Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Kemmerer Disavows Anti-semitic Intention in Backing Asheville Parley

August 16, 1936
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Professor Edward W. Kemmerer of Princeton University, one of the endorsers of the National Conference of Christian Ministers and Laymen now being held at Asheville, N.C., from his Summer home in Maine issued a statement today disavowing anti-Semitic intent in endorsing the meeting.

The conference is being backed by the notorious anti-Semitic leaders Harry A. Jung, Colonel E. M. Sanctuary, Robert Edmund Edmondson and others and has as its slogan “Christian Americanism against Atheistic Communism.” Dr. Robert A. Gault, professor of psychology at Northwestern University is also among the listed backers.

“When I was approached by the sponsors for the National Conference,” Professor Kemmerer’s statement declared, “I accepted their objective good faith. This statement was to the effect that they purposed to organize Christians throughout the country to combat Communism. I am definitely opposed to Communism. I have since been told that certain leaders of movements directed against Jews and Catholics as well as against certain other Americans on the basis of racial origin are closely connected with the management of this conference and that it is believed by many people that under the cloak of anti-Communism some of these are endeavoring to inculcate anti-American doctrines.

“I am opposed to anti-Semitism and to all other movements which differentiate between American citizens on the basis of creed or race.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement