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-- DON’T GET MAD, GET EVEN --
WRITING LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:
----- DOING SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FUTURE:
There are many out there that are under the false impression that writing Newspaper “Letters to the Editor” is a silly waste of time and of very little good. That no one reads them anyway, etc. . . . But that (at least historically) has not been the case. In fact it was these “Letters to the Editor” that helped create the anti-Medical Cannabis laws that put us into this situation that we find ourselves in today.
Historically it seems that newspaper/magazine “Letter’s to the Editor” have had a great influence on our nations psyche. Perhaps it would be best to explain by example, by looking at the work of just one individual (granted he was part of an organization), but still, just one individual. Who by writing various “Letters to the Editor” played an extremely important, as well as disproportional role, in the creation of the anti-Medical Cannabis Laws. His name was C. M. Goethe (Charles Matthuas Goethe), and in the words of David Musto:
“Citizens anxious to preserve what they believed valuable in American life banded together into “Allied Patriotic Societies,” “Key Men of America,” or the group which united many of these associations, the “American Coalition,” whose goal was to keep America American. One of the prominent members of the American Coalition, C. M. Goethe of Sacramento, saw marihuana and the problem of Mexican migrants as closely connected (New York Times, Sept 15, 1935, s4 p9):From all the documentation that we have been able to obtain, it seems that Mr. Goethe’s main interest was immigration reform (Keeping the Mexicans out), with Marihuana being mentioned solely because of it’s association with Mexicans. But the end effect was the same and his contribution to the Reefer Madness campaign cannot be understated. As the following “Letters to the Editor” quite clearly show:
‘Marihuana, perhaps now the most insidious of our narcotics, is a direct by-product of unrestricted Mexican immigration. Easily grown, it has been asserted that it has recently been planted between rows in a California penitentiary garden. Mexican peddlers have been caught distributing sample marihuana cigarets to school children. Bills for our quota against Mexico have been blocked mysteriously in every Congress since the 1924 Quota Act. Our nation has more than enough laborers.’” --- The History of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937 - By David F. Musto
THE DAILY OKLAHOMANNote how skillfully Mr. Goethe made use of the association between Mexicans and Marihuana to hammer away on his real objective – Mexican Immigrants. And as his next “Letter to the Editor” shows, his letter was indeed read and caused enough of a stir to get Mr. Olivares to write a reply letter.
[Sept 20, 1935 p10 – QUOTA LAWS
TO THE EDITOR:
MARIHUANA addicts, according to a California narcotics officer, sometimes are so unbalanced mentally that color sensations are received through the ear instead of the eye. Marihuana, perhaps now the most insidious of our narcotics, is a direct byproduct of unrestricted Mexican immigration. Easily grown, it has been asserted that it has recently been planted between rows in a California penitentiary garden!
Mexican “dope peddlers” trying to expand their market, have been caught distributing sample marihuana cigarets to school children. Mexico maintains a quota against us. Bills for our quota against Mexico have been blocked mysteriously every congress since the 1924 quota act. Apparently the senate, the house, overwhelmingly favor a Mexican quota bill. Even though passed in committee, it never comes to a vote.
Our nation has more than enough laborers. We are supporting millions on the dole. We do not need Mexican peons. The words “peon” means “slave” and “peonage,” “slavery.”
Why should we not enact against Mexico the same quota we have against Great Britain, Germany and Italy? -- C.M. GOETHE, Sacramento, Ca.
THE DAILY OKLAHOMANHere one must forgive Mr. Olivares for some technical errors on the subject, but remember the term MARIHUANA (making reference to brown skinned Mexicans), had only really been coined a few years back and few associated it with Medical Cannabis (which could be found in almost every drugstore at the time).
[Oct 29, 1935 p11 -- MEXICAN QUOTA LAWS
TO THE EDITOR:
IN your “Letters” section of the editorial page. . you printed a letter from C.M. Goethe, Sacramento, Calif. Mr. Goethe is very much worried about the use of marihuana and wishes the introduction of radical measures. He indicates he is making a special study of matters regarding problems that fortunately are in hands of better equipped people of the administration and which prevent er[ . . ]
Marihuana was known and used by the Indian population in many parts of the United States and therefore should not be shoved on the Mexicans, who came later to these sections. Its sale and use Mr. Goethe may find out, not only is practiced by the Mexicans and students.
If the statesmen in Washington have disapproved since 1924 quota bills, there must be a good reason for it as those gentlemen there where it is so hard for some people to put their narrow points of view through, have a better conception of international affairs and therefore are forced to give deaf ear to insignificant matters in many instances coming from biased people that work for selfish motives. R.P. OLIVARES Tulsa, Ok.
