The National Council of the Steuben Society has issued a statement in reference to the Nazi campaign against the Jews of Germany, indicating that the Society has entered into sympathy, even if it has not yet been “co-ordinated” with the regime of the National Socialist party.
In its statement, the Council refuses to credit reports of Nazi outrages against the property and persons of Jews which have emanated from even non-Jewish sources. The Council’s declaration is translated from the New Yorker Staats-Zeitung, in which it appeared in full.
“Since the National Council of the Steuben Society of America, on March 25, 1933, adopted a policy on the German question, sufficient time has elapsed and the situation has been sufficiently clarified so that the National Council deems it advisable to publish another statement.
“We confirm our attitude, which was expressed in our resolution of March 25. This resolution read:
” ‘We do not consider that our country nor any other country has the right to tell the German people what kind of a government it should have’. At the same time we recommended that news reports which were being published in the press here regarding alleged atrocities perpetrated in Germany be read with the greatest caution, and that no premature criticism of the German Government be made.
“NO ATROCITIES COMMITTED”
“On the ground of information which we have received, we declare that we are convinced that no atrocities have been committed in Germany. It is a fact that officials, whether Jews or Christians, who had been appointed by the former government, have been dismissed by the new government. This happens also in our country when a new party comes into office. In Germany, the new Government dismissed Communists, and others who were followers of parties which were hostile to the new Government, from all Government posts. Many among them were Jews who had immigrated from the East only after the war.
“In Germany, it is not necessary to be a resident for five years in order to become a citizen, and thus, many of the newly-immigrated were made all fledged German citizens in a most lenient manner by the postwar government. For a long time, a strong movement has been in progress in our country also, not to admit communist immigrants, just as Anarchists are barred from admission and from citizenship. At the present time, laws are pending in Congress to deport all Communists from the country. Therefore, we have very little moral right to criticize other governments, which have enacted and carried out such laws.
THE SIGNIFICANT PRO-SOVIET BOOS
“The citizens of our country, who are against recognition of the Soviet Government, give as their main reason for the non-recognition of the Soviet Government the fear that such recognition would further a widely spread Communist propaganda. Should the proposed laws against Communists be passed by Congress, the next logical step would be to deport from the country all Communists, regardless of their race or creed. According to newspaper reports, at the recent mass meeting at Madison Square Garden, a prominent speaker was booed because of his condemnation of the Soviet Government. This attitude was very significant and can hardly be called that of a good American citizen.
“A great part of our Jewish co-citizens, that is, the American Jewish Committee and the Order of the B’nai B’rith, have publicly stated their attitude against all anti-German mass meetings, parades and boycotts. This group says: ‘Governed by the known wishes of the Jews of Germany as well as by our own judgment of the effect of certain activities, we counseled against public agitation in the form of boycotts and mass demonstrations. Responsible Jewish organizations of other countries have been in agreement with our position that such forms of agitation would tend to inflame already highly wrought-up feelings.’
AMERICA’S DUBIOUS RECORD
“How would the citizens of our country feel if in foreign countries there were protests in the form of mass meetings, boycotts, mass processions against the treatment of our black population?
“The statutes of the Steuben Society of America declare: ‘Men and women of good repute, who have the right to vote, who are citizens of the United States of America, and who are wholly or partially of German race or descent, may become members of our society.’
“The statutes of our Society further declare: ‘Among the members there shall be no difference on the ground of religion or political convictions.’ From the foundation of our Society until today every American citizen of German descent, whether Jew or Christian, has been welcomed into our Society.
“The advocates of the boycott should not forget that this weapon is a double-edged sword, the use of which can injure both sides. Finally, it must not be forgotten that the political conditions in Germany are a result of the economic conditions, and that these unfavorable economic conditions in the entire world are, in great part, the result of the peace treaty of Versailles.”
S.S.A. FOUNDED IN 1919
The Steuben Society of America was founded in November, 1919 as a fighting political organization of Americans of German descent. The Society was organized as an expression of the psychological situation of the German-Americans at a time when they felt themselves classified as hyphenated citizens persecuted. The S. S. A. never was able to establish a close contact with the rank and file of German-Americans, most of whom disliked the exclusive use of the English language in the “units” of the Steuben Society. It was conceived by the founders as a mass organization, but this ideal was never accomplished.
The S. S. A. twice endorsed presidential candidates who were defeated, Senator Robert La Follette and Governor Alfred E. Smith. In the latter case, they lost many hundreds of German Lutherans, while by the endorsement of La Follette, they had lost their conservative members.
Many confirm the opinion that, while the S. S. A. gained local importance in many cities with a large German population, it did not grow into general importance. Outside of New York, where national head-quarters are established, the Steuben Society is generally regarded a negligible quantity. In the West its influence is hardly above zero. Even in New York its influence is weak.
DECLINING INFLUENCE
Some of the important Steuben leaders are known for their Socialistic leanings, among them former Judge Herman C. Rudlich, chairman of the political committee; Marie MacDonald, the editor of Steuben News and others. William Ringel, chairman of Manhattan Districts Council, is a Jew as is Maurice Deiches, silver-tongued Steuben orator, and many important supporting members. David Maier, who died a while ago, one of the important Steuben leaders, was a Jew and was highly influential as a result of his friendship with former Mayor Walker. He was hated but feared more. The lack of real influence in local politics was one of the many reasons for the formation of a German-American Democratic Society, the so-called Roland Bund, which gained members by hundreds, partly from the ranks of the S. S. A., it is believed. Theodore Badman, well-known Jewish leader, is at the head of the new German-American political association.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
