CHAPTER CXXVIII
THE AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION (Founded 1920)
In 1924, a book by R. M. Whitney called The Reds in America made its appearance. The American Civil Liberties Union founded by Upton Sinclair had by that time become an important branch of the Third International so Mr. Whitney gave several pages to a description of its organization and methods. All these would be quoted here were it not that space forbids. Our chief object in including this minor society among those already mentioned is to show the methods whereby Communism is rendered palatable to those whose world it would destroy.
" The American Civil Liberties Union owes its existence to the notorious pacifist organizations of war-time fame, which were presumably financed by German agents in this country working desperately, and for a time successfully, to keep the United States from entering the war. To be sure, in its present form it has existed only since January 12, 1920, when it was formed as an outgrowth and with the merging of various organizations which were developed during the World War, dating from October, 1914, and the members of which were pacifists, defeatists, German agents, radicals of many hues, communists, I. W. W. and Socialists. Among the organizations included in the merger were such pacifist bodies as the American League to Limit Armaments,. Emergency Peace Federation, First American Conference for Democracy and Terms of Peace, People's Freedom Union, People's Council of America, American Union against Militarism, League for Amnesty for Political Prisoners, Civil Liberties Bureau, National Civil Liberties Bureau, American Neutral Conference Committees and Legal First Aid Bureau.
" The American Civil Liberties Union was particularly active in aiding the Communists caught in the Bridgman, Mich., raid.
" An office is maintained in Washington with the Federated Press organization to handle matter requiring direct contact with the Government.
" The policies of the organization are determined by the National Committee and the carrying out of them is left to the Executive Committee which meets weekly. "
" An examination, however, of the propaganda and agitation which has been carried on in favor of the forceful overthrow of this Government shows that it does not consist of a mere expression of opinion, but invariably advocates measures for its effectuation. In other words, the representatives of revolutionary Socialists, Communists, Anarchists and other groups, state that by doing certain acts this Government may be overthrown and in each instance the agitator urges his hearers or his readers to commit those acts. It is a well settled principle of law that any reasonable man is responsible for the logical and reasonable consequences of his acts and utterances.
" While the Constitution of the State of New York guarantees the right of free speech it also contains the warning that the citizen may exercise it " being responsible for the abuse of that right ". The effect of the activities of the American Civil Liberties Union is to create in the minds of the ill-informed people the impression that it is un-American to interfere with the activities of those who seek to destroy American institutions. They seek to influence legislators and executives to repeal or veto any act calculated to protect the State or the Federal Government from the attacks of agitators. "
" The American Civil Liberties Union, in the last analysis, is a supporter of all subversive movements, and its propaganda is detrimental to the interests of the state. It attempts not only to protect crime but to encourage attacks upon our institutions in every form.
" The union is closely identified with groups in practically every city in the country known as ' parlor Bolsheviki'. Speakers are furnished for these dilettante radicals whose influence would amount to little, but for the fact that they can be counted upon for financial contributions to any movement that promises them a thrill. It has been said that many idle men and women become identified with this parlor Bolshevik movement through emotionalism and because it gives them something to think about. Whatever the reason, the Communists and the Civil Liberties Union agitators make use of these groups for financial aid and as means of spreading propaganda.
" It is well known ", as Mr. Whitney further explains, " that the Workers' party, as a branch of the Communist party, has access to the ' sucker lists ' of people who have contributed to the finances of the party in various cities, and besides has ' sucker lists ' of its own which are shared by the Communists. The most remarkable feature of these lists is the number of names of prominent people upon them. "
Naturally most of the people on these ' sucker lists ' have no idea what sort of an organization they are assisting, but their money assists just the same ! Hazy notions of helping the poor and downtrodden and bettering the condition of the working classes serve to produce the necessary enthusiasm leading to subscriptions.
Among the persons whose names have appeared as members or officers of this society we name the following: Roger N. Baldwin, Albert De Silver, Scott Nearing and Max Eastman.
Occult Theocracy, Edith Starr Miller, pg 616
published 1933
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