Thomas Insists on End To Arms Race, Decries Militancy of "Garrison State"

Norman Thomas, perennial Socialist presidential candidate, predicted Tuesday night at Winthrop House that the United States "will lose those liberties we enjoy now" if the arms race continues.

Expressing a lack of faith in the value of nuclear deterrents Thomas stated that even "a clear military superiority--such as the Pentagon prays to God it can prove the Russians have, so it can keep on working"--offers no freedom from the danger of war.

Because "the garrison state has exalted the goal of military security above all other goods," Thomas claimed, struggles of such groups as the American Civil Liberties Union are "essentially a rear-guard action." He admitted, however, that the cold war made easier the struggle for equality by minority groups.

Even the Supreme Court is not a defense against the loss of liberty under the "garrison state," Thomas maintained, since the Court has expressed its reluctance to interfere with the other branches of the government "especially in cases involving national security."

Although admitting he did not oppose the teaching of comparative government on the high school level, Thomas claimed that the bill was supported by "the same people who think we scored in heaven when we put 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance," who now want school children taught "to hate the Communists as being worse than the Devil."

In answer to a question from the audience, Thomas stated that if he were President--"which my follow countrymen with astounding unamity have seen fit to prevent"--he would announce unilaterally that the United States would not test any more nuclear weapons but instead would insist on inspection as part of a disarmament agreement.