Christian Clergyman Pleads for Boycott in Name of Justice

Dr. Edward L. Hunt, founder of America’s Goodwill Union, of which President Roosevelt is honorary president, came here tonight to reply to the Federation of Churches on its refusal to approve the boycott of German-made goods and called upon the Christians of this country “to refuse to buy anything which the blood-stained hands of Germans under Hitler have made.”

Speaking at a meeting at the Brith Sholom Building, Dr. Hunt said:

“As a Christian minister I know I can assure you that the Christians in America will support this boycott. Many of them do not like the word ‘boycott’ but we will refuse to buy anything which the blood-stained hands of the Germans under Hitler have made. We will let the people of Germany know that we will have no dealings with them as long as they continue the persecution of the ews. We stand for justice. We must oppose tyranny, whenever practiced; and the only effective way we can stop the injustice in Germany is by supporting the boycott.

WHAT HITLER UNDERSTANDS

“That is the only method Hitler can understand. And it is succeeding. The people of Germany are waking up. They are beginning to see that Hitler and his gang have brought down upon them the abhorrence of the whole Christian world. Although a Church Federation may not deem it advisable to formally and officially pass a resolution in favor of this boycott yet the ministers and the members of the Christian Church will support this boycott in action, and further reason why Christians will support this boycott is because it is preeminently an American question.

“Only a few days ago a member of Hitler’s cabinet in a public address threatened American citizens that they would visit dire punishment upon their relatives in Germany unless we did what he told us we must do. We do not figure that during the war while we were still neutral the German ambassador here presumed to tell us what we might do and what we might not do in a management of our own affairs. The arrogance of the military rules of Germany at that time is out-done by the impudence of the present government.

TWO KINDS OF GERMANS

“As President Roosevel has said, America wants to be a good neighbor in the family of nations And the pre-eminent glory of America is that people of all races and creed live and work together as good neighbors with mutual respect and esteem. But we will have nothing to do with the people of Germany as long as their present government violates all the standards of the good neighbor.

“There are two kinds of Germans in the United States, First, loyal and ideal American citizens . . . second, Hitlerites who would destroy our Union with their propaganda of hate and bitterness and bigotry and brutality whose highest ideal and summum bonum is brute force.”

Other speakers included Jacob B. Hoffman, chairman of the local arrangements committee; Rabbi J. Gerson Bernner and I. Bernard Rotherg, state commander of the American Legion.