Evening star., 1948-10-12
Reds Are Tauqhl
To Be Traitors,
K. ofC. Is Told
1900 Attend Stort of
Drive on Communism
Dr.. Cronin Speaks

Dr.. Cronin Speaks
The Knights of Columbus launched
an offensive against Communism
last night before 1900 persons, who
crowded the Gonzaga High School
auditorium and heard a declara-
ton that an American Commu-
mist in high public office is COM
PEELED to treason by his party men,
bership.
The speaker who made this state
ment was the Rev. DR.. John r.
Cronin, assistant director of the
department of social action of the
National Catholic Welfare Con-
ference.
The Communist is trained to be
traitor" Father Cronin said. Ger
talnly We must keep him from Office
in Government and in labor"
Edward p. Morgan, Washington
attorney and former administrative
assistant to ]. Edgar Hoover, FBI
director, shared the platform with
Father Cronin.
$50 completely have we permitted
Communists to infiltrate key posi-
tions that if war should come
Communists in the maritime, COM
munications and other kew in
dustries probably would be able to
sabotage our war effort before 1t
got started" Mr.. Morgan said.
First of Forums.
Last nights meeting was the first
or seven anti-Communist forums
sponsored by the Washington Gen.
eral Assembly of the Fourth Degree
knights of Columbus. Shane Nc
Carthy, chairman of the oreaniza-
tions Current Affairs Committee,
presided. He was presented by Guy
Moore, head of the assmebly.
Father Cronin suggested that
Communists who became Govern
ment officials may have divided
their Federal salaries with the part
ty. 1t is nothing for a teacher in
New York, a member Of the party
who makes $4,000 a year, to be told
to kick back half of that, he said
adding: Perhaps some of our high
officials may not have lived too
sumptuously."
He referred to detailed and doc
umented" studies, revealing men of
culture, prestige and position as
Communists. But, in response to a
question after the meeting, he said
the number now in Government is
the lowest in recent years.
Psychological Gulf Created.
with the loyalty investigation
many pulled out" he said.
Communists, Father Cronin said
creates psychological gulf between
its members and the rest Of society.
That is why it is so dangerous to
have them in labor. in Government,
in atomic science and in radio, lie
said. ~
Communism is an organized con-
spiracy, definite in program, decf-
sive Is action and as disciplined ali
the Marines" he said.
Father Cronin outlined the Marx
Stalin-Lenin background of COM
munism.
They taught conspiracy, sabo-
tage, to lie and to deceive" he said.
$50 They are apostles of an in
evitable revolution. If you can con-
vince people they are in victorious
movement, you can lead them to
make sacrifices for what they think
they will achieve.
The true Communist believes he
cannot lose. Let us not under
estimate the importance of this
psychology of victory"
The party. he said, subjects the
recruit to an intensive indoctrina-
ton, breaking down his loyalties,
and making him a complete cynic
and distrustful of outside sources of
information.
Loses Sense of Truth.
"They make of him Zombie, who
loses all sense of truth and is dis
possessed of all sense of loyalty ex-
cept to the party"
Mr.. Morgan discussed the danger
Of war in the atomic age and said
that, If through sources of intelli-
gence we learn again that we are
faced with the situation that con-
fronted us before Pearl Harbor, II
suggest that to indulge the age-old
theory of democracy that we should
permit the enemy to strike first
would mean our destruction.
He said we have a higher per-
centage of Communists in the
United States today than there were
in Russia at the time of the Red
revolution in 1917.
Il believe he said, from the
words of the Russian leaders them
selves, that war with the Soviet
Union Is certain unless: First, we
can appeal to the Russian people
to foment revolution He said
however, he did not believe this
possible because of the police state
rule there.
Second he said, "let Russia have
the world. And I don't think we
intend to do that" He phrased
his third exception this way:
Il don't believe Russia will move
in to attack a nation she has not
already destroyed from within"
The next of the anti-Communist
forums will be held November /.
Succeeding ones will be held each
month through June, except during
January.