South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-01-24
Anti
BY T.. G. LEWIS.

If today you find on sale at news
stands in cigar or drug stores Of the
town in which you live, a red, white
and blue encircled button, with the
words Anti Bolsheviki" lettered on
it's surface, and if you purchase and
pin one of these emblems on the
lapel of your coat or jacket, you
will thereby become a member in
entirely good standing of a league
whose origin seems TO me wei,
worthy of description.
1t is not often we find a serious
nationalistic movement originating
among a little group of men banded
together for the sole purpose Of
social intercourse and enjoyment. 1t
is more 10 imagine a crusade for the
alteration Of some rule of bridge"
or for the introduction OF some new
dance step. emanating from such a
source, than to associate such body
OF pleasure-seekers with stern re-
volt against a threatening political
movement.
Far out in one of the sections of
what Manhattanites are pleased 10
call the "wilds of Brooklyn" there
exists a club that bears the name Of
one of Brooklyn's distinguish
jurists. Although originally formed
with the object Of furthering this
gentleman's political ambitions, fol-
lowing his election TO the bench, ii
ceased to concern itself with poll
tics and, TO the great delight Of the
wives, sisters and daughters Of it's
members. devoted itself entirely to
polite amusements.
Had not the member who on
recent evening raped for order in
the midst of an interesting session
Of whist, been a former president of
the club, and the recipient of a sill
yer loving-cup from his associates.
ne doubtless would have been called
TO order. or ridiculed out of his en-
deavor, for his opening words were
a plea that this purely social or
ganizetion should proceed TO band
itself together against the bolshe-
vikism in the United States.
1T is time, gentlemen" said he.
that somebody began a count OF
noses in this glorious country of
ours. TO find out how many welcome,
and how many despise, the bolshe-
Wiki faint that is being waited to US
over seas. I say. let every true
American stand up and be counted.
Let him not be ashamed TO proclaim
openly TO all civilization destroying
Reds, that he is their foe. Let him
wear a badge upon his coat, pro-
claiming that fact. Let il be con-
spicuous token of his unwillingness
to have a poisonous doctrine spread
throughout this land. am not
making an appeal for politics, but
for national salvation"
I have il on the authority OF the
wife OF one OF the club members
that the cheering which followed
this totally unexpected address.
could be heard almost across
Gravesend bay 10 the Statue OF Lib
erty.
The little club numbers among its
members, not only dem ocrats and
republicans. but several avowed
voters of the socialist party. yet
every voice was raised in praise Of
the speakers proposition, and 1t
was promptly decided that a button
should be designed. the wearing OF
which by any man or woman would
constitute him, or her, member OF
the AMT Bolsheviki league of
America
A committee was appointed 10 see
10 the manufacture of these buttons.
and the club then settled back 20 the
enjoyment of its interrupted social
pursuits, apparently unconscious OF
the fact that il had launched a
nightly important movement which
in all probability would sweep from
one end or the country 70 the other
I have since learned that a house
which deals I'm that kind OF goods
offered 10 manufacture these anti
bolsheviki badges in large quaint
ties at a trifle more than two cents
apiece. Therefore there seems no
good reason. IL American citizens
generally take up the wearing OF
them. why they should sell for more
than a nickel. The most conspicu-
Gus feature about them. is the outer
circle OF red. white and blue. denot-
ing allegiance 20 the American
Flag. As my friend. the originator
OF the button wearing league. said,
we are pinning anarchy in
stockade from which there can be
no escape save through the destruc-
-ior Of O,,r American cOlOrs -