Mr. GOETHE’S WRITING TECHNIQUES:
As we go along, it might be of interest to examine some of the techniques used (all so successfully) by Mr. Goethe in his letter writing campaign. This next “Letter to the Editor” shows how Mr. Goethe was able to take one (well-written) letter and simply recycle its working over and over again.
OAKLAND TRIBUNE (Oakland, Ca.)Note that (with very minor changes) this was the same letter that Mr. Goethe had sent to the daily Oklahoman newspaper. A practice that he would utilize over and over again during the whole of his letter writing campaign. Second Example:
[Oct 1, 1935 - [Letter to the Editor] “Immigration and Dope” [G.M Goethe]
TO Editor Tribune:
MARIHUANA addicts, according to a California narcotics officer, sometimes are so unbalanced mentally that color sensations are received through the ear instead of the eye. Marihuana, perhaps now the most insidious of our narcotics, is a direct byproduct of unrestricted Mexican immigration. Easily grown, it has been asserted that it has recently been planted between rows in a California penitentiary garden!
Mexican “dope peddlers” trying to expand their market, have been caught distributing sample marihuana cigarets to school children. Mexico maintains a quota against us. Bills for our quota against Mexico have been blocked mysteriously every congress since the 1924 quota act. Apparently the senate, the house, overwhelmingly favor a Mexican quota bill. Even though passed in committee, it never comes to a vote.
Our nation has more than enough laborers. We are supporting millions on the dole. We do not need Mexican peons. The words “peon” means “slave” and “peonage,” “slavery.” Why should we not enact against Mexico the same quota we have against Great Britain, Germany Scandinavia, Italy? -- C.M. GOETHE, Sacramento, Ca.
San Francisco ChronicleAnd recalling that the copy machine (nor the PC) had not yet been invented; -- Meaning that someone would have had to have hand typed each and every letter. Thus note this technique of keeping things as short as possible (not writing long articles), YET still providing as much information as possible which allow him to hammer down his point. Note how his every sentence, his every word seems to be well planned and thought out. Examples:
[Aug 12,1933 p8] “Does Marihuana Mean Mary Jane?”
“LETTER’S TO THE EDITOR”
“Does Marihuana Mean Mary Jane?
Editor The Chronicle---Sir; Recently Mexicans peddling marihuana were arrested at a California public school entrance. They allegedly were selling this drug to little children. Its use, general among the Mexican population, is now spreading among the whites. Experts say the first reaction is that of delight. With continued indulgence there develops a feeling of heroism and a tendency to commit crime.
California thinkers for years have urged an exclusion act against the alien Amerind (American-Indian) peon. Not a Caucasian, he is ineligible to citizenship. Throughout our great Southwest he today is the principal charge on charity. Naturally he accepts any living condition however degrading to whites.
With machine age conditions we have all the white labor we need. Why should legislation enacting a quota against Mexico be blocked, year after year, in congress? We have had for 12 years such a quota against white British, Irish, Germans, Scandinavians. - C. M. GOETHE. Sacramento
Atlanta Constitution
[Sep 17, 1933 p5C] - Letter C,M. Goethe
Editor Constitution --- Recently Mexicans peddling marihuana were arrested at a California public school entrance. They allegedly were selling this drug to little children. Its use, general among the Mexican population, is now spreading among the whites. Experts say the first reaction is that of delight. With continued indulgence there develops a feeling of heroism and a tendency to commit crime.
California thinkers for years have urged an exclusion act against the alien Amerind (American-Indian) peon. Not a Caucasian, he is ineligible to citizenship. Throughout our great Southwest he today is the principal charge on charity.
Why should legislation enacting a quota against Mexico be blocked, year after year in congress? We have had for 12 years such a quota against white British, Irish, Germans, Scandinavians. - C. M. GOETHE. Sacramento Cal.
NEW YORK TIMES:And once more his Editorial letters did get noticed. As the following shows, this one man seems to have had an effect on the psyche of more than just one individual.
[Sep 15 or 11, 1935 pE9] “Letter to the editor"
Marihuana, perhaps now the most insiduous(sic) of our narcotics, is a direct by-product of unrestricted Mexican immigration. Easily grown, it has been asserted that it had recently been planted between rows in a California penitentiary garden. Mexican peddlers have been caught distributing sample marihuana cigarettes to school children. Mexico maintains a quota against us. Bills for our quota against Mexico have been blocked mysteriously in every Congress since the 1924 Quota Act. Our nation has more than enough laborers. We are supporting millions on the dole. Why should we not enact against Mexico the same quota we have against Great Britain, Germany, Scandinavia, Italy? – C.M. Goethe, Sacramento, Ca.
