1
Friday, October 3, 1947
Half of U.S. Workers Who Failed Jewish Center
In 'Loyalty Test' Said to Be Jews
Activities
.
By CHARLES
The reactionary forces in this
country are making headway.
The so-called loyalty check of
all government employes, which
was ordered by President Tru-
man several months ago and for
which Congress provided the nec-
essary funds, is a case in point.
For some, perhaps not so strange
reason, more than half of the gov-
ernment workers who have been
dismissed without a hearing hap-
pen to be Jews.
When the Congressional Com-
mittee on Un-American Activi-
ties was first formed, Rep. Mar-
tin Dies, then chairman of this
committee, was generally regard-
ed as either a nuisance or a joke.
Today, however, the Republican,
J. Parnell Thomas is chairman.
He and Rankin are viciously un-
dermining our traditional liber-
ties and taking advantage of our
postwar fatigue to create a red
hysteria.
Red Hysteria Repeat Performance
The same kind of hysteria
which was fomented after World
War I and through which the
reactionaries succeeded in dis-
rupting the labor movement,
breaking strikes, and reducing
wages, is now sweeping the coun-
try.
The trump card in this reac-
tionary campaign is Soviet Rus-
sia. Here is the largest country
in the world, in the grip of god-
less Communists who want to rule
the world. Our stalwart Repub-
licans and hidebound Democrats
see red at the very notion of such
a possibility.
It goes without saying that it
would be silly to oppose Com-
munism abroad and coddle it at
home. This corollary became the
watchword of all anti-New Deal-
ers. Reactionaries, fascists, and
crackpots joined in the campaign
of vilification. The Communists
must be crushed—and anyone
who disagrees with Congressional
policies is a Communist.
The chief tool of these reac-
tionaries is the Thomas Commit-
tee on Un-American Activities.
This committee, having suddenly
become respectable as well as
powerful, began to single out a
few Communists for the pillory
and to attack liberals and human-
itarians. Taking advantage of
their congressional immunity,
Thomas and Rankin made wild
claims against eminent citizens.
They began investigations of le-
gitimate organizations on the
flimsiest grounds and then cited
the officers for contempt of*Con-
gress when they refused to turn
over data that would have em-
barrassed or even endangered the
security of their membership.
Fight Aganist Anti-Fascists
Here is one example. The Joint
Anti-Fascist Refugee Committee
was formed about the time Fran-
co had defeated the Spanish Loy-
alists. The committee collected
money to help the victims of fas-
cist oppression. It built hospitals,
fed and clothed people, and
helped bring a number of them
to this country, to Mexico, and to
other havens. Last year, Treasury
officials inspected- its books and
gave it a clean bill of health. -
Some months ago this com-
mittee held a fund-raising meet-
ing at Madison Square Garden.
One of the main features was a
trans-Atlantic telephonic address
by Prof. Harold Laski who criti
cized the Vatican for its pro-
Franco position. Shortly there-
after Thomas called the officers of
the refugee committee for ques-
tioning. He demanded all the rec-
Page
THE JEWISH NEWS
A. MADISON
ords of the organization for ex-
amination. This request was re-
fused.
Upon this refusal, the directors
of the organization were cited for
contempt of Congress. Recently
they were tried in Washington,
found guilty, and sentenced to jail
terms and fines. Among these con-
victed officers are Dr. Edward
Barski, who has long devoted his
time and energy to the relief of
anti-fascists; Howard Fast, the
well-known novelist; Professor
Lyman Bradley of New York Uni-
versity, and other liberal citi-
zens. The case is now on appeal.
Attacks.on Eminent Scientist
Here is a second example of
Thomas's vicious work. Dr. Ed-
ward Condon is an eminent phys-
icist and director of the Bureau of
Standards. Because he was recom-
mended for this position by Hen-
ry Wallace and because he is a
member of the American-Soviet
Science Society, a non-political
organization, Thomas has recently
slandered him in two magazine.
articles. These attacks so out-
CHARLES A. MADISON
raged many eminent scientists
that a half dozen of them, includ-
ing Nobel Prize winners, wrote to
the New York Times in strong
protest.
As after World War I, the real
intent of the anti-radicals is not
the crushing of the relatively few
Communists but the curbing of
the liberal forces who made it
possible for labor to obtain its
rights and opportunities under
the New Deal. These reaction-
aries, eager to achieve economic
control at home and world power
abroad, are resorting to the hoary
but still effective method of the
red herring. Their "hate commu-
nism" campaign was echoed by
several state legislatures when
they enacted similar reactionary
measures—of which the Callahan
Act in Michigan is an egregious
example.
