Open forum, vol. 2, no. 15 (April, 1925)

THE OPEN FORUM

Free Thought prospers only in a Free Society.

----

Vol. 25

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, APRIL 11, 1925

No. 15

Recent Loans to

Latin America

By Scott Nearing

From a Talk Given at the Rand School

Current History Class

prof. Chester Lloyd Jones, in his book on Carri-

bean Diplomacy, notes that the United States, under

Democratic and Republican administrations alike,

has carried out a policy of consistent aggression

against the Latin American countries lying in the

Carribean area. American Carribean diplomacy

ig neither Republican nor Democratic. It is finan-

cial, The dominating interest of the United States

in the Caribbean is the interest of investors who

have millions invested in Cuban sugar, Haitian

ponds, and Mexican oil. The character of this in-

terest becomes more evident after a study of the

kind of contracts which American bankers are mak-

ing with the Latin American countries to which

they extend credit.

Unfortunately, these contracts are difficult to get

hold of. The state department keeps a copy of at

least some of them on file, but no outsiders are

permitted to see them. However, a number of these

contracts have recently come to light, either through

senatorial investigation, or through publication in

the Latin American countries to which the loans

were made.

The Nicaraguan loan contract of 1920 is typical.

Under its provisions the republic of Nicaragua

pledges its customs revenues for the payment of in-

terest and principal on the loan. In case of default,

the Atlantic and Pacific railways of Nicaragua are

`pledged, under mortgages given by the government

and covering all new coustruction and equipment as

well as the construction and equipment already in

existence. The carrying out of the contract is

left to a fiscal agent and financial adviser, both of

whom are named in the contract, and who happen to

_ be two of the banks making the loan.

Under the provisions of this loan the financial

life of the Nicaraguan government is practically

Subordinated to the interests of a couple of United

`States banking houses.

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finance minister

_ Even more complete control is provided for in

_ the Bolivian loan of 1922. This contract, which

in the annual report of the Bolivian

for 1922, covers a_ $26,000,000

- loan, the interest on which is guaranteed by assign-

ing to a fiscal commission the customs revenues, the

license revenues, the corporation tax revenues, and

half a dozen other government revenues. AS a

further guarantee the Bolivian government assigns

to the American bankers 114,000 shares of Bolivian

National bank stock, with a guarantee that this

amount of stock is a majority of the shares issued by

the bank. In case of a default on the loan, the

Bolivian government pledges two railway systems,

with the understanding that these may be sold to

satisfy the bankers, that they may be bought by

the bankers, and may be operated for 99 years free

of taxes by their banker-purchasers.

The actual control of Bolivian finance is vested,

Ueuet Tals contract, in the fiscal commission. This

commission consists of three members, two named

by the bankers and one by the Bolivian government.

One of the banker nominees must always be chair-

man, This chairman is also, and automatically, a

as a ae board of directors of the National

heia ke: oe ee revenues are paid into the

Bt Beat, 1s fiscal SOTATIEEIOR: provision is made

talents 4 and sinking fund on the loan, and the

n goes to the Bolivian government.

eeu ue entire life of this loan the financial

eames aida are virtually in the hands of Amer-

nc The Bolivian government, in order

atignt' - money, practically surrendered its sov-

citizens of the United States.

dig Cahn loan of 1923, the Salvador loan of

Dtorieion. ler recent contracts contain the same

States ty Not only the diplomacy of the United

f " but the finance of the United States is

inexor

Latin ably Snufling out the sovereignty of our weaker

American neighbors,

More Mouths Wanted

George Wheeler Hinman, the writer of special

financial articles for the Los Angeles Examiner,

asks solemnly in a recent issue of that paper what

reason can be given for the expected slump in

the business world. Here is the answer which he

quotes from a London, England, paper:

An explanation of the sort is given by a Lon-

don financial weekly of high standing. It is to

the effect that the United States during and

after the war enormously extended its industries

and built up its manufacturing plants. So, when

business conditions settled down toward nor-

malcy, the American manufacturers, for in-

stance, had the machinery to produce more

goods than the people wanted-more than the

people could buy. In other words, they had a

lot of extra capacity to make the things that we

all live. by.

Industry in the United States is 50 per cent

stronger, we are told, than in 1914. That is, it

can produce for the people today half again as

many things as it produced for them about ten

years ago. It has far more horsepower in its

machinery and far more labor power than it

had then. If, for example, American industry

could turn out $40,000,000,000 of useful things

then, it can turn out $60,000,000,000 of useful

things now. But are there enough people to buy

all these things, and is there enough money to

pay for them all, month in and month out?

