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MEMORANDUM ON THE MUTUAL BENEFITS TO LIBERAL ARTISTS AND LIBERAL LABOR THROUGH A LONG RANGE COOPERATION

by George Biddle.

The artists of America are perhaps more socially conscious, and as well informed in economic and political questions as any other professional group in this country.

It is a fact on record that both in matters of federal relief and in federal art patronage through public works, they have been accorded better conditions, as regards working hours, pay and a participation in federal project policies, than other white collar professional classes. These better conditions have been due to the closer organization of the artists, their unity of aims and their better understanding of the social, economic and political currents of the day.

No art today is healthy, vital or creative which does not sense and passionately respond to the economic and social crisis through which our country is moving.

The great majority of the best liberal American artists have already taken their stand: against war and fascism, against Heart and any curtailment of freedom of expression, against the old social order where it results in economic peenage of the many in favor of the few.

The Artists' Union and Artists Congress have already endorsed the formation of a farm labor party. It is obvious, therefor, that liberal American artists are anxious to throw their efforts back of any liberal labor organization such as the C.I.O. The benefit to American artists is that they could thus canalize their creative work in a program which has a direct appeal to their Social intelligence.