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The title
of the article is "The Ultra-Rightists Under the Banner of
Religion."
Cartoon No. 1:
"Schwarz bellowing anti-communism"
Cartoon No. 2:
"Schwarz onward into battle"
Cartoon No. 3:
"Schwarz worshiping and praying to the atom bomb"
Cartoon No. 4: "Frawley
paying off Schwarz for a job well done"
One aspect of these
cartoons merits comment: In No. 2, I am depicted as a Nazi. In No. 4, the
cast of features suggests the typical caricature of a Jew. The cartoons are
anti-Semitic and try to associate the Nazis and the Jews.
The message of the
cartoons is clear–the Christian Anti-Communists are paid by the big
businessmen to promote atomic war and the profits it will bring. This
interpretation is spelled out in the test which includes the following:
"Christians, arise! Christians to
arms into battle!"
"In our times a call like this would
be quite unexpected. If you think that this call came out of the deep of
the middle ages, you are wrong. However, it is true that this call does
belong to the ‘Crusaders’ but to the ‘Crusaders’ of the twentieth
century who are not building their fortifications and sentry towers at the
approaches of the Near East but in the United States of America.
"Just who are
these ‘Crusaders’? For what purpose are the Christians in the U.S.A.
being ‘mobilized’ into a Crusade? Under what banners are they to
gather? In the name of what and against whom? It would be worth our while
to talk about this in detail.
"The first one
to make this ‘Christians to arms’ was the leader of the Christian
Anti-Communism Crusade, Fred Schwarz, a Baptist preacher.
"Schwarz insists
that mankind has been wallowing and is sinking in its sins and that
salvation can come only through redemption by blood. He says that there is
no need for talks about peaceful co-existence. His slogans are, ‘Long
live the atomic and hydrogen arms race,’ which leads to a destructive
thermonuclear war which will supposedly renovate the world; and once there
is a war, the Christians (so teaches this Baptist preacher) must be ready
to take up arms. The Christians then must bring these arms down on the
heads of the ‘unclean,’ that is on the heads of those who are carrying
the main burden of the struggle for peace, and on the heads of the peoples
of the socialist countries.
"For what
purpose and for whom? In order to answer this question, we must look into
the financing. Just who is supporting this modern-day ‘crusade’? The
New York newspaper ‘Worker’ reports that the ‘Christian
Anti-Communism Crusade’ is financed by a number of monopoly companies
such as the ‘Sandia Corporation,’ a subsidiary of the giant Western
Electric Company, which manages a number of government owned plants of the
U.S. Atomic Energy Commission. The magazine ‘Nation’ reported that
some of the additional financial sources of Schwarz’s organization are
some of the largest companies in California headed by the personal friend
of Schwarz, the businessman Frawley. Another source in the ‘Allen-Bradley
Company’ of Wisconsin which received huge orders for the manufacture of
arms from the Pentagon."
My first
reaction was to laugh. The article is such a grotesque caricature that it
seemed hilariously funny. It seemed impossible that any rational mind could
take this nonsense seriously. Then I remembered that this is being fed to
millions of Russians who have access to no other literature than that
provided by the communists. They are defenseless against the lies and
naturally accept them as the truth.
I also remembered that
similar lies have been spread by people within the United States who do have
access to the truth.
The central charge is
that I am paid by monopoly companies to promote thermonuclear war. They
extract the quotation, "Christians, to arms! The enemy is at the
gate," and represent it as a call to thermonuclear war.
This statement was
taken from page 28, of the book "The Christian Answer to
Communism" which was written in 1953. To what sort of arms am I
referring? The context makes this perfectly clear. Here is the full
quotation:
"Christians!
to arms. The enemy is at the gate. Buckle on the armour of the Christian
and forth to the battle. With education, evangelism, and dedication let us
smite the communist foe and, if necessary, give our lives in this noble
cause."
The hideous
weapons which I am advocating are education, evangelism, and dedication. It
is true that these may prove more powerful than the atom bomb in destroying
the atheistic delusions of communism.
This article was
speaking from a Christian context to Christians. It was using the familiar
Christian concept of spiritual war. I thought most people were familiar with
the hymn "Onward Christian Soldiers." Significant statements in
the New Testament are:
"For
we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,
against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against
spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole
armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and
having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about
with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; and your feet
shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the
shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts
of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the
Spirit, which is the word of God." Ephesians 6:12-17
The tragedy
is that there is no way in which we can inform the Russian people of these
facts. An equally great tragedy is that there are minds in America which
have deliberately closed themselves to the truth.