Apparently not--not yet. Although the fac-

tories can take care of about 40,000,000 or 45,-

000,000 more population than they cared for in

1914, they have only about 16,000,000 more to

look after now than they had to look after then.

To keep all the factories and mills busy all the

time, we should have at least 135,000,000 people

in the United States. Or, if we allow that every-

body is consuming more factory products and

living higher than before the war, we might

make the figures at least 130,000,000. Yet we

have only 113,000,000. So we need about 17,-

000,000 more to use our foods, clothes and shel-

ter before our mills and factories can be kept

busy all the year round to supply the people's

needs. Otherwise, these periodical business

pauses even in times of national prosperity.

* * * *

MORE ROBOTS COMING

And here is Hinman's comment on the above:

The foregoing figures are not exact, but they

are close enough. The next question is: What

are the remedies?

Well, for one thing, the present yearly increase

of population. That increase is taking up the

slack at the rate of 1,500,000 persons a year-

1,500,000 persons with their new wants and pur-

chases of our products.

For another; the growth in foreign trade.

Every. new mouth that is fed by us abroad,

every new body that is clothed abroad, means an

extra demand for American labor and extra

wages that in turn mean extra purchasing power

at home for American products. In this respect,

too, we are solving the problem, for unless pres-

ent signs fail we shall dispose of $500,000,000

more of American products abroad in this finan-

cial year than we sold to foreigners in the pre-

vious one.

For still another thing, the higher standard

of. living and the high wages earned by Amer-

ican workers. This change to take up the slack

and enabling American producers to use ever

more of their producing capacity.

These three remedies are all at work on the

right side now, and there are others-plenty

of others.

(End of Quotation)

More New Thought

Colonel Smith, a Salvation Army missionary to

Africa, while in this country last August told of an

incident that had occured in connection with his work

among the Zulus. The story was sent to us by one

of our readers, Mrs. Lucia M. Olivier.

The Salvation Army mission had _ established

schools for the natives, and for a time many children

came; then the chief issued instructions forbidding

them to attend. After some weeks came a drought.

Streams dried up, the crops were lost; starvation

followed. The chief ordered his rain doctors to make

rain. For a whole day they repeated their incanta-

tions and made offerings to their gods; but no rain

came. At last the chief sent for Col. Smith, and

said:

"My rain doctors cannot make rain; call now upon

your God, that my people do not die."

Colonel Smith replied in the symbolic language of

the people: `My lips are padlocked, that I may not

speak to my God, and his ears are sealed that he

cannot hear."

When the chief asked the reason for this state of

affairs, the missionary explained: `"`You have denied

the one true God; you have forbidden your people to

come to his meetings, or your children to learn to

read his Book. He will not hear me in your behalf."

"What shall we do `that your God will hear and

send us rain?"

"Command your people that they send their chil-

dren to the mission schools; command them that

they forsake the worship of false gods and come and

learn of the one true God; put away your witch doc-

tors; and we will pray to our God that he send rain,

so that you and your children may not die."

The chief agreed to do as the missionary said, and

promised that if the white man's God sent rain,

then the chief and his people would worship Him

forever.

Colonel Smith told the chief to gather his people

together. They came, a vast multitude of black men,

women, and children. Colonel Smith told them all to

kneel and, with eyes looking toward the heavens, to

repeat a prayer. He gave them the prayer in their

native language. It was a prayer for rain, a petition

for forgiveness, and a pledge of service. After about

two hours of fervent prayer, there was a flash of

lightning, followed by a crash of thunder and great

drops of rain. Colonel Smith rose to his feet and

shouted: "To your homes!" Then followed a down-

pour such as the country had seldom known before.

Although the details of Colonel Smith's story differ

from the story told in the eighteenth chapter of I

Kings, there is much in it that reminds us of the

incident of Elijah's calling down fire upon the altars

of Baal, and with subsequent downpour of rain which

followed Elijah's prayer on Mt. Carmel-``and there

was a great rain."

-From well-known New Thought Journal

More mouths are coming. Apparently, from the

reasoning of this "financial weekly of high stand-

ing," and this American financial expert who is edu-

cating the American people with Hearst's support,

these mouths, millions of them, are coming without

any other organs to embarrass them. They will be

mouths, without hands, consumers who will not be

producers, you see. Yet anyone who is fit to be out-

side of an insane asylum knows well enough that

under modern conditions of industry the man who

works produces more than he is allowed to con-

sume, and so adds to the glutting of the market.

But the high financiers dare not admit this simple

and obvious explanation of "over-production." Give

the worker what he produces everywhere and you

will have no glutting that cannot be easily adjusted

anywhere. Give him less, and you will always be

up against the fact that every additional worker

helps that much sooner and surer to stall the ma-

chine.

