Application will be made to the Department of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg Saturday by the Silver Shirt Legion of America, Inc., “to do business within the Commonwealth under the provisions of the non-profit corporation law,” it became known today when an official notice to this effect was published in this morning’s legal Intelligencer.
The nature of the business to be conducted by the Silver Shirts was described as “to foster, promote and develop political and patriotic principles for the betterment and welfare of its members, to establish, supervise and control subordinate districts and units for the promotion of activity and education of the principles of the corporation in various communities.”
Headquarters for Pennsylvania will be at 412 West Chelton avenue, Philadelphia.
Acting on behalf of the fraternal order Brith Sholom, Samuel L. Einhorn, editor of the Brith Sholomite, today addressed a letter to Governor Gifford Pinchot calling attention to the application made by the Silver Shirts.
In a letter to the Governor Einhorn explained that “no opportunity has been afforded for examining the charter of the corporation. Nor have I had an opportunity to determine who its officers are and what business it proposes to do in Pennsylvania.”
“It is my belief,” Einhorn declared, “that the Silver Shirt Legion of America, Inc., is the same organization which is operating under the leadership of one William Dudley Pelley. On behalf of the Brith Sholom, a national Jewish fraternal order, with its home office in the city of Philadelphia, and chartered under the laws of this Commonwealth, may I at this time enter a protest with respect to the registering of this corporation in this Commonwealth until an opportunity has been offered us for a hearing.
“FOMENTING RACE HATRED”
“The organization headed by Pelley and identified as the Silver Shirt Legion of America, Inc., is one which has been fomenting race hatred and religious higotry in this country and undermining the very principles of tolerance sacred to this Commonwealth.
“Under the circumstances, I shall be pleased to hear from you to the effect that the application of the Silver Shirt Legion for registration will be held in abeyance pending the opportunity for a full and complete hearing.”
Associated with Einhorn on this special Brith Sholom committee are Maxwell E. Verlin, Leon Rosenthal and Martin O. Levy, grand secretary of the order. The committee is now conducting an investigation to ascertain to what extent the Silver Shirt Legion has been carrying on its propaganda here.
Einhorn hopes to have this investigation completed in time to appear before the state authorities in the event of a public hearing being held prior to the issuance of a certificate permitting the organization to carry on here.
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.
