Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 9, Number 50, DeMotte, Jasper County, 2 November 1939 — AROUND TOWN [ARTICLE]

AROUND TOWN

Washington: The power of the New Deal propaganda niachine creatted over the past six years is becoming more apparent as viewed from a ringside seat in the capital. The agility with which it operates was never better demonstrated than in the character assassination job done on Colonel Lindbergh, after his recent address over the radio. Colonel Lindbergh pleaded that America stay out of the war, maintain actual neutrality, and avoid the shipment of bombers and poison gas that might be used to destroy women and children. But, leaving out the actual merits or demerits of the Lindbergh arguments, no one had a thought of challenging that he spoke from his heart for what he believed to be the greatest good to the U. S. I The newspaper stories, covering the broadcast, contained no idea that Lindbergh was an ally of Hitler or sought to destroy democracy. As a matter of fact, many of them recalled that he was carrying on the tradition of his father, a Congressman, I anti one of the few who voted against ! war in 1917. It remained for the New Deal pro- ! pagandists to announce the discovery that the Colonel was close to being a traitor. And once they set their machine in action, they smeared him, with a thoroughness that would have done credit to Hitler's Joe Goebels. The morning papers carried the Lindbergh speech fully. First impressions were that he had made an outstanding contribution toward keeping the nation peace-conscious. Within a few hours though, Senator Pittman, New Deal leader, issued a statement. When the Senate convened at noon, Pittman shot again and was Joined by a half .dozen other New Dealers. Seldom has an American citizen been attacked so unmercifully. Although just a few months before, President Roosevelt had called Colonel Lindbergh to active military service to utilize his knowledge and experience, the New Deal Senators found that he was totally unqualified to have or express views upon the subject. By inference he was branded a tool of Hitler and a friend of the totalitarian states. He was accused of seeking some form of dictatorial imperialism for America. It was a grand job, superbly done. Within 24 hours after Lindbergh spoke his character had been undermined from one end of the country to the other. And the New Dealers had put others on notice that when they dared to differ with Administration policy, they had better duck.

The use of propaganda and the “smear technique” has been developed to a high science by the New Deal. Millions of dollars and actually hundreds of press agents have built a machine that probably has no equal in the world. Motion pictures, radio, newspapers and magazines are now being used subtly, so that the average person does not know that he is getting propaganda science. This strategy of ignoring all argument but undermining the character and reputation of an opponent began. of course, with the attacks upon Herbert Hoover in 1930. Since then Al Smith, Carter Glass, business men, some leaders of labor, have felt the impact of the “smear technique.” The gun sights are still leveled upon Hoover and others who oppose any part of the New Deal plan. But the barrage has never been more deadly than when leveled at Lindbergh. Such propaganda weapons are dangerous when used in a democracy.