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Stren (c) cS eee eee eS SOREN SAULT CELTS CPSU RO

World Doings and Sayings

DRINK THIS WITH

YOUR TEA

Sir Charles Higham was sent to the United

States by Sir Thomas Lipton to sell his~- tea:

Here, according to the New York Times, is how

the advertising expert is doing his job:

Sir Charles Higham, the British advertising

expert, predicted last night that another world

war would develop, possibly within ten years,

with the United States and Great Britain allied

against Japan, Germany and other races, unless

the two English-speaking nations built up their

air defenses to show warlike nations that they

"are not going to have any nonsense about it."

Speaking at a. dinner of the Sphinx Club, at

the Waldorf-Astoria, Sir Charles declared that

"in the minds of those who made public opinion"'

in Germany, Japan, Russia, and China a plan has

been formed `for the yellow races to make an

aerial attack on the Panama Canal and Cali-

fornia and land in Mexico after having got rid

of the United States defenses." Simultaneously,

he said, Germany will attack France. Canada

and Australia will have all they can do to look

after themselves, and England will be handi-

capped in going to France's aid.

"It may be the last war, but you can't tell

that," he said. "It will come in less than twenty

years and most likely in ten. The reason there

will be another war is manifold. The Japanese

want power and great dominions. The Germans

have had the same idea instilled in them for

generations. The United States' prosperity and

unlimited resources: for wealth make her a

tempting morsel for the warlike nations of the

world. She is really a more tempting country

to capture than any other on the face of the

map. Her very isolation makes her danger

greater because she is not likely to concern her-

self about it, as those do who are nearer to the

warlike nations of the world. She has really

only one great ally and friend-the British Em-

pire. My country and yours are the only two

nations in the world, which, in my judgment,

are not aggressively keen on war. These two

countries will never war against each other-

of that I am absolutely certain."

Sir Charles said there is a way of preventing

this "next great war, or at least hindering the

date on which it may occur, and that this is by

convincing the aggressively warlike nations that

the United States and Great Britain are not go-

ing to have any nonsense about it."

"They are in no condition to make that an-

nouncement today," he continued. `"Aerially the

United States of America and the British Em-

pire are very weak in comparison to France.

The next war will be fought largely in the air,

and if the United States and the British Em-

pire are ready to meet any aerial warfare that

may occur, the other nations will hesitate before

striking a blow. The expense incurred in aerial

defense is as essential as that the sun shall

shine tomorrow, but there are an awful lot of

people in your country and mine who don't

agree with this point of view, and they shall

probably be the ones to criticise our lack of

readiness when the day comes again."

It is the duty of the United States, Sir Charles

believes, to combine with Great Britain "in

seeing that the Germans pay what they can pay"

in reparations. France, too, he said, should be

made to pay.

"There is a way,' he continued. `What is

she doing with the money that belongs to your

country at the moment? She is equipping a

gigantic army and an air fleet that could wipe

out London in twenty-four hours. Japan is or-

ganizing Russia on a war basis and any one

with half an eye would see that. The way to

make peace for a long time to come is to prepare

for war."

He

Pulpit Heroism

Such a dear man the new

vicar is-so outspoken. In his sermon last Sunday

he censured the devil most severely.-Passing Show.

Overgushing Hostess:

WHOSE MONEY

Negotiations are now under way which, if they

succeed probably will establish for 1925 a new rec-

ord in foreign financing. The total under negotia-

tion is about $1,000,000,000 to which would be added

$400,000,000 of foreign Government, municipal or

corporate loans already granted, raising the total

to $1,400,000,000. The figure does not include' new

Canadian borrowing in prospect which totals from

$200,000,000 to $300,000,000, thus raising the pros-

pective 1925 total of all kinds of foreign financing

to $1,600,000,000 or $1,700,000,000.

"Among prospective European borrowers, Germany

heads the list with about $193,000,000, followed by

France with about $180,000,000," according to Max

Winkler, Manager of the Foreign Department of

Moody's Investors Service, who completed yester-

day a tabulation of loans under negotiation. "A

credit of about $100,000,000 is expected to be estab-

lished in this market in behalf of Great Britain in

connection with the country's intention to restore

the gold standard. Austrian borrowings are placed at

$54,000,000; those in behalf of Czechoslovakia at

$63,500,000. The total amount of credit sought by

Europe is placed at more than $762,000,000. South

American issues may reach $180,500,000, Central

American about $6,000,000 and Japanese $15,000,000."

ges Re 9 ae

PROSPERITY'S ALPHABET

Wilshire police yesterday were dragging the la-

goon at Westlake Park in the belief that the writer

of a suicide note found on a park bench had car-

ried out his announced intention of ending his life.

