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Phanteur, whole no. 1, January 1946

Page 10

a fantastic nature left in the writings pre-Twentieth Century poets. Of course, there is some weird poetry that I like, and there are some bits of pure fantasy to be found in the work of the classic English poets.

In a careless moment, I might say that I would like to have an index of all fan material, *because it would be useful to me*. But I won't say it here; not the underlined portion, anyway, because it wouldn't be true. I'm quite sure I'd never use it more than half-a-dozen times in a decade, even if I had it in a convenient form and place--which I wouldn't.

"A prophet, A very Small Prophet," and "When We Were Young" are both excellent. The latter might well develop into a regular feature, like Stan's "Yesterdays....."

I'm going to have to try to get a copy of "The Sword in the Stone" for all my dislike of book hunting.
*SUSTAINING PROGRAM*: I'll admit to using "democracy" loosely; I still can't define exactly what I mean, in less than a "full length article"--which I am not going to write. But I'm definitely not a communist, although I think the Laws of Supply and demand could stand a little intelligent help. I still think the two-party system of government definitely superior to any other type so far developed. I think a great deal more can be accomplished by working within the framework of one of the established parties [as the CIO-PAC has done, for example] than by forming a new party which can't even get it's name on the ballot, for the very good reason that it represents such a tiny minority that its presence there would serve no purpose whatever. [The Multi-Party System, as practiced in France just before the last war, strangles itself; nothing can be accomplished by groups bound by such feeble ties as those joining the parties in such "coalitions".]

American parties, of course, are badly in need of re-allignment; both have considerable numbers of extreme radicals and equally extreme conservatives. The Southern Democrats, for example, have almost nothing in common with the New Deal, being much more closely allied, as far as domestic policies, with the Conservative Republicans of New England and the Great Plains States. And because the Senators from these Southern States, through operation of the Seniority Rule, head most of the committees, they manage to sabotage much of the progressive legislation. Still, for reasons of Party harmony, they string along with the Administration enough of the time to balk the Tory elements in the Republican Party at least part of the time. And similarly, not infrequently, the progressives among the Republicans completely wreck the program proposed by the Conservative leaders of that party.

Yes, Speer, I think you *do* compare the top fifty per cent of Whites with the lower fifty per cent of Negroes. Those army tests are really significant only when administered to persons who can read fairly well, I should say. Now, I haven't any figures on the matter, but I would be willing to make a small wager that Louisiana Negroes, because of the free school-books and partly-enforced school attendance laws, did much better on these tests than did those from the neighbouring State of Bilbo, where such frills have been frowned upon.

But even if I were to accept your figures, the fact remains that some Negroes are more intelligent, more alert, and in general, better qualified to hold an important post, or to make decisions affecting the general welfare, than is the average White. On what grounds, then, do you claim that *all* Whites are superior to *all* Negroes? I think it is just prejudice. If so, I'll assume that you will admit it; if not, I'll expect a straight answer. Isn't that reasonable, or is it contrary to all your training in legal methods?

Recent decisions in the courts in paternity cases would seem to indicate that the world is less inclined than in the past to accept the opinion that illegitimate children "don't count, as far as the father is concerned." The principle never has been generally accepted in this

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a fantastic nature left in the writings pre-Twentieth Century poets. Of course, there is some weird poetry that I like, and there are some bits of pure fantasy to be found in the work of the classic English poets. In a careless moment, I might say that I would like to have an index of all fan material, *because it would be useful to me*. But I won't say it here; not the underlined portion, anyway, because it wouldn't be true. I'm quite sure I'd never use it more than half-a-dozen times in a decade, even if I had it in a convenient form and place--which I wouldn't. "A prophet, A very Small Prophet," and "When We Were Young" are both excellent. The latter might well develop into a regular feature, like Stan's "Yesterdays....." I'm going to have to try to get a copy of "The Sword in the Stone" for all my dislike of book hunting. *SUSTAINING PROGRAM*: I'll admit to using "democracy" loosely; I still can't define exactly what I mean, in less than a "full length article"--which I am not going to write. But I'm definitely not a communist, although I think the Laws of Supply and demand could stand a little intelligent help. I still think the two-party system of government definitely superior to any other type so far developed. I think a great deal more can be accomplished by working within the framework of one of the established parties [as the CIO-PAC has done, for example] than by forming a new party which can't even get it's name on the ballot, for the very good reason that it represents such a tiny minority that its presence there would serve no purpose whatever. [The Multi-Party System, as practiced in France just before the last war, strangles itself; nothing can be accomplished by groups bound by such feeble ties as those joining the parties in such "coalitions".] American parties, of course, are badly in need of re-allignment; both have considerable numbers of extreme radicals and equally extreme conservatives. The Southern Democrats, for example, have almost nothing in common with the New Deal, being much more closely allied, as far as domestic policies, with the Conservative Republicans of New England and the Great Plains States. And because the Senators from these Southern States, through operation of the Seniority Rule, head most of the committees, they manage to sabotage much of the progressive legislation. Still, for reasons of Party harmony, they string along with the Administration enough of the time to balk the Tory elements in the Republican Party at least part of the time. And similarly, not infrequently, the progressives among the Republicans completely wreck the program proposed by the Conservative leaders of that party. Yes, Speer, I think you *do* compare the top fifty per cent of Whites with the lower fifty per cent of Negroes. Those army tests are really significant only when administered to persons who can read fairly well, I should say. Now, I haven't any figures on the matter, but I would be willing to make a small wager that Louisiana Negroes, because of the free school-books and partly-enforced school attendance laws, did much better on these tests than did those from the neighbouring State of Bilbo, where such frills have been frowned upon. But even if I were to accept your figures, the fact remains that some Negroes are more intelligent, more alert, and in general, better qualified to hold an important post, or to make decisions affecting the general welfare, than is the average White. On what grounds, then, do you claim that *all* Whites are superior to *all* Negroes? I think it is just prejudice. If so, I'll assume that you will admit it; if not, I'll expect a straight answer. Isn't that reasonable, or is it contrary to all your training in legal methods? Recent decisions in the courts in paternity cases would seem to indicate that the world is less inclined than in the past to accept the opinion that illegitimate children "don't count, as far as the father is concerned." The principle never has been generally accepted in this