The Legion Leaps

Hidden under the more obvious absurdities of the New York State political campaign is one of the sorriest commentaries on American government since that same state expelled five Socialists from the Legislature. The American Legion, inspired by a clause in its preamble promising a defense of Americanism, has applied for a writ banning the Communist Party from the ballot next fall. In several upstate counties a virtual reign of terror has been undertaken in an attempt to force signers of the nominating petitions to repudiate their signatures. All this, in the name of "Americanism."

Even a conservative can discover reasonable grounds for retaining the hammer and sickle at the head of one column on the ballot. Distrust of Communisnr springs from fear of its doctrines of violent revolution and of abolishing private property. Prevent them from voting, and all means of estimating the Communists true strength are lost. Discontent, moreover, is the source of rebellion, and suppression of the suffrage constitutes the single most effective method of breeding discontent in a democracy. So long as their candidates' names appear on the ballot, American Communists cannot charge that their rights are denied.

At a time when Communist armies are doing both the lion's and the eagle's share of fighting the war, squelching that party in an election is the nadir of diplomatic ineptitude. It makes as little sense as pelting the British Ambassador with eggs. News of the New York development will be first priority propaganda for the Nazi radio. Such crude methods of separating radical chaff from political wheat actually supply ready-made grist for Goebbels' mill.