The note found by the park foreman follows:

"Yes, look at Sunday's cartoon once more. The

cartoonist puts a big row of factories, but he does

not put the thousands waiting for an opportunity.

"Just one man sitting on a park bench. I'll end

it all five steps from here."

The note was signed with the initials "A. A."

-Daily paper, Los Angeles, April 1, 1925

ee

WILL COOLIDGE COLLAR

THE SENATE

NEW YORK--Is it merely coincidence that Frank

P. Stearns, co-resident of the White House with

President Coolidge, and Thomas W. Lamont of Mor-

gan's banking house, are both going to Italy "for

vacations" at almost the same moment, just after

the arrival of the new Italian ambassador? Fascismo

may be explained by Count Antonio Cippico, Italian

Fascist senator, coming to lecture at the Institute

of Politics in Williamstown, Mass., but the answer

to the above question may not be. Lamont was one

of the greeters of the new Italian ambassador and

read President Coolidge's letter of welcome to di

Martino. It is an appropriate time for Stearns

and Lamont to take pleasure trips to Italy when

Mussolini seems broken by illness and popular dis-

favor. The strikes of metal workers throughout Italy

are not so easily stopped as the dictator announced.

-Federated Press.

i -----_

Peasants of the Pavement

WASHINGTON-Sixty thousand civil service em-

ployes in the various executive departments at

the national capital are being slowly but inexor-

ably broken in spirit, their enthusiasm for scientific

achievement dulled, their hope of security and dig-

nity in old age shaken, by the petty policies of

"economy" which the Coolidge administration is

tightening about them.

They cannot be reduced to the same condition

as peasants who till the land; here, the goil has

been shut off from beneath their feet by endless

miles of pavement. Possibly they will come to regard

themselves as peasants of the pavement. Like their

foreign brothers on the land, they must think as

little as possible about their rights, and as steadily

as possible about their duties of loyal obedience, si-

lence and passivity.-Federated Press.

World Labor Notes

By The Federated Press

Unemployment in Austria is the greatest since the

war, totaling 187,000. When the bankers stepped j,

to save the country there were only 50,000 unemploy.

ed. Living costs have risen 50% within the year anj

the decline in the purchasing power of wages injj.

cates industrial conflict.

k % * *

Increasing unemployment in Belgium is the result

of the competition of foreign coal, steel and textiles

Belgium along with the other allies won the war py

Belgian workers are being defeated by the low waga

and long hours forced upon the conquered.

% % * *

Unemployment in Great Britain is more serio,

than a year ago with 11.6% of the workers or oyq

1,330,000 out of a job. Movements for wage increage

to meet the cost of living have struck the snag know)

as foreign competition.

* * *k *

The industrial crisis in Brazil forced Sao Paul

factories to cut out working time to 18 hours a week

Workers are receiving greatly reduced wages.

* * % *

A nation-wide lock-out affecting about 130,000 work.

ers has been declared off by employers in Sweden,

The industries that will resume include machinery,

wood pulp, paper, sawmills and textiles. The employ.

ers had tried to insist on the status quo in face ofa

general movement for increased wages and bette

conditions.

* * *

A wholesale lock-out of 50,000 workers in iron, and

metal, sugar, margarine, cement and oil mills of Den

mark has only been held up by an appeal from the

King.

* * *

The first big strike in Italy since Mussolini got `his

fascist grip on the country involved at one time 100;

000 workers in Milan, Triest, Turin and other Lom

bard industrial centers. Both the socialist and fas

cist unions struck and Mussolini intervened to co

erce the employers into a less uncomprising position.

Milan workers gained increases in wages, with revi

sion every 3 months in terms of the cost of living

The Fiat auto works employing 30,000 withdrew from

the employers' association to make concessions. Th ,

strike continues at Turin and Monfalcone. i

* * *

Increased production in Germany has brought mor

jobs and increased labor unrest. The 591,667 unet

ployed compares with 1,439,780 a year ago. Wags

have increased from 27.45 to 36.52 marks (1 mark,

24c) a week for skilled labor and from 22.74 to 27.6)

marks for unskilled. But they are still 30% belov

prewar in purchasing power. Agreements in mot

important industries terminated March 1 and agita

tion for wage increases is in full swing.

* * *

Refusal of French railroads to reinstate all strikers

dismissed after the 1920 strike and to allow them the

money which they would have paid into their retire

ment fund means that the roads are defying the

government which is trying to force such reinstate

ment in accord with its pre-election promise. 0x00B0 Mod

fication of the 8-hour law in favor of the men als?

occasions friction between the companies and the

government.

