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Labor Leaders Attack Janssen, Nazi Champion

September 21, 1934
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Severe condemnation of Henry K. Janssen, industrialist, who is associated with Gustave Oberlaender in the ownership of the Berkshire Textile Mills, for his recent praise of Hitler’s method of dealing with strikes was voiced here today by the executive committee of the Federated Trades Council.

Charging Janssen pays low wages in his own factories while donating funds abroad, labor body leaders said: “Mr. Janssen seems elated at the way Hitler puts away ‘radicals who start something.’ In America, however, we still have some freedom, while Germany has gone back to barbarism and slavery. Yet the truth remains that things have been started not by radicals but by those who have forced revolting conditions on their workers.

“Mr. Janssen’s opinion would be quite different if he were one of the textile workers whose average wage was $10.86, or if he were trying to raise a family on a $5 food voucher,” the Trades Council men said.

The Pennsylvania manufacturer is an important contributor to the Carl Schurz Foundation. In a recent interview he praised Hitler for “doing a wonderful job in Germany.”

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