in behalf of the Jewish War Veterans on the understanding that “nothing is planned at the celebration which will give affront to American citizens.”
Hochfelder’s decision was rendered after copies of letters exchanged between John R. Kilpatrick, president of the Madison Square Garden Corporation, and Theodore H. Hoffman, acting chairman of the National Council of the Steuben Society of America, were sent him by the Garden official.
NO AFFRONT, HE IS SURE
Mr. Kilpatrick’s note to the society officer read as follows: “My Dear Mr. Hoffmann:
“Since the announcement was made in the press that the Steuben Society had leased the Garden for December 6, I have received several communications protesting against our permitting the Garden to be used for this German Day celebration.
“Being familiar with the long, honorable, and patriotic history of the society, I am confident that nothing is planned at your exercises which would give affront to any American citizen.
“Of course, Madison Square Garden is a place of public assemblage, and the Madison Square Garden Corporation assumes no responsibility for opinions expressed at public meetings within its walls. In fact. almost all political, racial, and religious groups have occupied the Garden at various times. Nevertheless, I would appreciate from you a statement confirming the impression in the paragraph above, in order that I may satisfactorily reply to various communications that I have received.”
HOFFMAN MAKES PLEDGE
Mr. Hoffmann, in reply, pledged that “nothing will happen at the exercises which will give affront to any American citizen.”
Mr. Kilpatrick revealed that a number of anonymous threats had been made against the celebration, but stated that the only signed protest was that of Hochfelder.
Commissioner of Licenses Levine stated that he was prepared to accept the protest of any other individual or organization against the feasibility of permitting the. German Day celebration to be held, in the event of withdrawal of a protest issued by Mr. Hochfelder to his department a week ago.
“In the event of protest coming from any citizen against this affair,” said Mr. Levine, “my office will be glad to look into the matter. If the program scheduled for the affair is found to be against American principles of liberty, freedom, and justice, we shall certainly take action. So far, however, Mr. Hochfelder seems satisfied to let the celebration go on, and we have heard no other protest.”
EXPOSES HELP, HE SAYS
Fritz Gissibl, head of the western branch of the League of Friends of New Germany, and temporary successor to the fugitive national leader, Heinz Spanknoebel, disclosed a startling growth of his organization during recent weeks.
“We have grown every day since our group broke into the headlines,” Mr. Gissibl told a reporter for the Jewish Daily Bulletin. “The grand jury hearing, the frequent exposes of our group by daily newspapers, and other factors of publicity have tended to cause many persons to join the League of Friends of New Germany.”
Mr. Gissibl reckons the net paid membership of the League of Friends of New Germany at 10,000, which number, he said, “is increasing in leaps and bounds.”
Mr. Gissibl came to New York from Chicago to testify at grand jury hearings here regarding the activities of Spanknoebel.
The organization will shortly elect new officers.
“We hope to start out with a new punch, once we get our new men in office” Mr. Gissibl said. “They will be elected right after the current trouble blows over.”
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