Seeds of Religious Bigotry in 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 eighth of a series of articles detailing the rise and growth of the Nazi-inspired anti-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.

The preceding articles have concerned themselves with a general outline of the Fascist forces at work in the United States Neither the leaders nor their active following can be considered as the true menace of our Demo cratic form of government. The peril lies rather in the philosophy of the movement. in the contagion which it incites, and in the normal consequences of organized propaganda.

To illustrate: It is not important that there exists a fanatic, William Dudley Pelley; it is not of great importance that Pelley and his theories are accepted by less than one-tenth of one percent of the American people. The seed of race hatred which the Silver Shirts implant in the hearts of Americans is important and this feature may lead to disastrous consequences for the personal liberties of Jews and other Americans.

Pelley, by his own admission, is the mimic of Hitler. On the eve of Hitler’s election Pelley conceived the idea of anti-Semitism and Fascism for the United States As Pelley attained what may be considered “fame,” other Americans have taken up his policies in their own right. Thus, one Fascist anti-Semite has inspired others until today the United States is doted with Fascist and anti-Semitic camps. The maria is spreading ever more rapidly; old guard anti-Semitic organizations like the Ku Klux Klan, have been revitalized; minor political groups, sensing the horrible fascination of hate to the human mind, incorporate it in their general policies and gain support from all who are unable to resist the sadistic allure of persecution.

UNION IS FEARED

Literally thousands of local groups and local units of national Fascist organizations exist in the United States today. They are not as yet distinct, but it is only a matter of time until some powerful organizer may emerge and bind all into a single, united organization. There are, for instance, the Nationalists of Texas. Their weekly organ, The Nationalist, which is four months old, announces, “We are not against the Jewish people; we are for the brotherhood of all mankind. We are against chain stores or against chain business of all kind.” Then follows a scourging account of Jews, their alleged conspiracy against America. their so-called International Banking unit, “Jewish Communism,” and “Jewish chain stores.” The paper asks. “Must Jewry and chain stores be boycotted?” It states baldly that the Jew is demoralizing society and describes Jewry as “a people without sound morals or honor” bent upon ruining Gentile mentalities.

While the paper and organization are “not against the Jewish People,” the “Serpent of Judah Department” in the sheet would make even the most gullible a bit skeptical. The Nationalists are understood to have a following of about nine hundred persons in and near Houston, Texas. They meet weekly in room 711 of the M. and M. Building there, and their leaders show an unusual eagerness to cooperate with other anti-Semitic organizations. To this end the Nationalists of Texas advertise in their organ, “The Headquarters of the Nationalists will be glad to assist pro-Gentile organizations in such work as publicity, propaganda, lectures, etc.” In anticipation of the day when the Gentiles will “shuffle off the fetters of slavery” the Nationalists of Texas drill regularly after meetings. Observers state that some of those who take part in the drills are armed. but for the most part they use no weapons.

A BRAND NEW ONE

Another American Nationalist Party has been started in New York. It has as its leader B. H. Gilligan of 30-70 Thirty-fourth street, Astoria. Gilligan, a former member of the Ku Klux Klan, has been well trained in Fascist and anti-Semitic organization procedures. He has gone into the highly Hitlerized Yorkville area of New York City for a following and to some extent it is understood he has drawn from the most bitter of the German-American residents of this section members for his National Executive Committee.

The Nationalists of New York. it is earnestly hoped by its sponsor, will extend throughout the country. In various parts of the nation he has appointed organizers drawn from local anti-Semitic groups, most of whom were once allied to the Ku Klux Klan. He has empowered these appointees to select from the residents of the district National Councils. The scheme, which is not yet in full operation, provides for Nationalist representation throughout the country, and upon this skeletal representation Gilligan hopes to build a full-fledged national political organization. His circulars seeking membership have already been sent out through the mails Applicants are asked to state their religion and contribute twenty-five cents monthly to the party cause.

Through the Middle West, particularly in the North, there exists a Fascist organization known as the Blue Shirts. Of late another Blue Shirt organization has been started in the Middle West to oppose the original Fascists, and it is understood that the activities of the two are frequently confounded. The Fascist Blue Shirts take their origin in Canada, and with extension to the United States have become an international body.

The Blue Shirts thrive on the propaganda broadcast through Le Patriote, an anti-Semitic publication printed in French at 1725 Rue Saint Denis, Montreal. This magazine contains scurrilous attacks on Jews and caters to the French speaking classes in its fight against British domination over Canada It advocates a purely Canadian nationalism, and extols the Fascism of Hitler and Mussolini.

SELLS ‘LITERATURE’

Besides deriving revenues from its own circulation and advertising, as well as whatever donations the publication may receive from sources interested in propagating Fascism in Canada, Le Patriote enjoys a considerable income from the sale of anti-Semitic propaganda. The books and pamphlets advertised in Le Patriote are for the most part the same as those advertised in William Dudley Pelley’s Liberation, and for the most part the sentiments expressed in the editorials of the magazine bear a clear resemblance to the anti-Semitic doctrines of Pelley. Among the books advertised are: “The World Secret Government”; “No More Hunger”; “Communism in Germany”; and many others carrying historic and current attacks on the Jews.

In a recent issue of Le Patriote an effort was made on the part of the editors to justify the persecution of the Jews ever since their dispersion from Palestine early in the Christian era.

Le Patriote, so far as can be determined, is patronized by a number of Fascist organizations in Canada and a few in the United States as well as a number of Fascist groups abroad. In Canada it has successfully appealed to the Croix de Feu, one of two leading Fascist factions in France with many branches in North America and French colonies; the Blue Shirts, and groups sympathetic to Hitler and in league with the Friends of New Germany. The last mentioned have a strong propaganda center in Montreal. through which, it is reported on good authority, much of the more recent Nazi propaganda is brought into the United States.

DUBINSKY TELLS MANUFACTURERS REICH LINES LOSING OUT DUE TO BOYCOTT

Buyers, foremen and executives employed in the needle trades of New York City, are being urged to support the anti-Nazi boycott by not using German boats when traveling to Europe this Spring, it was announced yesterday by David Dubinsky, president of the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union and Treasurer of the Jewish Labor Committee.

In a statement sent to all needle trades manufacturers of the city, Mr. Dubinsky pointed out that figures in the committees’ possession show that the North German Lloyd liners Europe and Bremen, “notwithstanding a general rise in travel, have suffered a loss of thirty-nine percent in the number of passengers carried in the first three months of the year, in comparison with the corresponding months of last year.” This sharp decrease is attributed to the effectiveness of the boycott.

“The boycott,” the statement says, “has proven the most effective means of combating Hitlerism and since the Trans-Atlantic shipping trade is one of the important items in the Hitler budget, it is important that it be boycotted 100 percent.”