The statement that the
Christian Anti-Communism Crusade is supported by monopoly companies is
false. I have advised our workers not to waste their time seeking
contributions from the big public corporations. They do not give to
"controversial organizations." I am grateful to the few smaller
companies which have given us moderate support.
The great bulk of our
support comes from workers. It comes in donations of from $1 to $10. I
invite any critics to examine our books and ascertain this. The communists
are naturally incredulous when informed that a considerable number of Los
Angeles firemen have volunteered to have sums deducted regularly from their
pay checks to support the program of the Crusade. This simply does not fit
their preconceived paranoid picture.
The communists are to
be pitied rather than blamed. They are the victims of their own delusions
that force them to distort the facts to fit their established doctrines.
While mental disease is pitiable, it is seldom pretty and is frequently
dangerous.
I am encouraged by this
attack and know it will stimulate our workers to even greater sacrifices in
the cause of freedom.
VOICE FROM VIETNAM
The following letter from Vietnam shows the
attitude of the boys towards the book "You Can Trust the Communists (to
be Communists)":
"March 27, 1966
"Sir:
"I have come across the book ‘You Can Trust the Communists (to be
Communists)’ by Dr. Fred Schwarz, and it said to order from you people.
As I was unable to finish the book before I had to return it, I was
wondering if I could obtain a paperback copy from you people. I am
inclosing the 50 cents plus 25 cents for shipping. I think that should
cover it. Thanks a lot."
"PFC (name withheld)"
Please keep
the lists of names of servicemen and the contributions coming so that we can
continue to supply these books to the men in the front line.
IS RUSSIA TURNING
CAPITALIST?
Ever since the communists seized power in
Russia in 1917, the claim has repeatedly been made that they are reverting
to capitalism. This claim is most frequently heard whenever the communist
rulers introduce some economic measure designed to provide personal profit
incentives to stimulate the workers to greater productivity. The use of the
incentive of personal gain is regarded as a characteristic of capitalism and
as being in conflict with communism.
Accompanying the claim
that Russia is reverting to capitalism, is the assumption that this
automatically reduces the devotion of the communists to their objective of
world conquest. This leads to the comforting conclusion that if we are
patient, the communist danger will go away.
Even if the claim that
Russia is reverting to capitalism were true, it does not follow that this
would reduce the danger of communist world conquest.
The Communist Path to the Communist Goal
The belief that the use of capitalist incentives means a renunciation of
communist objectives reveals great ignorance of communist theory and
history. It is usually based on a failure to understand the difference
between communist objectives and communist methods.
The professed communist
objective is a society in which production of everything is in such
abundance that each individual will be able to partake to his heart’s
content without restraint. Obviously personal profit is meaningless in such
an environment. Moreover, each individual will have been so purified by his
environment that he will be without the slightest trace of vanity or greed
and will be possessed by a passionate desire to work on behalf of the needs
of others. The slogan of this state of communism is, "From each
according to his ability, to each according to his need."
The state of communism
abides in the future and has not yet been realized anywhere on earth. In
order to reach it, mankind must pass through an intermediated stage known as
socialism. In communist doctrine there is a precise and peculiar
definition of socialism. It is the state which is set up once the revolution
has destroyed capitalism. It is characterized by the monopoly of all power
by the Communist Party. This communist monopoly-tyranny is called the dictatorship
of the proletariat. During this stage, people are forced to work and
rewarded in accordance with their productivity. During socialism, human
nature has not been perfected and the old vices of laziness and greed
remain; therefore, incentives are needed to encourage people to work. Thus,
profit incentives are regarded as an essential feature of socialism. The
slogan of socialism is, "From each according to his ability, to
each according to his work."
The communists believe
that it is legitimate to use any method that will enable them to overthrow
capitalism and establish communist dictatorship and to use any incentive
that will increase productivity during socialism. To berate them with
inconsistency and unfaithfulness to communism because of their use of profit
incentives, indicates failure to understand the dynamics of communism.
Once the relation of
the communist pathway to the communist goal is understood, the paradoxes of
past and present communist history appear in a new light. Programs which
appear inconsistent to us are models of scientific method to them.
The Great Paradox
Perhaps the greatest paradox of all is that the communists seized power
in both Russia and China through the promotion of capitalism. The immediate
program with which they wooed the Russian and Chinese people contradicted
the announced objective for which they were striving.
The ultimate communist
objective is abolition of private property. Karl Marx and Frederick Engles
state this clearly in the Communist Manifesto: "The theory of the
communists may be summed up in the single sentence, ‘abolition of private
property’." Page 23, International Publisher’s Edition.
