2—THE JEWISH NEWS
Friday, July 15, 1.949
Purely Commentary
By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ
Loyalty Oaths—Inconsistencies and Realities
•Detroit is fortunate that it has a clear-thinking commentator
who does not become as panicky as his newspaper.
Bill (W. K.) Kelsey of the Detroit News displayed his usual
sound judgment when he discussed "The Loyalty Oath." In the
sam.e issue (July 7, 1.949) in which his newspaper flashed on the
front page a three-column editorial—"Shut the Door to Commies
by Changing the Charter"—Kelsey had this to say in his column
on -"The Loyalty Oath";
THE NATIONAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION, in convention in Boston, has
objected to a loyalty oath for teachers, now required in 25 states. The objections
are, principally, that it is unfair to single out the teaching profession, and that the
oath is without effect because Communist teachers, if any, would take it gladly
enough. since their primary loyalty is not to the United States. but to communism
lender Russian ,leadership.
. The first objection would fall if the oath were to be made general, and were
acquired of every American citizen and every foreigner within American jurisdiction.
It is likely that nearly every such person would willingly and gladly sign such a
pledge of loyalty. But so would every Communist committed to the Russian plan_
Whatwould then have been accomplished? There would still be no division of the
cheep from the goats, for there would be no goat—except those who might feel so
insulted that an American's loyalty be brought into question that they would refuse
to take the oath.
SINCE IT WOULD BE ABSURD to proceed against such conscientious objectors
--and there would be many such, who would claim that their rights guaranteed by
the First Amendment were being violated—it appears that such a general oath
would be impractical and even dangerous. Test -Acts have never been popular with
a free people.
We saw the requirement of a loyalty oath tried here, when Folic?. Commissioner
Toy ruled that no newspaperman who did not sign the pledge would be given
a police identification card, with whatever dubious privileges it grants. Some became
angry and refused to sign, some laughed and refused to sign, and the upshot was
that Mr. Toy backed down.
The only argument in favor of the loyalty pledge which appeals to the Com-
mentator is that in case a violation is detected, the culprit can be held for perjury.
But could. he not just as well be held for his act of disloyalty ?
It may be argued that the Detroit News editorial referred to
an entirely different matter—to persons holding Civil Service jobs
in Detroit. In reality, the issue is the same. A Commie will -not
hesitate to sign an oath whether he is a teacher or a waterworks
employee.
The point is that a loyal American is justified in feel in-
sulted when asked for an affirmation of his loyalty to his
country. That's the way this Commentator feels about it. I
would consider it an insult if any one asked me to sign a loyalty
pledge to my wife and children, or to Judaism, and I feel the
same way about my devotion to my country than whom little
else—except family and faith—is as dear to me.
It is important that the issue should be discussed
dispassionately, in the best interests of our country, state and city.
The Christian Science Monitor's view approximates that of
Mr, Kelsey. The Monitor, in an editorial entitled "Teachers and
Loyalty," had this to say:
"What loyal American could possibly object to taking a loyalty oath?"
The question is a natural one. Yet at the National Education Association's
annual convention in Boston the Department of Classroom Teachers, representing
3511,006 American teachers, has voted unanimously to oppose laws requiring loyalty
oaths of teachers as a special group.
Most teachers, it should be clearly understood. as patriotic and intelligent
Americans, have no objection whatever to taking a simple oath of office such as
may be required of other public employees. But there is intense opposition to
legislation which singles them out as an especially suspicious class and is so worded
that it can be used to eliminate any teacher who holds politically unpopular views.
The academic profession as a whole is extremely jealous of its freedom from political
controls.
One chief difficulty in the loyally oath formula is that it fails to catch the
really dangerous subversive. The Communist trials in New York have made clear
that the party member is trained to perjure himself as often as is necessary to
advance Communist aims. At the same time laws which require the teacher to deny
that he believes in or belongs to an organization advocating overthrow of the govern-
ment by force are hampered by the absence to date of a Supreme Court decision
that the Communist Party is such an organization.
There is a growing movement among educators, as evidenced in the current NEA
meetings, to have the academic world purge itself of its Communist fringe by its own
action. It 'is recognized that Communist Party membership is as much a curb on
academic freedom as is political control of academic appointments and methods. The
precious freedom to pursue truth according to one's own light can best be safe-
guarded by the alert action of that profession which, perhaps more than all others,
is dedicated to the objective search for truth.
