A letter from William E. Dodd, Ambassador to Germany, warning Democratic leaders here that a “man who owns nearly a billion dollars” is ready to support an American dictatorship created a stir in the capital today.
The letter, written to Senator Robert J. Bulkley (Dem., Ohio) with copies sent to other Democratic leaders as Senator Carter Glass (Va.), urged them “to support our President even if we wish to amend some of his reform measures.”
“There are individuals of great wealth who wish a dictatorship and are ready to help a Huey Long.” Ambassador Dodd wrote. “There are politicians, some in the Senate, I have heard, who think they may come into power like that of the European dictators in Moscow, Berlin and Rome.
“One man, I have been told by personal friends, who owns nearly a billion dollars, is ready to support such a program, and, of course, control it.
“These dangers and their likely consequences cause me to write you such a long letter. I have studied our history for forty years and cannot help feeling that all of us who believes in our system must do what we can to support our President, even if we wish to amend some of his reform measures.”
Senator Bulkley commented that there was “no possibility of a dictatorship in the United States at any time.”
John J. O’Connor, (Dem., N.Y.) chairman of the House Rules Committee, said: “When anybody sets himself up as a dictator in this country, I guarantee to personally throw him out.”
Rep. William Sirovich (Dem., N.Y.) stated:
“The greatest answer to dictatorship here occurred when the American public voted 64 to 2 last November for parliamentary, constitutional government.” He added that “the cure for Fascism is more democracy.”
Rep. Henry Ellenbogen (Dem., Pa.) said: “Nobody with a billion or 100 billion dollars could establish a dictatorship in this country. The United States has enjoyed democracy too long to permit dictatorship.”
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