Calles' strong arm government in Mexico is cuttile

both ways so far ag it affects the labor movemelt

He has denied the right of railway workers to strik?

but has balanced this action by ordering the Cat

dian owned corporation operating the street car lin

to recognize the union.

* * *

The firing on unarmed workers striking agains!

being swindled out of a bonus by the Cawnpore Col

ton Mills Co. of India is condemned ag a gross misuse

of police power by an unofficial committee of enduil!

consisting of Cawnpore lawyers and business me!

The police killed 6 and wounded 58 workers. J

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We want letters.

Lots of them.

From lots of people.

On lots of subjects.

BUT NOT LOTS OF WORDS.

Make them "Century Letters,"

that is letters of not more than

One Hundred words.

Write on subjects of general

CS SDC) CD (| ) cent - D- (GREED () ED ( D(C eres -com- [7]

interest.

Typewrite your letters,

if possible. If you are

interested in anything worth-

while, say so. But say it in

as few sentences as you can.

Sign your name. It will not be

used if you do not wish it

published, provided you say so.

Let's make "SAY SO" the best

page of this paper. Mind you,

be brief. And again, BE BRIEF.

oO ac

March 31, 1925.

Times, Los Angeles, California.

Dear Sirs:

So you are "bored" by the words "Birth Con-

trol" Well you might be bored if you were forced

to. bear a: child once: a: year:

What about the poor woman, who is faced with

that problem every day of her life? And you would

keep her from knowing how to protect herself

against that grave responsibility, the creation of a

human soul. Women must find relief from that

burden notwithstanding the stupidity of those who

oppose it. But, as usual you are opposed to another

vital issue; vital to the very depths of every human

soul, because it hag to do with the creation of souls.

You would have souls thrust into this world without

thought; all you want is numbers, like Roosevelt.

For what-to be mowed down by the state at will?

The world war that took our children, whether we

were willing or not, does not encourage mothers

to produce more children until we evolve a safe and

sane system. The population of the world is. in-

_ creasing at the rate of fourteen million a year; we

have about five million unemployed now, in a so-

ee called period of prosperity.

If you want children poured into the world, find

a way to assure their protection against a world of

greed, where it will not be necessary to have child

labor, and a constitution which does not protect or

protest. -

What is the object of offering prizes for large

families in France? What are fifty or a hundred

francs in the life of a child. I hope no woman

would be foolish enough to accept such a bribe. Is

there any reason for being? If you have found one,

you have done more than all the philosophers of all

the ages.

The tragedies that each day's newspapers recite,

prove the need for a regenerated race. Let us hope

that the friends of humanity who have come to us

from all the ends of the earth will succeed in con-

vincing complacent America of the gravity of our

ignorance and apathy on this most vital question

of the day.

Sincerely,

KATE-CRANE GARTZ.

* * * *

March 25, 1925.

Mr. J. H. Randall,

12 Park Ave,

New York City.,

My dear Mr. Randall:

vata who could not subscribe to your pro-

ar at d pot be a fit member for your church or

: ae ers We all want what you want,

ae eo for all humanity to live in. As a

thetr doh ches are. not thinking along that line,

to eee to be to prepare for a future life,

Ip" as you say, an unknown and unknow-

ab] Renee Wig ;

he divinity" indifferent, as I, and millions of

"It it 8, have come to know, to the woes of mankind.

Were not for man's inhumanity to man the

world would, be a very good place for man to live

in; but God is not running it, so if you, in your

church, could find a way to lead man toward this

goal, this millenium on earth, we would not have

to worry any more.

I believe it can come through all kinds of com-

munity organizations, such as, community churches,

community schools, community theatres, community

spirit and eventually a general and unanimous com-

munism wherein every human being of this great

community-the world, is a member of the great hu-

man family, assured of his place in the sun, free

from worry and poverty and free to enjoy life to the

fullest, as was the intention of the Creator-or else

there is none.

Sincerely,

KATE-CRANE GARTZ.

* * * *

Editor, Open Forum: The multitudes of loyal,

patriotic, decent and 100 per cent. Americans who

have come to San Pedro during this week, to view

our mighty, though (as Gen. Mitchell seems to

think) obsolete fleet in its last glory, were no doubt

gratified to observe the enormous sign cK ee

on the face of the hill that rises in back of the

town. These three letters signify to all Protestant

and white Americanos that San Pedro, by the grace

of God and with the help of tar and feathers, is

still a part of this matchless Republic of ours, though

a majority of the town consists of "wops, hunks,

dagoes, Mexicans and such other evil creatures."