Frightened people need a lot of proof to rouse them to logical
thinking, and this Commentator is pleased to be able to present
the viewpoint of another newspaper, the conservative New York
Herald Tribune, whose opinion is expressed in the following edi-
torial, "The N.E.A. Takes Its Stand":
Delegates to the National Education Association convention have. after earnest
debate, adopted a report from their Ederational Policies Commission which would
deny school employment to Communists. The report was drawn by some of the
country's outstanding educational leaders. In the debate, opponents had attempted
to make two major points: (1) that any ban because of political beliefs abrogates
the principle of academic freedom, and (2) that the enforcement of such a ban will
bring witch hunts and the danger of penalizing teachers for any and all beliefs
which may be unacceptable to school hoards and administrators.
The complete answer to the first point is given in the report itself. The
commission holds that by accepting Communist party disciplines, members have
already surrendered the right to think for themselves. And though Herbert J.
Phillips, Communist professor recently dismissed from the University of Washington,
argues that the party does not enslave the minds of its members, most teachers find
in countless practical demonstrations of slavish adherence to a party line over-
whelming evidence that members have, in fact, sacrifiecd intellectual integrity.
The second point raises a question of ways and means not yet satisfactorily
solved. The policies commission itself warned against "careless, incorrect and unjust
use" of the Red label. It sought to limit a ban to those who have done something
about their Communist beliefs by actually joining the party. Even so, finding just
and effective means for determining the fact of membership •pre'sents a thorny
problem. Objections may be raised to almost any means suggested. Loyalty oaths,
though entailing penalties for swearing falsely, are not likely to be very effective
screens. Dismissal of suspect teachers, though subject to proper hearings and
channels of appeal, can all too "easily create a witch hunt atmosphere.
It is important that the nation's educators have accepted, almost unanimously,
the principle that Communists are unfit to he teachers. If in ensuing debates,
they can help to find wise ways for putting that principle into effect, legislators
and boards of education everywhere will be the gainers.
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In the material presented here there is agreement on a basic
principle: that a .Communist won't hesitate to sign anything, as
long as it suits his purpose; and that meanwhile loyal and devoted
citizens can be humiliated by loyalty pledges. Every American
has recited numerous times the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Only the scoundrels have repeated the "I Pledge Allegiance . ."
with insincerity. Can you stop a scoundrel from signing a pledge?
And how will you judge hiS signature if it is equally as insincere
as his word?
American citizens in all walks of life have a right to know
why they should be penalized with witch hunts for the subversive
acts of a handful of traitors. Americans will not tolerate treason
and destructive forces are certain to be uprooted without resort
to curtailment of civil liberties of the entire community.
There are dangers in the latest hysterical outbursts. We are
threatened with police methods if some of the extreme ideas
suggested in the fight on communism are to take root. The
hysteria that has set in is unworthy of the courage of American-
ism. Even the banning of the Communist party is inadvisable,
because it is safer for this country that communists should be
judged in the open rather than that they should be made an
even greater danger by being driven underground.
It is deplorable to be witnesses to an attitude that stems from
panic rather than reason. Fortunately, the sensational appeal
for innocuous tests is diluted by the wisdom of Commentator
Kelsey and the other editorial writers whom we have quoted.
Here's hoping that their good sense will cause a lot of people to
give more thought to the entire issue. Thinking should lead to
sensible discussion, discussion to reason, reason to abandonment
of unjustified fear and a return to. common sense American
democratic" living:
Zionism in East
Europe Forced
Underground
NEW YORK. (JTA) — The
Zionist Labor Committee for
Relief and Reconstruction made
public a report on conditions of
Jews in Eastern Europe stating
that Zionist organizations in'
countries behind the Iron Cu-
rain have been forced to go
underground as a result of anti-
Zionist campaigns being con-
ducted in those countries.
The report says that in recent
weeks jails in Hungary and Ro-
mania are being "packed with
Zionist fighters." Every Jew who
is suspected of wishing to go to
Israel is being arrested, the re-
port adds. It emphasizes that
thousands of Jews in Eastern
Europe now live "a life of perse-
cution and are afraid to remain
in their own homes."
