Thursday, July 31, 1930

Berlin:  The government’s new taxes on alcohol aren’t working.  New data show that Germans, faced with the higher taxes, are simply abstaining, leading to a 40% decline in alcohol tax revenues for the government, when it was budgeting a US$90 million increase.  Worse, news reports confirm that the German government’s outlays for the unemployed would make the nation the equivalent of the largest employer in the world – indeed, in world history – if the monthly checks were for wages.  Unemployment is predicted to rise as high as 5 million over the winter if nothing is done to turn the tide. 

Paris:  Some 2,000 troops are on duty throughout the city to guard against communist violence expected on “International Anti-War Day” tomorrow, ordered by Moscow to be celebrated worldwide on the anniversary of Imperial Russia’s mobilization for the World War. 

Wednesday, July 30, 1930

New York:  The attorney for the company that publishes the Revolutionary Age, a communist newspaper, admits in court that the goal of his client (the newspaper) is to overthrow the U.S. government.  His client is not “foolish enough to believe the overthrow could be brought about except by force,” the attorney says.  But he says such an overthrow is impossible at this time, and therefore the U.S. Post Office should not interfere with distribution of the newspaper.  The U.S. prosecuting attorney says: “The Revolutionary Age is the organ of a party which advocates revolution.  Maybe its backers believe they are not strong enough here and now, but the fact remains that as soon as revolution is a practicable possibility, they will be for it.”