Some concern is being felt by Dallas Jewry over a new organization that has come into being here, the United American Actives. It is planned as a national secret and militant body to promote and encourage patriotism and loyalty to the Government. Post No. 1 was formed in Dallas with a membership said to be 150 and expectations of the sponsors are that the movement will grow locally “well into the thousands” and spread over the country.
The concern is due to the fact that the only announced officer, Clarence S. Parker, president, is a former leader here of the Ku Klux Klan. He is also a former Police Commissioner. Membership and meeting places are kept strictly secret, although it is known that Roy B. Eastus and George Peabody, who were also active leaders in the Klan here, are among the new organization’s trustees. The group has already been chartered. The pledge that members, who are obtained by invitation only after careful investigation, must take has also been kept a dark secret.
“WITHOUT RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE”
A newspaper statement made by Mr. Parker follows:
“It is our observation that spread of information through the agency of such an organization as this will make better citizens of American men who wish to put themselves directly behind their Government. We hope to have a volunteer peace army, subject to call from the Government at any time and in any capacity. It will be without class prejudice, without religious prejudice and unswayed by the power of money. The only qualification for membership will be good citizenship and determination to uphold the laws of our country. There will be no political ambitions in the organization. Its functioning will be for education and service.”
It is generally thought here that the Actives hoped to become a secret enforcement agency for the National Recovery Administration. Sensing this, Harry A. Olmsted, director of the NRA campaign in Dallas, included in one of his public statements a declaration to the effect that the NRA does not have to depend on secret groups or organizations to be effective.
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.