Fresno Bee
[June 30, 1938] - Immigration Laws Are Held Far Too Lax Editor of the Bee--Sir: That our marijuana traffic originated from an immigrant group is recalled by your recent article regarding Immigration. Before me lies a report thereon. It reads:“The spread of the use of marijuana in the United States is alarming. It came across the boarder from Mexico with Mexican labor. It was introduced into the southwestern underworld. From thence it spread across to New York and thereafter, rebounded to smaller cities farther inland. Today it is a national problem.”Why should the United States of all nations be the only one to be force tender of immigrants than of its citizens? The writer’s immigration studies have carried him under all flags except Persia, Afghanistan, Rumania and Paraguay. Elsewhere the alien is registered, watched. If he is seeking employment, he is denied entrance. Yet the immigration restriction program at Washington year after year is blocked. Do we not need a Western Hemisphere quota law, a registration of alien act, also prompt deportation of alien criminals.” -- C.M. GOETHE, Sacramento Ca.
Oakland TribuneObviously, Mr. Goethe was getting results and the kind that he wanted; -- The kind that influenced people's thoughts.
[Sep 4, 1933] - [Letter to the Editor] “Its Use Not General”
TO EDITOR TRIBUNE:
I would like to correct an impression given by Mr. Goethe that the use of marihuana is general among the Mexican population. I have lived in Mexico and among the Mexicans for over eighteen years and I can testify to the fact that the use of marihuana is no more general among the Mexicans than is the use of morphine among Americans.
And to go a little bit further in eighteen years I knew of but two Mexican deflorations while here in my own country I can hardly pick up a paper without reading of some clerk going south with part of the bosses bank rolls.
There is no law to prevent a Mexican from becoming a citizen of the United States. In fact I know several who are naturalized here.
Certainly the Mexicans should be put on a quota. Perhaps they would be if it were not for the California politicians who listen [ ] intently to the big farming campaniles and to the [ ] of the artificial beet sugar industry. – J.B. SENHORN Oakland, Ca.
ABOUT C.M. GOETHE:
As any student of the Reefer Madness campaign can tell you, Mr. Goethe was not the only one involved in letter writing campaigns. But by many standards he is the most unusual. First his name, “GOETHE”, well, let’s face it, it does sort of stick out. While compiling our museum index of Reefer Madness newspaper headlines, one can not help but notice his rather (ah) Gothic sounding last name. According to open documents found via ancestor.com; Mr. Goethe was born in 1870, his full name was “Charles Matthias Goethe” and worked as a successful “Investment Banker” and later on would work in the real estate business. He was economically prosperous: Example, at the start of the great depression his home was valued at $65,000 (quite a bundle back in those days) and of course had a live in maid, etc.
Thus one can see that like so many of the other main characters of the Reefer Madness campaign, Mr. Goethe was no mire crack pot, but a successful businessman who knew how to get things done. And it appears that he was motivated by ideology rather than personal gain. One can almost go, -- “Damn, if only he had been on our side,” instead of theirs, etc.
However, regardless of his personal ideology, there is much we can learn from him by simply observing his tactics. Take a quick browse over the following newspaper (paid ad):
If one looks very hard, one can find his name in there somewhere. But what is important to note here is that he did NOT ACT ALONE. He worked with other like-minded fellows as part of a group effort. And I have no doubt that many of the other Reefer Madness Era “Letters to the Editor” also were written by members of this group or at their urging. --- Also it should be mentioned that after this paid Ad was placed, the Chicago Tribune would go on to publish many of Mr. Goethe’s “Letters to the Editor”. One can only assume that the Editors were in favor of his viewpoints or that they simply wanted more Ad revenue.
Next, let us view the following article; --- A daily/weekly syndicated article dealing with Health Issues, written by a Dr. Evans. Note that much of the article (must have obviously) been taken almost directly from a letter written by Mr.Goethe to Dr. Evans. Also note to the total lack of reference to Marihuana or a tie in to Mexican’s and its use.
Here one must remember that Mr. Goethe’s true agenda was Mexican immigration and that the Marihuana Mexican tie was only an excuse to carry it out. Here however (the year 1929 was just before the Reefer madness campaign started in earnest), Mr. Goethe was forced to make other arguments to support his viewpoint. But still note how well articulated he presents his arguments.
Chicago Daily Tribune – Feb 17, 1929 p12 How to keep well by W.A. EvansAgain, note the date of publication Feb of 1929 or just before it became popular to associate Mexicans and Marihuana together. Thus Mr. Goethe had to use other arguments to champion his cause.
[To the limit of space questions pertinent to hygiene and prevention of disease will be answered in this column. Personal replies will be made to inquiries, under proper limitations, when return stamped envelope is enclosed. Dr. Evans will not make diagnosis or prescribe for individual diseases. ]
---
MEXICAN IMMIGRANTS
C.M. GOETHE is greatly disturbed about the immigration from Mexico. The restrictions on European immigration do not apply to Mexicans. Not only do Mexicans enter this country in large numbers to make permanent homes, but the comparatively “open door” along the Mexican border is used by Europeans immigrants who could not enter through the legal doorways. Bootlegging immigrants, it is said, has become a more profitable business than either bootlegging liquor or smuggling drugs, or white slaving.