Two years ago San Pedro had a bad nightmare.

At least, it seems a nightmare now. An evil monster

called the I.W.W. threatened its very existence;

but along came a valiant knight, clad in a spotless

nightshirt, and-biff!-slew the monster. San Pe-

dro now is happy again. Ships come and go and

little bands of docile robots handle their cargoes.

The ship companies, agents and brokers, tug-boat

companies and. ship chandlers are doing fair busi-

ness; and they are no longer perturbed by the

monster I.W.W., for the monster is dead-and the

knight of the nightshirt is supreme. Behold the

"K. K. K." on the hillside!

True that hundreds are out of work, that their

families live in want, but they are nothing but a

bunch of hunks, dagoes and Mexicans. They can

get t' hell out of here, or their daughters can sell

their bodies for bread.

Yours for a pure Protestant and white San Pedro

KUKU.

* * * *

Dear Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Taft:

Since mailing the "Say So" of yesterday, I have

taken pains to carefully read over again, as sample

of preceding issues, March 14 O. F., which has al-

most tempted one to recall from publication the

article sent.

The feeling must have been, that while practic-

ally nearly all the critical matter that has been

published I could endorse as, in itself, valuable, and

necessary to the warfare for social economic re-

construction,-there `should be interspersed, in the

interest of hope and fact, a proportion of the mat-

ters going forward in actual contemporary recon-

struction movements and organizations under way.

(Such as one may see in the Survey.)

I know, of course, the limitations of your space,

as well as the present mind receptivity of many of

the readers, calling for criticism. But the last issue

of O. F. shows liberal reaction is irresistably at the

door! 3

Always yours,

T. K. GILLETTE.

* * * *

Beaumont, Cal., Mar. 21, 1925.

Editor,

Open Forum,

Ee AS Cale:

Alfred Russell Wallace said there is no evidence

that mankind has made any advance morally during

the last 5000 years. This thought has again been

brought to mind by recent developments in the

South.

Near Atlanta, Georgia, a huge memorial is being

carved at a cost of $2,000,000 to commemorate the

Confederate Army.

In Kentucky one of the world's tallest monuments

was recently built in honor of Jefferson Davis, the

president of the Confederacy.

There has been much talk of erecting a memorial

to General Lee, of the Confederate Army, in Wash-

ington, D. C., at a cost of $5,000,000.

The only claim to the world's notice of these men

is that they fought to keep human beings in slavery.

The fact that such great sums can be raised to com-

memorate them is a pitiful proof of the moral stag-

nation of the South. This region is notoriously the

poorest and most backward of any section of our

country, and surely, these sums were better expended

for schools, hospitals or roads for future generations.

W.A.H.

* * * *

April 1, 1925.

My Dear Madam:

I apologize for my delay in answering your letter.

I have been crowded for time, and I find it a little

difficult to read German script. I have sent you a

copy of MANASSAS.

As to Prohibition, I believe that alcohol is a

poison. If it affected only the individual we might

leave the individual free to use it, but as it often

makes the individual a dangerous criminal or luna-

tic, and as it destroys the future generations, it

becomes a social danger and society has exactly the

same right to prohibit its use as it has to prohibit

burglary.

Prohibition is now being tried in the United States.

Of course one cannot change the habits of a people

in five, years, and naturally there is a great deal

of violation of the law. But the working classes

are not getting liquor, and I am willing for a section

of the idling classes to destroy themselves. I think

that little by little we shall work out ways to enforce

the law more effectively, and I think that in the

end a nation which enforces prohibition will win

out over the nations which continue to use alcohol.

Sincerely,

Upton Sinclair

Good Form a Duty

March 22, 1925.

In propaganda there is a greater need of clarity,

for the sake of emphasis, than in any other type of

writing. That is why a propagandistic paper, as

"The Open Forum" must take it as a duty to care-

fully supervise the form of its published contribu-

tions.

If it be argued cynically that propaganda is not

intended for the `intellectual,' it is as obsolete a

viewpoint as modern socialist economics might be,

were it to refer to workers aS manual laborers only.

Every paper has the prerogative, and a propagandis-

tic paper the duty, of revising a contribution for the

best interests of its readers without offending a con-

tributor. In working for a common ideal, we should

encourage mutual aid. M. F.

a

The Muzzling of the Courts

NEW YORK.-The disbarment of Elmer Smith,

attorney for the Centralia loggers serving 25 to 40

years in Walla Walla penitentiary, brings the total

of radical and labor attorneys disbarred in the past

few years to five, the American Civil Liberties Union

announces.