Jewish Communists in East-
ern Europe are aiding their re-
spective governments to Throw
a scare into the Jewish popula-
tion not to participate in any
Zionist activity and not to think
of leaving their homes and pro-
ceeding to the Jewish home-
land," the report states. Zionist
leaders in Eastern Europe, par-
ticularly Labor Zionist officials,
the report notes, are now en-
tirely dependent on help ema-
nating from abroad.
New Israel Customs
Regulations Listed
Gideon Strauss, Israeli Consul
in charge of Commercial Affairs,
announces that the customs
charge on food gift parcels has
been reduced from 30 percent of
valorem to a nominal figure of
25.c for each 4.4 pounds (40 Is-
raeli mils per kilogram).
Immigrants will be exempt
from luxury tax on their per-
sonal effects and equipment. On
used motor vehicles, immigrants
will in the future pay 'a flat
duty of 30 percent ad valorem,
and the previous specific 'duty
and luxury tax will no longer be
levied.
A new method of computation
will reduce' the amount of hix-
uary tax • which applies to gifts
of electrical appliances, cars,
etc. It will be computed on
the basis ,of the cost of the
article including insurance and
freight to Israel and customs
duty. In the past, computation
included a wholesaler's markup
of 30 percent. The new regula-
tions will - therefore mean a sub-7
stantial redUction in the total
tax, especially on refrigerators
and motor cars.
Luxury tax will, however, in
the future apply - to all electrical
appliances.
Asch Charges Jewish
Culture Pogrom in Russia
NEW YORK (JTA)—Sholem
Asch, noted Jewish writer, an-
nounced that lie has severed his
connections with the Daily Frei-
heit, a Yiddish Communist daily
newspaper published in New
York, and with Yikuf, a Jewish
cultural organization.
Asch also revealed that he has
withdrawn from .Yikuf the right
to publish his works in Yiddish
and to disseminate them. The
action, he said, was taken' by
him in protest against the Yi-
kuf's policy "not. only to remain
silent over the pogrom made in
Soviet Russia" over Jewish books
and Jewish culture, but even "to
punish with suppression those
who dared to voice their pro-
test against this injustice." The
Yikuf has published two of
Asch's volumes during the last
four years.
Italy ORT Installations
Centralized at Barletta
ROME — (JTA) — All ORT
schools in the Jewish displaced
persons camp at Trani have
been transferred to the Barletta
center, which will now be the
only camp in Italy with ORT in-
stallations operating for Jewish
reftigees.
Irving W. Schlussel Re-Elected
President of Local ENT Council
At the annual meeting of the
Jewish National Fund Council
of Detroit, held on Tuesday eve-
ning, Irving W. Schlussel was
re-elected president for a third
term.
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redemption in the Jewish state
and expressed the hope that
the affiliated Zionist organiza-
tions will increase their efforts.
for the JNF during the coming
year.
A financial report on the last
year's' work of JNF was sub-
mitted by Arthur Shutkin, exec-
utive . director.
Leon Kay, describing his ex-
periences in Israel, told of his
visit to the JNF headquarters
and, of the thrill he had in see-
ing his own and his late father's
names in the Golden Book.
Arrangements are being made
for traditional JFN Tisha b'Ab
Collections, in local synagogues,
Aug. 3-4..
Technical Positions
Available in Israel
IRVING W. SCHLUSSEL
Alexander Schreier, Dr. Sam-
uel Krohn, Michael Michlin and
Harry Schumer were re-elected
vice presidents. Emil Kahan and
Boris Wise are the newly-elected
treasurer and financial secre-
tary respectively. Mrs. Oswald
Metsch was re-elected recording
secretary.
Members of the administra-
tive committee elected at Tues-
day's meeting are:
William Hordes, chairman;
Mrs. Theodore Bargman, Mrs..
Albert Blitz, Rose Chesluk, Mary
Cohen, Norman Cattier, Mrs.
Philip J. Cutler, Mrs. I. B. Dwor-
man, Mrs. Aaron Friedman, Mrs.
Philip Gilbert, M. Goldoftas,
Mrs. Samuel N. Heyman, \Essie
Kaplan, Leon Kay, Fred Kell-
man, A. J. Lachover, Benjamin
Laikin, Mrs. Benjamin Laikin.
I. A. Lawton, Nathan Linden,
Mrs. Michael Michlin, Harry
Mondry, Betty Morrison, Mrs. A.
