Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-01-28
Communist STRENGTH
Lies in IdeaIism and
An Ersatz Religion
Business Mind Connot
Understand Why Anyone
Would Risk q Big Salary
By Dorothy Thompson

ny DOE OfHV HOWpSO"
This column has never been
partisan to a case before the
courts and has therefore expressed
no opinion on the case of Alger
Hiss, or attempted to prejudice
the outcome.
But the jury found Mr.. Hiss
guilty. 1t was never the word OF
Mr.. Chambers against the word of
Alger Hiss. There was more sub
stantial evidence: The purloined
documents; the typewriter on
which some were typed; Mr.. HISS
handwriting on others. The twelve
jurors, cross-section of citizens,
had every opportunity to hear and
see the evidence. Mr.. Hiss was
represented by a brilliant attor-
ney; he had the support of in
fluential and wealthy friends. He
was not prosecuted, but prose-
cuted, and the prosecution won.
DR.. Carl Binger, the psychia-
trist, testified that Whitaker
Chambers was a psychopathic per-
sonality. Perhaps. But documents
are not psychopathic personalities;
neither is typewriter nor hand
writing. A psychopathic person
atty also may tell the truth. Per-
haps neither Hiss nor Chambers
told the whole truth. The jurors
had to decide the truth on the
evidence presented. And they de-
cided against Hiss.
Reactions Explained.
But I find worthy of comment
the reactions of a considerable
part of the public who almost
Historically resisted the verdict.
I leave out of account Com
munists and fellow travellers, and
those who see a Communist under
every bed. Both these groups pre-
judged the case; the one would
claim Hiss innocent no matter
what the evidence: the other find
him guilty in any case.
Less easy to understand are the
emotional reactions of two groups
not usually associated together.
The first are New Dealers, who
seem to feel that if one among
them is found traitorous, all are
involved. Even Mrs. Roosevelt is
quoted as saying that although
Hiss may have perjured himself
she is sure he never gave away
documents. This doesn't hole
water. The charge of perjury was
sustained by the documents. Ir
resisting the verdict, we see sense
of shame over a member of the
group expressing himself the
wrong way. The Hiss case should
suggest the necessity of purgins
the ranks, not covering for dubi-
Gus members.
The others are highly conserva-
tive Republicans. For them the
conviction of Hiss destroys the
American success story and theil
notion of Communists. In theil
minds people who engage in espi-
onage for foreign countries are in
variably foreign born. and show
the outlines of bombs in their dis
reputable pockets. They are radi-
calls because they won't work.
can't earn a living, and have failed
in country of equal opportunity.
A Russian agent couldn't be a
man of ones own class, whom one
met in exclusive homes and clubs,
one who had made a sensational
success, and was in a high-income
bracket. If such a man purveyed
documents to the Soviets, the very
foundations of their world are
menaced. Therefore he must be
innocent!
Many From Best Families.
Well. such a man can act for q
revolutionary enemy and it is time
we realized it. John Amery be.
longed to one of the best familie!
of England. but was a traitor fol
Hitler. Allan Num- May was 6
distinguished scientist but sold Sc.
cret information to the SoViets
CorliSS Lamont. an active sym.
pathizer with the SovietS, is no
out of ghetto or garnet. Henry
Wallace, backed by the Commu.
nists, was the richest of the three
candidates in the last presidential
election. Nikolai Lenin and hi!
first foreign minister, Chicherin
belonged to the smaller nobility.
There are more Communists il
Park Avenue penthouseS than ir
the bod carriers union. Commu.
nism is not the disease of poverty
though it exploits it. It's roots lie
elsewhere. And one reason that We
cannot effectively fight it is be.
cause most of us believe every.
thing is economically determined
Communist strength does not lie
In it's theoretical economic deter
minism. It lies in it's actual philU-
sophical idealism, and it's capacity
to enter and occupy the bleak
wastelands of the modern mind
as an ersatz religion. The business
mentality cannot understand it
because they cannot under ,tanC
why anyone would ever risk 6
$4,000 income!
Released by The Bell Syndicate, Inc.)
Nail Spiritual Aaa' II