Other attorneys kicked out of the bar associations

and denied the right to defend workers or other

defendants in the courts include Jacob Margolis, dis-

barred following the steel strike for his radical opin-

ions; J. L. Metzer of Chicago, disbarred after he

defended the I. W. W. members during the war and

after he had been tarred and feathered by a reaction-

ary mob; Paul Glazer of Gary, disbarred for Com-

munist activities, and an attorney from Fresno,

Cal. Metzer was nominally disbarred over a divorce

suit but the animus against him was for his radical

activities.

Smith got an adverse verdict from the Washington

Bar Association two years ago, and the Washington

supreme court sustained the decision. He has taken

a prominent part in Farmer-Labor politics in Wash-

ington and defended numerous I. W. W. prisoners.

Federated Press.

ieee es

The highest torm of despotism, falsehood and

violence, is the establishment by some people of a

law which must not be discussed by the other people,

but which must be obeyed by them..

-Tolstoy.

Se PSR et SACS SRN TE Yes EE NEE Ge ca eee

Co RE Geese

THE OPEN FORUM

Published every Saturday at 506 Tajo Building,

First and Broadway

Los Angeles, California, by The Southern California

Branch of The American Civil Liberties Union.

Phone: TUcker 6836.

MANAGING EDITORS

Robert Whitaker Clinton J. Tatt

LITERARY EDITOR

Esther Yarnell

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS.

Upton Sinclair Kate Crane Gartz J H. Ryckman

Fanny Bixby Spencer Doremus Scudder

Leo Gallagher Ethelwyn Mills

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Entered as second-class matter Dec. 13, 1924, at

the post office at Los Angeles, California, under the

Act of March 8, 1879.

SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1925

COMING EVENTS

Keke UK ak KY Keka

Los Angeles Open Forum, Music-Art Hall, 233

South Broadway, Sunday evening at 7-30 o'clock.

ae aeeee

At the Church of The New Social Order meeting

next Sunday, in Symphony Hall, 232 South Hill St.,

Los Angeles, Robert Whitaker will speak on "You

and your Family." It is going to be a real handling

of some of the real problems of present day family

life. Service begins at 10:45 A.M.

ee

EVERY SATURDAY NIGHT-OPEN DISCUSSION

At Eight O'clock

A Free Education is Offered at

EDUCATIONAL CENTER

By Industrial Workers of the World

Saturday, April 11th, Debate:

tion in the absence of a Centralized Government?"

Affirmative, Joseph Spivak. Negative, Frank Cassidy.

Saturday, April 18th, Archie Sinclair, I. W. W.

Speaker will address the Forum, Room 218, 224 So.

Spuns St. Lime 8 P. M.

INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD

224 South Spring Street, Room 218

4

Free Workers Forum meets Monday Nights at

8:15 o'clock at 420 N. Soto St., (one block north of

Brooklyn Ave.).

April 13-`"Max Stirner and the Anarchist Move-

ment,' by Sasha Kulikoff.

April 20-"`Nature and Her Healing Art," by Dr.

Gustave Haas, President of the California Natur-

opathic Association and pioneer of Naturopathic

work.

April 27-`"`The Fundamental Conception of Law," by

S. G. Pandit.

i ---q"-

I. B. W. A. FORUM

At the Brotherhood Hall, 515 San Julian St.

Sunday Afternoon Meeting 2:30 P.M.

All are Invited to Attend

Geo. McCarthy and J. Eads How, Committee

ere i een

PROLETARIAN FORUM

Every Sunday at 8 P. M.

ODD FELLOWS HALL

220% South Main Street

Questions and Discussion Freely Invited

Admission Free

we

The hinting and intimating manner of writing

that was formerly in use on subjects of this kind

produced skepticism, but not conviction. It is nec-

essary to be bold. Some people can be reasoned

into sense and others must be shocked into it.

Say a bold think that will stagger them and they

will begin to think-Thomas Paine.

"Can a Society Func-

Millions of Them

Apropos of the article on our relations with the

Spanish American Republics it may interest some of

our readers to have accessible the figures on the

Spanish speaking population of the world. These

figures were given us recently by a school in Los

Angeles.