According to newspaper reports the Mexican government is likewise interested in this outward trek of their people. Goethe says: “The peons northward trek, now a mass movement has become a menace to the old American seed stock. Over one southern California highway during one week recently, 322 automobiles filled with Mexican laborers and families passed northward. This was exclusive of Mexican passengers in trains and auto stages. The menace is in part due to the high birth rate of Mexicans. An American family would have twenty-seven members in the great-grandchildren generation. A Mexican family in the same generation would have 739 children. At this rate, in that generation these 322 families who entered along one road would have 469,476 members in the great grandchild generation. A similar number of American families would have only 17,388 members to compete against the approximately half a million of Mexican descent.
Another reason for his opposition to the Mexican influx is the diseases which they bring to us, or harbor and spread. In Los Angeles a few years ago there was an outbreak of a disease which our own people have never had much knowledge of. It is pneumonic plague. It broke out in the Mexican quarter. There were 32 cases of pneumonic plague and 30 deaths and seven cases of bubonic plague with five deaths. How the two cases of pneumonic plague escaped death is a question. To control the epidemic cost Los Angeles a little less than three million dollars
In Chicago some authorities claim that consumption in Mexicans is almost uncontrollable. Amebie dysentery and smallpox are two other diseases which Goethe said are being spread among us by Mexican immigrants. A few years ago those people brought Mexican typhus from old Mexico across the country to within two hundred miles of Chicago. . . .[the article continues and goes on about other subjects] . .
IN IMITATION OF GOETHE:
While many of us (for obvious reasons) may not like Mr. Goethe very much; --- Still, this should not keep us from learning as much as possible from him. And let’s face it, Mr. Goethe seems to have known what he was doing and more important, how to go about doing it. Thus it may serve our own cause to learn as much as possible from him and hopefully imitate his techniques as much as possible. In fact they should be judiciously studied and applied by all of us.
SUMMARIZATION OF HIS TECHNIQUES:
First and most important of all (If possible), DO NOT try to do it alone. Instead try to join in with others who share your viewpoints. Just having /being a part of an organized group has multiple advantages. Newspaper editors will already know something about you and will automatically pick up their ears when they get a press release or a letter to the Editor from you.
In addition to that we’s can do things that I’s can’t do. In this case the idea is to have multiple individuals ALL writing “Letters to the Editor,” either at the same time or (depending on the purpose) staggered over a period of time. This would give the impression that just about everyone out there was in favor of (in Mr. Gothe’s case) controlling Mexican immigrants as a means of ending the Marihuana Menace.
Next let us look at his writing style:
- Notice how he managed to keep his letters short but to the point. It is well understood that the shorter your letter is, the greater your chances are that it will be read.
- Yet despite keeping them short, he was also able to keep them informative and where needed include the needed facts and figures to backup his argument.
In addition notice how his statements (while dealing with an emotional subject) are well crafted to sound intellectual as opposed to emotional. The idea seems to give the impression that logic and reason demand that such and such an action take place. For us today, this would be the exact opposite to the bumper sticker slogans used by the narc’s today.
Organizational And Writing Skills: The first thing that one quickly takes notice of is the fact that he recycled or reused the wording on many of his letters. This allowed him to concentrate on a concept instead of on each and every individual letter. In today’s world we could probably do the same by creating cut and paste sentences, which would be recycled over and over again as needed.
In terms of his physical writing skills, we’ve only spotted one mis-spelled word in all his letters and no major grammar problems, etc. Which would indicate that he had the services of a proofreader available. This in turn amplifies the need to be a part of a group. In any group there is always one individual who can act as a proofreader for the others, etc.
DON’T GET MAD, GET EVEN:
We must ALL work together to end this insanity. Writing “Letters to the Editor”, is a simple, inexpensive, yet effective way of getting our message out to the people. As stated elsewhere, it helps to be part of an organized group but can also be done by almost any individual with basic reading and writing skills.
We urge every individual to write such letters to their local newspaper every now and then. Additionally we urge everyone to also organize and join in with fellow minded individuals to plan out whole letter writing campaigns. In other words, “Don’t Get Mad, Get Even.”
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The narc’s are out there and YES they do monitor what you say -- Which is a nice way of saying that you might be painting a large bulls-eye on yourself. WHAT TO DO: A -- It is possible to address a “Letter to the Editor” with an explanation that due to fear of persecution, that you would like your name not to be used. B -- Or you (this assumes that you are part of an organized group) can send them in to a central individual who in turn can send them in for you. |
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