The communists seized
power in Russia by the distribution of private property. The slogan of the
Bolsheviks was–bread, peace, and land. They
distributed land to the peasants, thus making them little capitalists. The
communists did not regard this as inconsistent with their objective but as a
step towards it. They used scientifically a powerful social force, namely,
the desire to own land. By satisfying this desire, they were able to
establish their dictatorship. From the vantage point of this dictatorship,
they were able at a later date to take the land from those to whom they had
given it. Thus, distribution of private property became a step on the
pathway to the abolition of private property. The land was given to the
peasants in 1917. The communists were not strong enough to take it away from
them until 1928. Even then, it required a bloody war on the peasantry in
which millions died.
Lenin did not lack
critics in 1917 who claimed he was betraying communism by advancing
capitalism.
The Return to Capitalism of 1921
A great return to capitalism took place in Russia in 1921. This was the
introduction of the new economic policy or N.E.P. which permitted the
operation of small businesses and allowed private trading in grain.
In 1917 the communists
instructed the peasants to kill the landlords and seize the land. Committees
of poor peasants were established which divided the land among the peasants.
The communists demanded, however, that all crops be surrendered to the
government. The peasants lacked the incentive to produce, and production
fell catastrophically. A great famine arose associated with raging
inflation. The communists faced disaster. Lenin reacted by a return to
capitalism which provided the incentive for production in both agriculture
and industry.
This was regarded as a
shattering defeat by many idealistic communists. Some of the young idealists
protested by public suicide.
Western Reaction
The reaction of the western kremlinologists was one of exultation. They
proclaimed that the return to capitalism marked the death of communism and
the end of the communist danger. The western press of 1921 is full of this
optimistic interpretation. If the great communist, Lenin, had found
capitalism superior to communism, who could continue to believe in the
virtues of the communist system?
Capitalism in 1931
Another great outburst of jubilation broke out when the moderate Stalin
triumphed over the extremist Trotsky and set out to build the Russian
economy under the slogan, "Socialism in one country." In 1931 he
made an historic statement on wages. He sounded like the managing director
of a capitalistic corporation. He was bemoaning the turnover of manpower
which was afflicting Soviet industry and prescribed a capitalistic treatment–higher
wages and higher positions as a reward for increased productivity. His
message is so enlightening, I will quote from it at length:
"At
any rate, you will find few factories where the personnel does not change
at least to the extent of 30 to 40 per cent of the total in the course of
a half year, or even in one quarter.
"What is the
cause of the fluidity of manpower?
"The cause is
the wrong structure of wages, the wrong wage scales, the ‘Leftist’
practice of wage equalisation. In a number of factories wage scales are
drawn up in such a way as to practically wipe out the difference between
skilled and unskilled labour, between heavy and light work. The
consequence of wage equalisation is that the unskilled worker lacks the
incentive to become a skilled worker and is thus deprived of the prospect
of advancement; as a result he fells himself a ‘visitor’ in the
factory, working only temporarily so as to ‘earn a little money’ and
then go off to ‘try his luck’ in some other place. The consequence of
wage equalisation is that the skilled worker is obliged to go from factory
to factory until he finds one where his skill is properly appreciated.
"Hence, the ‘general’
drift from factory to factory; hence, the fluidity of manpower.
"In order to put
an end to this evil we must abolish wage equalisation and discard old wage
scales. In order to put an end to this evil we must draw up wage scales
that will take into account the difference between skilled and unskilled
labour, between heavy and light work. We cannot tolerate a situation where
a rolling-mill worker in the iron and steel industry earns no more than a
sweeper. We cannon tolerate a situation where a locomotive driver earns
only as much as a copying clerk. Marx and Lenin said that the difference
between skilled and unskilled labour would exist even under socialism,
even after classes had been abolished; that only under communism would
this difference disappear and that, consequently, even under socialism ‘wages’
must be paid according to work performed and not according to needs. But
the equalitarians among our business executives and trade-union officials
do not agree with this and believe that under our Soviet system this
difference has already disappeared. Who is right, Marx and Lenin or the
equalitarians? It must be supposed that it is Marx and Lenin who are
right. But it follows from this that whoever draws up wage scales on the
‘principle’ of wage equalisation, without taking into account the
difference between skilled and unskilled labour, breaks with Marxism,
breaks with Leninism.
"In every branch
of industry, in every factory, in every shop, there is a leading group of
more or less skilled workers who first and foremost must be retained if we
really want to ensure a constant labour force in the factories. . . . . .
But how can we retain them in the factories? We can retain them only by
promoting them to higher positions, by raising the level of their wages,
by introducing a system of wages that will giver the worker his due
according to qualification.
