MEET ME ON THE BARRICADES

“Mn-n-n, no, I hardly think the electorate would
stand for it—in the rural sections, I mean.”

“What else?”

“Free birth control information for those who
really require it. . . .”

“And who doesn’t?” the President asked, arching
an eyebrow and looking about him cautiously.

“One more thing,” Simpson went on, speaking so
rapidly that his words seemed to come in a steady
stream, “I mean about the arts why shouldn’t we
create a federal commission of fine arts government
support for literature music sculpture poetry the
drama architecture all that is noble and beautiful
and which will endure when this civilization has long
since crumbled into dust after all the government
subsidizes banks railroads shipping aviation why not
the good the true and the beautiful although I sup-
pose if such a commission fell into the hands of pro-
fessional politicians it might be a means of subsidizing
mediocrity just the same all those millions of dollars
would be well spent if we produced one Shakespeare
or Bach. . . .”

o “A splendid suggestion,” the President said with
marked enthusiasm. “I’ll take it up with Mr. Farley
who understands these matters.”

“But wasn’t he a member or something of the New

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