Fascism Breeds Unrest Throughout U.S.

Nazi activities in this country have been brought to a head by the first open attack on the Jews of America by the Friends of New Germany, Hitler organization in the United States, which has proclaimed a boycott on the Jews. The following is the fifth of a series of articles detailing the rise and growth of the Nazi-inspired unti-Semitic movement in this country in all its ramifications. The articles are based on an exhaustive investigation of Nazi propaganda activities in this country and in Germany for a period of over a year.

Throughout the length and breadth of the United States today one may find Fascist groups or groups so closely resembling Fascism that only the practiced eye can tell the difference. It is unlikely that when and if America’s strong Fascist party rises it will be called Fascist. With few exceptions American Fascists veer from the appellation. At this moment it is easiest to identify Fascists by their policies, which are extremely nationalistic and usually exclude in whole or in part Jews, militant if frequently with a colored shirted (band of storm troopers), and advocate a corporative state under the dictation of one leader.

I have already mentioned as out and out Fascists the Crusaders for Economic Liberty (White Shirts), the Khaki Shirts, the Silver Shirts and the Order of ’76. The Silver Shirts and Order of ’76 deny being Fascist, but a survey of their declared and undeclared but practiced policies proves convincingly that they are precisely Fascist.

The National Watchmen, a Fascist group of the Middle West under F. M. Cox, national commander, bases its reason for existence mainly upon the necessity for levying high taxes on the larger incomes. According to their plan all incomes of over $10,000 yearly would be taxed up to 100 per cent. This group would also nationalize all property except personal and scrap corporations. It professes to advocate a substantial minimum wago to employees and fixed prices. Poverty would have no place in a country governed by the National Watchmen.

“Intellectuals” Advocate Fascism

Fascism is being propagated by a number of intellectuals who admit no following other than the moral support of their readers. Lawrence Dennis, former member of the United States consular service in Central America and Harold Lord Varney, who with Dennis publishes “The Awakener” fall into this category. Dennis’ Fascism is anti-Semitic only to the extent that it dictates a strong sense of American nationalism to Jewry. Seward Collins, editor of The American Review (formerly The bookman), likewise professes to be among this type of Fascist intellectuals, but he would be more severe in his treatment of Jews. Little doubt remains in his mind but that classes of Jewry would have to embrace second-class citizenship in a Fascist America of his conception.

Senator Huey P. Long’s program to make “Every Man a King” falls well within the Fascist category. Thus far Long has spoken but tersely of the power element of his plan to transform this country into a Utopia for every man who is willing to do a lick of work and to provide luxurious livelihoods for those who do not see fit to turn their hands to toil. Long, whose political record has been debated frequently before the upper house in Washington and whose policies are viewed with considerable scorn and suspicion by the general press, claims to have enrolled 316,000 persons in his drive for limitation of wealth.

In the April 5 issue of The American Progress, a weekly paper turned out by Long to set favorable aspects of his case before the people, the Senator from Louisiana wrote that 10,000 members a day were joining his “share our wealth” movement. Undoubtedly Long, a convincing spokesman, has received considerable support. He appeals to the religious with frequent quotations from the Bible. He appeals to the poor with promises of fortunes; to the jobless with promises of work; to the common folk with provincialisms such as “daggont” and meticulously chosen errors in grammar; to the patriotic with references to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution; to the wealthy with promises of ten to fifty million dollars of their fortunes and a million dollars a year income; to disgruntled political elements with attacks on the present administration; to the city-bound clerks with promises of long vacations in the open; to the lazy with promises of an amazingly short working day and working week, and to all with promises of all the luxuries one may buy with $10,000 a year.

LONG BEMOANS LACK OF POWER

Long’s references to the type of “Every Man a King” government have been subtle and infrequent. In a debate in New York a few months ago he exclaimed in answer to a query put by one of the audience, “Just give me the power, brother, and I’ll show you how to put this plan into effect.” Another time, during a nation-wide broadcast, the gentleman from Louisiana said that this would necessitate the centralization of power. He expanded no further on this all-important phase of the projected Long revolution.

Long’s organization has perhaps its greatest following in the Senator’s home State. His policies are broadcast from the pulpits and soapboxes of members of the vast and powerful Long political machine.

In many regions Socialists and even Communists have turned to certain of the Fascist policies of local organizers. This is particularly true of districts in which a great percentage of the population is of German descent. The Progressive Miner, organ of radical groups of miners enrolled in the Progressive Miners of America, has suddenly turned anti-Semitic. During recent issues of the paper a strong vein of anti-Semitism has run through its editorial columns. It is understood that a number of the miners in and near Gillespie, Illinois, where the paper is published, are affiliated with the League of Friends of New Germany, the Germanic Alliance and other pro-Hitlerite German organizations.

NAZIS INFLUENCE MINERS’ GROUP

The Progressive Miners of America have veered sharply from the left mainly because of the influence of its German members. Theirs is one of the most bitter anti-Roosevelt newspapers in the country and seldom does the Administration or the President do anything which meets with the approval of the Progressive Miners. The language of the newspaper is picturesque, to say the least. A specimen, typical of its form, is presented herewith. It is an excerpt from an editorial backing up Wirt’s “Kerensky” charges:

The only way America will ever recover from the yellow fever imposed on them by INTERNATIONAL GANGSTERS and their tools in strategic positions in America is by forcing a thorough investigation of the reasons why American workers in industry and agriculture are kept idle to aid foreign industry and agriculture to invade American markets at home as well as abroad.

The sentiment strangely resembles that of William Dudley Pelley, who circulated confidential letters among select subscribers to his Silver Shirt intelligence service at about the same time as the above was printed.

The same condition of brewing revolution against Democracy persists through the entire Middle West labor-troubled areas. The tremendous German element throughout the section has been “gleichgeschaltet” mainly through the branch offices of the Germanic Alliance, which proselytizes German-Americans for the Fascist movement in America and for the support of the Hitler regime in Germany. The tie-up between the Germanic Alliance and its American Fascist cooperative, the Crusaders for Economic Liberty, has been explained in preceding articles.

CAPITALISM AND FASCISM

Observers state that a former leftist movement in these regions has veered sharply to the right, and now under the guidance of aspiring American dictators revolutionary activities are proceeding under the militant banners of well-organized Fascist groups. It is known that the Order of ’76, under the direction of Royal Scott Gulden in New York, has secured considerable support throughout the Middle West.

A peculiar feature of Fascism, particularly that of Adolf Hitler is evidenced in cases here. While Fascist policies aim at the destruction of capitalism, the movement is frequently brought out by capitalistic interests. Judging from current developments among the Fascists and anti-Semites operating throughout the Middle West, it is safe to predict that by the time any group attains a predominant position it will be safely in the hands of capitalist–even as the Hitler government today is financed by Krupp and other interests.