Prag, Jacob Schreier, Mrs. Ja-
cob Schreier, Mrs. Maurice
Steingold, Sidney Shevitz, Phil-
ip Slomovitz, Mrs. Philip Slomo-
vitz, Mrs. Regina Stander, Mrs.
Max Stollman, Philip Stollman,
Mrs. Philip Stollman, Dr. Israel
Wien er.
In his annual r e p o r t, Mr.
Schlussel pointed to the need for
larger sums of money for land
Leon Kay, president of the
Detroit Chapter of American
Technion Soviet y, announced
this week that the national. or-
ganization has made known a
number of positions which are
available in Israel.
Among those listed are:
Fire master for Consolidated:
Refineries, Ltd.; labor inspector,
irrigation engineers, b u i l d i n .g
engineer, port engineer and
town engineer for the Ministry
of L a b o r; technical manager
(mechaniCal engineer with ex-
perience with printing machin-
ery) for Haaretz (applications
should go to G. Schocken, Haar-
eta, F.O.B. 223, Tel Aviv,. Israel,
marked Confidential) ; . persons
with experience in scientific re-
search — academic or industrial
— for the Israel Scientific Coun-
cil, now being established; me- :
chanic for the Bubke cigarette
factory; garment designers, tex-
tile chemist and maintenance
engineer for Ata Textiles sta-
tisticians with economic back-
ground for the government chief
statistician's office; e n gin e e r
with experience in soil mechan-.. ,•
ics for the Scientific Council;
expert tool and die makers; elec-
trical engineer; pilots, co-pilots,
flight radio operators, flight na-
vigators, stewardesses, dispat-
ohers, maintenance mechanics
for civil airlines.
Detailed information on these.,-
positions may be secured by call- •
ing Kay at VI. 2-1660.
Between You and Me
By BORIS MOLAR
(t5opyright 1949, Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
Communal Affairs
American Jewry will soon be presented with a central budget
for all philanthropic needs in Israel. . The budget is being
actively considered by the Jewish Agency in New York for the
purpose of checking multiple fund-raising campaigns for Israel
in the United States . . . The idea of establishing such a central
philanthropic budget for Israel by the Jewish Agency, in con-.
sultation with the Israeli Governmenti emanates from the Coun-
cil of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds . . The Council
emphasized t? the Jewish Agency that the problem of Multiple
fund-raising drives for Israel in this country can best be solved
if a central budgeting procedure would be established in Israel
. . The budget would give the 'Ainerican Jewish communities a
clear picture of the over-all philanthropic requirements in Israel
and an authentic appraisal of the proportions required by various
agencies . . The Jewish Agency Cominittee on Multiple Cam-
paigns is now also considering the various drives sponsored by
the Revisionist movement in the United States ... The Council
of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds has requested the Jewish
Agency to issue a statement on whether or not these campaigns
are authorized . . . The most active current Revisionist drives in
this country are the Palestine Pioneers Foundation and the Ameri-
can Committee for National Child Centers in Israel . . Other
campaigns which have been sponsored by Revisionist group& are
the Tel Hai Fund, the League far Jewish National Labor in Israel
and the American Committee for the National Sick Fund of Israel.
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Domestic Issues
• Agudath Israel of America, claims that it has not given up
its intention to launch in this country a separate $2,000,000 drive
to support religious activities in Israel . . The Agudah does not
mention in its statement anything about the objections of the
Jewish Agency executive in NeW York and of the Council of Jew-
ish, Federations and Welfare Funds to its projected campaign ...
But these two supreme Jewish bodies are definitely determined
to prevent multiple fund-raising campaigns in the U. S., includ-
ing the Agudah drive . .. This was indicated to Agudah leaders
by the Jewish Agency's Committee on Multiple Campaigns and
this is clearly indicated also in a. report just issued by the CJFWF
. . . The report, devoted to analyzing the drives which the Agudah
has sponsored in the United States for a variety of purposes in
Israel, emphasizes that these drives' "constitute a duplication of
the United Jewish Appeal." . . It preSents facts and figures
showing how Agudah institutions in Israel benefit from the United.
Jewish Appeal by receiving financial support from the JNF and
the Karen Hayesod which get their fun& from the UJA
. At
least $2,500,000 has been made available in the current fiscal
year by these funds to groups and individuals affiliated with the
AgUdah; the repOrt says.
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