
would eradicate our kind of democracy,
supplanting it with the Russian form
which is complete domination by the
state, or totalitarianism.
Even before President Truman ap-
pealed for funds to enable Greece and
Turkey to combat Russia's expansionist
program, so far as these countries are
concerned, communist leaders in this
country were plotting in secret ses-
sions a campaign to further their in
~terests and overcome any attacks upon
their growth.
Writing in the New York Times of
April 1, Sidney Shalett tells of meet
ings of the Washington communist ex-
e%cutive committee, and of a similar
gathering in Pittsburgh. At these meet
ings, he reveals, which were presum-
ably duplicated in other key cities, the
party line" for the counter-attack was
laid down by the American Kremlin,"
as national headquarters for the party
in New York City is called. Says Mr..
Shalett:
Proposed anti-Communist legislation
and alleged 'intensification of the anti
|S iitS oldt6o, do LlG
American Communists view it, are the two
developments which bother the party most.
recent trends toward anti-labor legisla-
tlon' winch nave developed in Congress
SINCE the rash of postwar strikes, also
have tn. Communists worried.
These meetings, the writer had
learned by way of a leak in the capital,
preceded the March % Executive order
calling for removal from federal en-
ployment of all persons of doubtful
loyalty. The Washington meeting was
held on March IL and that at Pitts
burgh a day earlier. Following these
sessions, the Little Kremlin laid down
a platform, with these plans en-
phasized:
Inc Communist party will engage
IN a campaign bringing in as manv
supporters as it can swing to ATTEMPT
10 stlfle or at least postpone domestic
antl-Red legislation. "A~nti-Sovieto acts
abroad also will be battled.
Noi deCdCh aimed against the
eoeraI Bureau of Investigation is
planned. The Communists will attempt
TO n the FBI with the House un-
american Activities Committees; will
seek to paint the FBI as "anti-trade
union"
neutrality-suspicious. among pub
tic figures who 60 along with the
party in every respect but have not
actually joined-may be urged to Join
the party openly for the effect on pub
lie opinion.
An intensive recruiting campaign
lor party members will be launched.
AT the Washington meeting, it was
said that the party actually had only
$4,000 bona fide members, although
Communist publications have set the
total as high as $4,000.
A money-raising campaign, with at
least $250,000 as the goal, is being
considered.
Protest demonstrations may be
staged in the capital early in May
Big Names will be sought to appear
on the programs.
The Communists would like to bring