What are-American liberals do-
ing to stop this reactionary cam-
paign? Not enough. They must
speak out and fight the transgres-
sions against freedom as organ-
ized labor is now fighting the
Taft-Hartley Act. It is our right
and duty to tell our representa-
tives in Congress and state, legis-
latures what we want them to do
to safeguard our basic freedoms
If we do not now stop reaction
it is bound to spread and become
increasingly dangerous. Nor can
one lull one's conscience with the
false hope that it concerns only
the other fellow. All of us are
bound to feel the poison of reac-
tion sooner or later—unless we
fight it off here and now.
(The Jewish Community Center,
8904 Woodward, is a Red Feather
Agency)
Fall Festival Holiday Hop
Yehucla Rosenman, young adult
director of the Center, announces
that the first in the series of Holi-
day Hop dances will be held at
9 p. m. Sunday, Oct. 12 in the
Center auditorium.
Paul Lavoie and his WJR or-
chestra will play for the dance.
Admission / is 75 cents for mem-
bers and $1.25 for non-members.
Estelle Starr Herman is chairman
of the Holiday Hop committee,
and is assisted by Bernice Blen-
der, Sam Borak, Morris Buch-
zeiger, Earl Davidson, Bee Dia-
mond, Celia Fine, Ann Kassel-
man, Ruth Lewis, Lillian Lewis,
Allan Mittleman, Dolores Mihaly,
Danny Raskin, Frances Rotm an
and Helen Waserman.
* * *
Juniors Celebrate Sukkot
Frances Winokur, junior activ-
ities director, announces that a
Sukkot celebration will be held
for all juniors (6 to 14) at the
Center auditorium from 1:30 to
3 p. m. Sunday, Oct. 12. Miss
Winokur will announce the Cen-
ter's junior program for the year.
There is no charge for admission.
* * *
Wednesday Evening Discussions
The Wednesday Evening Dis-
cussion group will present Dr.
Katherine Chamberlain, profes-
sor of physics at Wayne Univers-
ity, at 8:45 p. m. Wednesday, Oct.
8, in the Ginsburg Lounge. Dr.
Chamberlain's topic will be "Six
Steps Into the Atomic Age".
There is no charge for admission.
All are welcome.
* * *
New Detroiters Hold Social
Mrs. Alice Schwab, new De-
troiters director, announces that
the second in the series of new-
comers' socials will be held at
8 p. m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at the
Center. All new Detroiters re-
cently arrived from „ foreign
countries are invited to attend.
Refreshments will be served.
-
* * *
Intermediate Lounge Opens
Mort Goodman, intermediate
director at the Center, announces
that the Intermediates will hold
their first lounge program at 8
p. m. Thursday, Oct. 2, featuring
a film on name dance bands,
followed by dancing. The follow-
ing will serve on the committee:
Pauline Wellens, Jordon Snyder,
Barbara Axelrod, Merton Schles-
inger, Phyllis Sutherland and
Mickey Siegel.. The Intermediate
Club Council is planning the first
of its Intermediate socials in the
Center auditorium from 3 to 5
p. m. Sunday, Oct. 5.
* * * -
Orchestra Rehearsals Begin
The Center orchestra, under the
direction of Julius Chajes, will
begin its rehearsals at 12 noon
Sunday, Oct. 5 in the Center
auditorium. The orchestra will
be heard in a series of concerts
136 W. LAFAYETTE app. Schubert Lafayette Theater
11563 DEXTER app. Dexter Theater
Nigh). Plant and Store: 8385 LYNDON
Soon at: 6508 WOODWARD
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J. SCOTT
Elect
LIMN
COUNCILMAN
* Member County Board of Supervisors. 8 Years
* 15 Years in City Government
* World War I Veteran
* Sponsor of International Day between U. S. and
Canada
Corner Dexter Blvd. and Cortland
Member Federal Home Loan Bank System
Member Federal Savings and Loan Insurance
Corporation
starting in December. Instru- till 9:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays
mentalists interested in joining at 8:30. New members are invited
the orchestra should call MA. to contact Miss Aronson at the
Center, MA. 8400.
8400.
* * *
Interpretive Dancing Class
Fannie Aronson, dance instruc-
Center Bowling Opens Oct. 1
tress at the Jewish Community
The Athletic Department of
Center, announces that the Mod- the Jewish Community Center
ern Interpretive Dancing class announces that the bowling alley
has a few more openings for men
and women. The beginner classes was opened on Oct. 1. Prizes will
are held Tuesdays and Thursdays be awarded to the highest male
at 7:15 and the advanced classes and female scorers.
-
AMERICAN SAVINGS
AND LOAN ASSOCIATION
• Insured Savings—Current Rate 2%
Accounts Insured up to $5,000.00
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Seventeen
"Scotty" is number
146
on your ballot
* Life Member of Michigan Soccer Association
"Scotty" Says:
"Efficient, honest public service by all
branches of government to all the peo-
ple is a bulwark against the spread of
communism!"