Country Population

Argentina 8,279,159

Bolivia 2,889,970

Brazil 30,492,275

GT e eo ie eee Se No ate po ee eta 3,945,538

Colombia: 5,071,101

Costa Rica. 459,423

CUD Ei SE Re Nee oa ON eee 2,898,905

Dominican Republic 955,159

Ecuador 2,000,000

Guatemala 2,003,579

Hayti 2,500,000

ion dinage ves 613,758

Mexico 15,501,684

Nicaragua 800,000

Panama 450,000

Paraguay __ 1,000,000

Peru _. 500,000

Philippine Islands 19,101,427

Salvador 1,928,621

ia 20,719,598

OR ee ies ots ans ak) er eg ea 1,429,585

Venezuela __ 2,844,618

Potala icy 111,783,073

Comment On

`The Goose Step"

Comment on THE GOOSE-STEP by Professor

George A. Coe of Teachers' College, Columbia Uni-

versity, in his book, "What Ails Our Youth?" pub-

lished by Chas. Scribners' Sons:

* * *

"One can hardly open this question without at-

tempting to estimate Upton Sinclair's `The Goose-

Step.' Is this book just propaganda for a social

theory, and unreliable as to facts, or does it, on the

whole, tell the truth about existing academic condi-

tions? To me Sinclair's socialism is not the crux

of the work at all; I am not nearly as ready as

he is to scent conspiracy, and I trust that I am

not quite as ready as he is to ascribe evil motives

or to hit heads. Nothing in the book interests me

much except its statement of fact. These have a

right to the attention of every thinking man. If

they are calumnious, they should be disavowed and

denounced. If they are generally true-if as much

as fifty percent of them are anywhere near the truth

-then we are in a diseased academic condition.

When the book appeared, I said to myself: `Here

is a challenge that cannot be evaded, for here is a

vast collection of prima facie facts, gathered with

amazing and tenacious industry. They must be

either denied or re-interpreted by college authorities;

or conditions must be excused; or else guilt is con-

fessed.' I hoped for vigorous counter-attacks at

least equal in moral fervor to that of the author of

the book. Counter-attack, if possible, should be

easy, for Sinclair is profuse in his specifications as

to names, dates, places, and documents.

"The general silence-one can almost hear it-of

our academic administrators must be taken as an

additional datum with respect to the allegations

made. Here and there a critic has pointed out minor

inaccuracies, or a failure to use certain printed

records, or Sinclair's bad taste. But in no instance

known to me has anyone claimed that the total

picture is untrue to the total situation, or that sub-

stantial injustice has been done to more than one

or two men or institutions. It therefore seems to

me that the merest intellectual fairness must recog-

nize the book as containing a most important collec-

tion of data upon the current history of higher edu-

cation in America.

"Why are our youth ailing? Partly because the

spirit of our ailing industrial order has infected our

colleges and universities."

Fh

Leisure is more of an end and more worth having

than business.-Aristotle.

Los Angeles

OPEN FORUM

MUSIC ART HALL

233 South Broadway

SUNDAY NIGHTS, 7-30 O'CLOCK

Program for April

_ APRIL 12-"`RADICALISM AND THE BASTuR

MESSAGH," by ROBERT WHITAKER. All `the

churches today are stressing their belief in immortal.

ity. What significance has the doctrine for radicals?

Is there any scientific proof of life beyond thig mup.

dane sphere? What effect upon the present life dogs

belief in a future life have? Music by MR. and MRS.

J. A. ELFENBEIN-Vocal and violin numbers.

APRIL 19-"WHAT ARE THE VITAL ISSUES In

THE PRESENT MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN. by ATTY

J. H. RYCKMAN. This is regarded as the most in.

portant campaign that has occurred in Los Angeles

in many years. Tremendous interests are at stake,

What are they? What does Bledsoe really repre.

sent? What are Cryer and the other candidates

standing for? Music by MAX AMSTERDAM, one of

the first violinists of the Philharmonic Orchestra,

APRIL 26-"THE WORLD COURT?" by MR. BER.

NARD BRENNAN of the University of Souther

California Law School. Mr. Brennan has pre.

sented this subject to many groups thruout California

and the Northwest. He hag given it careful study,

and will give both the pros and cons of the argu

ment. Music by BERWYN B. RISKE, baritone, and

FRANK K. LUNDY, students of the U. S. C.

-_--_-_ 3.

You see my kind of loyalty was loyalty to one's

country, not to its institutions or its office-holders.

The country is the real thing, the substantial thing

the eternal thing; it is the thing to watch Over, and

care for, and be loyal to; institutions are extraneous,

they are its mere clothing, and clothing can wear

out, become ragged, cease to be comfortable, cease

to protect the body from winter, disease, and death. '

To be loyal to rags, to shout for rags, to worship

rags, to die for rags-that is the loyalty of unreason,

it is pure animal; it belongs to monarchy, was

invented by monarchy; let monarchy keep it.-Mark

Twain.

SS

"a

If any one can convince me of an error, I shall

be very glad to change my opinion, for truth is my

business, and nobody was ever yet hurt byl

No; he that continues in ignorance and mistakes,

it is he that receives mischief.-Marcus Aurelius.

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