Friction has developed between the Jewish War Veterans of the United States and the National Blue Men of America, the two Jewish organizations combating the Hitler menace here.
In a set of resolutions adopted by the National Executive Council of the War Veterans’ group the activities of the Blue Men, which, they claim, “have been consistently marked by acts of violence,” are denounced.
They deny any connection with the Blue Men and deplore the fact metropolitan papers have confused the two and resolve that “any member of the Jewish War Veterans of the United States joining the Blue Shirt Group or participating in any act of violence or breach of the peace shall be tried by court martial.”
The Jewish War Veterans are sponsoring the Anti-Nazi Minute Men of America under the leadership of Edgar Burman, chairman of the boycott committee of the Veterans’ group. Ben Lazare is at the head of the National Blue Men of America, formerly known as the National Blue Shirt Men.
TELL OF REASONS
“You can realize why we had to take action of that kind,” Berman stated. “Personally I feel that some of the original work of that group, insofar as boycott activities were concerned, was commendable. But when it comes to violation of law and order, then we can’t get anywhere.”
When asked about the resolution to court martial any member of the Jewish War Vets found to hold membership in the Blue Men group, Berman declared that “so far I’ve been able to uncover one man who is a member. He was ordered to send in his resignation and did so.”
Reached at the meeting place of the Blue Men at Empire Manor yesterday afternoon Lazare answered the charges of the War Veterans and emphatically disclaimed any acts of violence that have marked the embroglios following Nazi meetings.
“The National Blue Men do not resort to violence,” said Lazare. “The violence attending the Nazi meetings has been caused by Communist groups which are attendant after these rallies are held Naturally, if we are caught in the midst of a fighting group we have to defend ourselves.”
NO AFFILIATION
In answering the charge that New York papers have confused his organization with the Jewish War Vets, he stated that the Blue Men never had claimed to be affiliated with them.
“We are an independent group, working to combat the Nazi menace here,” he stated.
The statement that any Jewish War Vet joining his group would be subject to court martial by the Vets was deplored by him.
“We can all work in unison for this one cause,” he declared, urging “united action to combat the Hitlerite peril to this country.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
