Middle Rouser

The poor have their champions. The rich need none. The British middle classes had one in William Ewart Gladstone (1809-98) and today the U. S. is offered another by Walter Boughton Pitkin, 62, Columbia University publicist who discovered seven years ago that "life begins at 40." Last year prodigious Professor Pitkin explained "why we need a rabble rouser of the right" (TIME, Sept. 19). Last week he tried rousing Elyria, Ohio and so many people (over 600) went to hear him that he called for a League of the Middle Class.

That class, says Professor Pitkin, is patient, mute, productive, yet is put upon by the predatory rich, the predatory poor, the lunatic fringe, the criminal fringe, the racketeers (including crooked politicians). He wants the Middle Classers to fight back. He wants to start a newspaper, a magazine, a radio forum. Joiners will pay 2-c- per day dues. The Middlers' revolutionary committee (headed for the time being by Professor Pitkin) was urged by the professor to "use the nonpolitical organizations you already have, such as Rotary, Kiwanis, teachers' federations, labor organizations and all the rest; have a clearing house and through it make an analysis of the problems, air them and apply corrective measures. If you want to turn on the heat, turn on the light first!"

"Just as long as [the Middlers] do not rebel," cried Professor Pitkin, "they will be trimmed, sucked dry and then thrown away. They will sink into the ranks of the poor, and America will end as ancient Rome ended.

"Fascist? ... I have been called worse! . . ."

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