The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1952-12-05
Creeping Socialism
By MARIE EATON. Hinsdale

NOW Jnat the elect1OnS are over ana
the high emotional tensions are begin
ming to relax, it becomes urgent upon
thoughtful people to ask, where do
we go from here?"
This question has been asked before
but mostly by suspicious and frustrated
people who feared going forward with
bold new PLAN. People who feared
progress and the upsetting of the sta
tus quo. The question thoughtful peo-
pie are asking now is, are we going to
continue going forward or are we go
ing to begin going backward.
The people have spoken-on Novem-
Der 4th-and it would seem that the
mandate that has been given is for
turning backward from the New Deal
and the Fair Deal, albeit the tremend
Gus progress that was made during
this era has not before been matched
in history.
Man is an extraordinarily restless
creature. 1t seems even more difficult
for him to endure progress and pros
perity continually than it does to en-
dure lethargy and financial adversely.
And what seems even more paradoxical
is the fact that many who classed
themselves with the forward looking
liberals howled the loudest about keep
ing up with the pace.
There are many signs that creeping
socialism" is getting hold of our So
democratic type of socialism but the
Hitler type of fascist socialism. Much
has been said about the attacks on our
civil liberties with great deal of
justification but not nearly enough has
been said about the far more danger
Gus attacks on our public schools. The
backbone of our democracy is lodged
in our free public school system. Have
the people by their mandate on No
vember 4th acquiesced in the under
mining and destruction of this great
tool of democracy? The people have
chosen to continue the Mccarthy Nc
Carran-Nixon machine to point the
guns of our hysterical society toward
itself That can only mean that the
theology of authori-
tarianism has taken hold and that our
democracy is indeed in danger of go
ing ION the rocks"
This type of creeping socialism" is
a wolf in sleeps clothing. 1t wears
patriotic colors, it pledges allegiance
to the flag while at the same time
denying the context of the pledge. 1t
maSqueradeS under the preteXt of pa
triotism, of protecting freedom by
roofing out communism-and subver-
sive communism serves it's purpose by
roofing out freedom instead.
Is the future of our educational pro-
gress at stake? Education must be re-
sponsive to changing conditions of So
ciety. The progressive leaders of edu
cation, who are now often referred to
by cynicS and SadiSts as intellectual |
wits, have been sensitive to these |
and have led us a long way !!
from ignorance of the true nature of |
the individual and have freed us from
the superstitious Shackles of the past.
Dur progressive educators have been
the stabilizing force of our society, but
the malicious powers who are attack
ing them are spreading and gaining
greater strength.
Education must continue to have
f democracy is to survive-these aims:
1t must lend itself to self -development;
spiritually, mentally, physically. 1t
must develop reasoning capacity, fore
sight and good judgment. 1t should
'oster social growth and a willingness
% move ahead. Without freedom of
thought, freedom to express choice or
emotional satisfactions our concept of
democracy must suffer. The attack
ers of our progressive education would
simmer it down to the three RS. They
would limit the teaching of citizen
ship to flag waving. This is not
enough. Good citizenship must build
character and develop the skills of good
We are living in a changing world.
f we are to continue on the upward
rail-, we must not strike a blow at
he very fundamentals of the core of
,ur democracy.