Editorial: The Commies reform – oh yeah?
Until the fateful day of June 22, 1941, when Hitler attacked Russia, American Communists were busily engaged in what reasonable men might now regard as treason – except that they were usually careful to keep within the letter of the law – within the protection of the civil-liberty guarantee so dear to this country and so alien to the country of their preference.
Have the Communists changed?
Does the leopard change its spots?
Immediately after that June 22, the same Commies who had been screaming to high heaven about the imperialistic war, and about the evil designs of Mr. Roosevelt to help out England at the expense of Russia’s dear ally Hitler, began to shoot off their mouths about the urgency of all-out aid to Germany’s enemies. No more peace picketing of the White House, no more Commie-fomented strikes at war plants.
Eventually the Communist Party of America was formally “dissolved,” to be succeeded by the Communist Political Association or some such thing.
Does a rose by any other name smell differently?
Today the Commies are openly supporting Mr. Roosevelt, to his political embarrassment. He disavows their help. but he welcomes that of Sidney Hillman, whose Political Action Committee is crawling with Commies and fellow travelers.
Do they expect political rewards if Mr. Roosevelt wins? The question answers itself.
It seems to us that the seriousness of the American Communists’ revolutionary intentions has been dulled, in the consciousness of many, by their hypocritical pretenses of the last year or two.
Perhaps a reminder is needed.
So, we commend to our readers a series of articles by Frederick Woltman on this subject.