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Hylan’s Backers

October 23, 1934
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Judge Hylan was guilty of evasion at least in his broadcast Sunday evening when he spoke of “a maliciously false issue raised in this campaign.” No one has said that Judge Hylan personally is guilty of race or religious prejudice. What has been said, and what every one knows, apparently with the exception of Judge Hylan, is that his candidacy is being promoted by the most vicious elements, whose sole purpose is to raise the racial issue in the gubernatorial campaign with the avowed intention of causing trouble. His candidacy is being pressed by Nazi leaders who are now seeking to coerce German-American society into line behind Hylan. His most ardent supporters are the Louis Zahnes and the Herbert Schnuchs.

Judge Hylan said: “If any person can show and prove a single instance in my public or private life of intolerance toward any race or creed, or that I have improperly or unduly favored any race or creed, I will withdraw from this fight immediately.”

No one now is attempting to ### that. Judge Hylan’s per### stand is not in question. ### issue is whether Judge ### will continue to accept ### support. If he is sincere ### protestations, he has two ### open to him: to disa-### his Nazi backers in no ### certain terms and to stay in ### running on whatever issues he wishes to raise, or to withdraw from the race entirely and halt further injection of racial feeling in a situation where it otherwise could not be manifested.

Judge Hylan’s candidacy, whatever other purposes it may be serving, is very definitely giving his Nazi lieutenants an opportunity to stir up racial animosities which, even in the early stages of the campaign, they are utilizing to the utmost. Whether or not Judge Hylan is aware of this situation, the fact remains that vicious activities are being conducted in his name. Judge Hylan may not himself be participating in these activities, but his willingness to accept Nazi support can only mean that he condones them.

Judge Hylan can no longer blind himself to the type and character of his support. If he chooses to retain it, then all his protestations of tolerance, etc., are nothing but specious ###

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