The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-06-07
Continued from yesterday
American Defense Society


American Defense Society
This organization has operated both from New York
and Washington During the two years that R. NJ.
Whitney represented it at Washington up to his death
in 1924, and while William ]. Burns head Of the
Bureau of Investigation of the United States Depart
ment of Justice, Mr. Whitney the chief spokesman
of it's activities The Washington office has not since
figured publicly and is reported to be closed Major
Richard A. Charles is the executive secretary in New
York.
The 1924 report summarizes its recent work. 1t
shows total of 22500O pamphlets distributed and ap
proxmately the same number were pamphlets against
the "red menace" The rest were immigration, which
indirectly aimed foreign radcasm," and press
clip-shees immigration national defense and radi-
caism" 1t is clear that the Societys main object
appeal is its antiradical program, and only incidentally
its defense propaganda, which shown below is merely
in cooperation with other agencies which took the lead
Below follows brief summary of typical activities
of the American Defense Society Inc taken from the
1924 report:
Activities"
Constitution of the United States Distributed free
to school children ninety thousand copies of
notaed edition of the Constitution Distributed 1888
pamphlets by Hon. James NJ Beck, "A Rising
Setting Sun"
Defense Test Day. To educate public and effect entry
to columns of press, gave dinner to General Bull
lard securing cooperation therein of thrseve organ
zatons. Helped in formulation of committee in Wash
ngton, D. c., for same purpose. Supplied speak
er for radio.
immigration Restriction Held three conferences on
this subject issued releases each conference
Supplied speaker for radio Appeared before Senate
Committee presenting arguments for restriction.
Pacifism Exposed the secret conference of the
Womens International League for Peace and Freedom
and showed the connection of Communism with that
organization Published pamphlet entitled "Peace at
Any Old Price"
Patriotic Exercises in Schools, Armores etc. Over
hundred thousand copies of picture of Theodore
Roosevelt first honorary president of the society,"
tanning message, keep Up the Fight for American
ISM" have been distributed and unveiled with a
mony, the of which emphasizes ideals of Amer
lean citizenship.
Preparedness Assisted in getting from Congress ap
preparations for the army. (a) By arranging speak
ing tour for General Pershng later publishing digest
Of his speeches in a pamphlet National Defense"
b) By distributing copies of the 1920 Defense Act and
other documents issued by the War Department copies
Of the addresses of Secretary Weeks and other army
ficials. c) Aided the campaign of the Citizens Mill
tary Training Camps Associations (d) Issued "clip~
sheet on National Defense to 1880 newspapers.
Radicalism, Sent reporter to trial Of Foster and
Ruthenberg who wrote up the evidence submitted and
placed in syndicate of newspapers throughout the
United States Published book, "Reds in America"
written from documents seized by government in Bridg
man raid on the convention of the Communists. We
maintain in Washington bureau from which news re-
leases issued apprsing the public of the activities
Of the Communists in the United States Have publish
ed documents such as "The Youth Movement in Amer
ca showing te-up Of radicalism in our colleges Back
to Barbarism," showing effect of radicasm in and
among the American Negroes.
II VIII De noted that the Society makes great deal of
its cooperation with other quaspatriotc groups and
that it frequently the radio.
Help Capitalist Politicians
The Society does not reveal in its report what in fact
most Interested it during 1924 namely the defeat of
Laiollete for President. The fact that it indirectly
entered politics is not mentioned It's report however,
shows that speech made before it in October entitled
"Tae Revolution against the American Government 3"
by Martin W. Lttleton sent to the number of
5000, wei! pamphlet 6y r. H. Whitney, entitled
"LaFoette Socialism, Communism" Both endeavored to
show that the Progressive Party inspired
by Moscow and Constituted revolutionary effort
throw the go, Its attack conferred on the
proposal permit legislative veto Of the supreme courts
decisions declaring acts Of Congress unconstitutional
In view Of the insEence Of patriotic societies legal
methods and their proteesed hstred Of Violence Il lie
Significant that they oppose with equal vgor the Com
unst movement and such purely reforms this con-
sttutional proposal and the child labor amendment.
What they evidently most for the status quo Of
property
Tho Defense Sosiety's conception Of radicssrn is
best shown by tho following qaaBtoaairo aan to schools
and colleges to discover "the extent to which gocagsc
and communicate pg!neipaa advocated by members Of
tho faculty entertained by such student organizations
may exist IN tho form Of liberal clubs, forums, al-
ances, etc." Note what the Society regards socialism
and communism
In any tho above courses are any Of the following