Sigelians Strike Blow at Nazis

General von Steuben Lodge No. 107, New York;

Columbia Lodge No. 201 (Women), Bronx;

Martha Washington Lodge No. 203 (Women), Newark;

Beethoven Lodge No. 202 (Women), New York;

Lessing Lodge No. 301 (Men and Women), Nutley, N. J.;

Pastorius Lodge No. 304 (Men and Women), Philadelphia;

Jacob Leisler Lodge No. 305 (Men and Women), New York;

Richard Wagner Lodge No. 306 (Men and Women), Wood-side, L. I.;

Carl Schurz Lodge No. 307, Elizabeth, N. J.

SWASTIKA LOSES

The decision to de-Nazify the organization came after two hours of heated debate over the question: “To hang or not to hang the swastika on the walls of the Franz Sigel club houses.” The assemno swastikas in their meeting bled delegates decided to permit rooms.

The outcome of the parley is reckoned as one of the most significant events in the recent history of German-American society. It is believed to mark the turning point—the Waterloo of the up-to-now successful march of Nazis throughout America’s Germandom. For the first time since leading imported Nazis began their rapid capture of German societies here, they have been repulsed.

The Nazis have been repulsed, it might be said, by a group whose allegiance to Nazi rule was fast becoming recognized as a conviction. While many evidences of the Nazification of the Franz Sigel Order might be offered, the most significant is the change of name from the Heinrich Heine Lodge to the General von Steuben Lodge early this Spring. The change came at a time when the Nazi organization rose to its peak of influence in German-American circles.

NAZI DECLINE SEEN

William Schott, president of the national organization, presided at the meeting.

First intimation of Nazi decline came about one month ago when delegates from all leading German societies, meeting at the German-American Congress in Cleveland, refused to recognize the DAWA, Nazi boycott organization still being employed against American Jews, as a legitimate member of the Congress. The DAWA, on that occasion, was branded as “a possible racket.”

Since that time Nazi power has steadily diminished. It is learned from good authority that both the DAWA and the Friends of New Germany have lost many members.