The Washington times., 1933-10-11
KLAN Or NAZ|
= LINK DENIED
BY CHIEF
In Sympathy With Hitler Pro-
gram, However; Many of
Members Are Women

members are women
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oct. II q.
N.SO.-A new and militant organ
ization called "the Silver Shirts
Of America" is mobilizing.
The members wear silver shirts
with large letter 81" in red on
the left breast and blue corduroy
breeches. The 81" stands for
Liberation, Loyalty, Love-"
1t is not a pro-Hitler organiza-
ton. according to Maj. Luther L.
Powell, chief of staff and second
in command in the United States,
who is in charge of the new head
quarters in Oklahoma City. He
said, however, that the German
Americans in this country form
the backbone of the organization"
2S Per Cent Women
Powell, interviewed by Interna-
tional News Service today, said
that about % per cent of the
membership of the "Silver Shirts"
are women.
The women will wear capes
fined with red and a blue skirt.
Their uniforms will have a large
better 81" on the left breast.
Powell said:
eff there is a Nazi movement
I'm the United States, we have
NO connection with it,"
He declared the main purpose
Of the organization is "to fight
Communism in the United States
through organized forces whose
lodges and posts are in every
State IN the Union"
Powell said the "Silver Shirts"
welcome and invite investigation
when he was informed that
Samuel Dickstein, chairman of
the Committee of Immigration Of
the House of Representatives, an
nounced he would start an in
quiry of pro-Nazi propaganda in
the country.
The writer found Major Powell
hard at work at the headquarters
of the "Silver Shirts" He wore
gray silver shirt with a large let
ter 'L" on the left breast. He
Is IS years old, slim, partly bald,
and wears horn-rimmed glasses.
Denies Ku Klux Link
He said he, as chief of staff,
was second in command in the
United States.
He denied the organization was
similar to the Ku Klux Klan, al
though many former members of
the khan are now "Silver Shirts"
William Dudley Pelly, of Ashe-
vile, N. c., is national COM
mander-in-chief. Grand headquar
terS are at Asheville.
Powell said that to facilitate
the work of handling the expand
ing "Silver Legion" the nation
has been split up into two parts.
The work in all Eastern States
is being handled out of Ashe-
vile. The work in the States
west Of the Mississippi is being
handled from field headquarters
here.
Plans are being mapped out
for a great Swaraling of "SilVer
Shirts" within the next 80 days.
Headquarters for 500 men are
being secured in Oklahoma City
and will be opened in day or
two. There will be a crack Silver
Shirt Ranger Cavalry, which is
to serve as the chiefs body
guard.
He wouldn't say how many
members the "Silver Shirts" have.
The heaviest membership, he said,
Us in California, with Pennsyl-
vania second, Nebraska third, and
Missouri fourth.
Powell emphatically declared
the "Silver Shirts" have no con-
nection with the Nazi organiza-
tion of Germany, although many
German-Americans belong to the
''Silver Shirts" He added that the
organization had mo foreign con-
nection"
Praises Hitler Works
Discussing Hitler, he said:
""The truth has not come
through to the people Of Amer
Ice what Hitler has done in Ger
many. We, Of the Silver Shirts,
knowing what Hitler has done
for Germany, are in sympathy
with most of what he has DONE"
The "Silver Shirts" will have pa
rades and demonstrations but they
will be "all in an orderly manner
and in an American way" He
said:
1--WE court and invite investi-
CATION by the United States
Government"
No masks or hoods will be worn
by the "Silver Shirts" he said.
There is no intolerance back of the
movement. He characterized the
"Silver Shirts" as The Christian
Militia of the United States of
America" Their slogan is mil
itant Christian democracy"
According to Powell, Commu-
nism sis the great danger of the
country today"
No Charge to Join
In the ranks Of the "Silver
Shirts" are some Of the leading
ministers Of the country, he said.
Powell said it does not cost any
thing to belong to the "SilVer
Shirts" The organization is built
on donations. Members give what
they can afford. Members can
buy their uniforms anywhere they
want, paving from so cents to $40