"To economise in
this matter would be crinimal, it would be going against the interests of
our socialist industry." The Works of J. Stalin, Volume 13, pages
58-60.
It should
have been clear that the use of the incentive of personal profit was
regarded as an essential element of socialism. It is remarkable how many
alleged experts ignored this obvious fact.
|Post Khrushchev Capitalism
Since the overthrow of Nikita Khrushchev, a further refinement has been
introduced in the communist utilization of the personal profit incentive.
This is an attempt to relate productivity to market demand rather than to
the fulfillment of a quota fixed by a higher authority. Goods must not only
be produced, they must be sold. The amount sold determines the profit which
can be distributed to the workers. This change has been associated with
strict cost accounting.
As usual, the cry that
the communists have returned to capitalism has echoed and re-echoed
throughout the land. This claim has provoked amusement in the communist
world as they remember how often it has been heard before.
An article outlining
this new use of profit incentive has been published in the March edition of
the "World Marxist Review" under the title "The Rights of the
Socialist Enterprise in the Soviet Union." The author is Vladimir
Loptev, a Soviet jurist. He describes the basic problem in these words,
"When gross production served as the basic plan fulfillment indicator,
enterprises often tried to reach the targets by turning out goods for which
there was no particular demand. This output piled up in warehouses, but the
plan had been fulfilled and the workers received their bonuses and were
congratulated for exemplary showing." Page 8
He indicated how the
problem is to be solved: "State guidance of the enterprises in the new
conditions consists in defining the basic economic proportions, channeling
investments, regulating prices and determining the basic production and
managerial guidelines." Page 9
"Instead of gross
production, the realized market output becomes the basic production
indicator, enabling the enterprises to be guided by consumer demand."
Page 9
The role of incentives
and profit is shown by the following statements: "Profit, too, will
play a role. While the bulk of the profits go to the state for use in the
overall interests of society, the remainder is left at the disposal of the
enterprise to be used to stimulate the production efforts of its
workers." Page 8
As long as the Soviet
economy is controlled by the Communist Party which is dedicated to world
conquest, economic progress within Russia will increase the communist
danger. To the extent that so-called capitalist methods improve economic
efficiency, they increase the assets and power of the communist state. These
assets can be used to promote the world revolution.
The so-called
capitalistic developments in Russia are therefore a reason for concern, not
complacency. If free societies are to survive the communist assault, they
must build strongly and understand the communist enemy and form necessary
programs of positive action. To base the security of the future on wishful
thinking concerning possible changes in the enemy while the slogan of
"Business as usual" prevails, is the path to national suicide.
A COMMUNIST FOR
CONGRESS?
Columnist Victor Riesel reports that the
American Communist Party is grooming Herbert Aptheker to run for a
congressional seat in Brooklyn.
A few years ago his
candidacy could have been dismissed out of hand. It would be foolhardy to do
this today because of the recent growth in the respectability of the
communists and the upsurge in their popularity.
Herbert Aptheker is doubtless encouraged by
the recent success of his daughter Bettina who announced she was a communist
during her campaign for student representative at the University of
California at Berkeley. Following this she was elected in a record turnout.
Complacency is the companion of catastrophe.
A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
A business citizenship competition, conducted
by the American Security Council and sponsored by the Schick Safety Razor
Company, provides a unique opportunity to enlist our finest minds in the
search for more effective ways to preserve our free society from the
destruction planned for it by the communist conspiracy. The competition is a
quest for the best essay outlining a program of business and corporate
action to win the cold war. Any individual or group of individuals can enter
the contest.
The Schick Safety Razor
Company has provided $100,000 for awards. The winner will receive $25,000.
A unique feature of
this competition is that the winner may designate a cooperating organization
which will receive an equal amount.
The Christian
Anti-Communism Crusade is a cooperating organization in this competition.
The competition will be
conducted by the American Security Council. This fine organization is
eminently equipped for the task. It combines business skill, research into
communism and communists, experience in organization, and responsible
objectivity.
The Schick Safety Razor
Company, under the leadership of its President, Patrick J. Frawley, Jr., is
to be congratulated on blazing a trail for other business ventures. Since
business will be the first casualty if communist plans are successful, to
defeat communism and preserve free enterprise is true service to
stockholders, employees, and customers.
I am enclosing an
official entry form with this newsletter. I do this with the hope that many
thousands of our readers will enter the competition and designate the
Christian Anti-Communism Crusade as the cooperating organization to receive
an equal award.
Since groups may enter,
this competition challenges advertising agencies, colleges, businesses, and
clubs to devote their energies and assets to the problem of the survival of
freedom. Please encourage any such groups with whom you have contact to
accept this challenge.
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