Voice of action. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1933-1936, 1934-05-08
How Vigilantes Uphold
sAmericanism' In Seattle

| the agricultural workers who have
been exploited year after year in
| rapidly worsening conditions. There
the terrcristic actions of the Wig
llantes and Legionnaires are an
plauded by the press and endorsed
| by the law. Three members of the
American Civil Liberties Union who
went to the Imperial Valley to de-
fend working class prisoners were
kidnapped and beaten.
In Seattle the Communist PARTY
was accused by the Vigilantes of
taking over the Unemployed Citi-
zenS' League and taking advantage
Of the unemployed. Before the I'm
employed Citizens League was
changed to a militant body of work
ers the only consideration and at
tention it received was before cleo
ton when it became the football of
the most MISCONCEPTIONS capatilist
politicians. The Vigilantes and 9TH
er fascist organizations care not
how many people starve-their in
terest begins only when the starv-
ing are banded together under COM
petent leadership working to solve
their day to day problems and
struggling against hunger and mis-
cry.
mobile" Ant-Pacifists
Scattle's anti-war youth took
part in a united protest against
jingoism at the Eagles Auditorium.
April 7. These young men and wo-
men ,unarmed and peacefully pro-
testing against imperialist war.
were beaten and slugged by Vigil
antes and Legionnaires. The fascist
Judge Bell has given sentences far
out Of reason and shown his open
approval of the Vigilantes and their
barbarism.
More cowardly still is the incident
which took place recently in West
Seattle, stronghold of the Vigilantes.
A young woman associate of young
men active in the Legion Against
War was grabbed and beaten and
her associates threatened. Also re-
Gently i'm West Seattle a high school
boy who has been connected with
an anti-war group was slugged by
two men while walking past an al
ley.
Thus we see how noble" these
attackers OF girls and boys are
these upholders and praters of con-
stitutiOnality - always armed. al
ways outnImbcring their victims.
Meeting Places
Tho Vigilantes meet in downtown
office buildings and churches and
vacant buildings in the outlying dis
tricts.
/ \ meeting was held about a
month ago in a West Seattle Con-
gregational church with about $50
present. Alvin O. Smith, the pas
tor of the church, has been invited
to join the American Vigilantes and
/ is considering it as he feels they
might bring forth the duties OF
Christian citizens" We suggest that
here is the ideal minister for the
muraI-less, Shorter-less Pilgrim
| Congregational church. The Vigil
antes, Legionnaires and conserva-
tive members of the Pilgrim Con-
gregational church, together with
Alfred Lundin, president of the
Chamber of Commerce, should al
be at home in the church in which
it is "out Of order to pray"
Thus the Vigilantes stand forth
for the workers of Seattle to see
their coarse, cruel faces. These Wig
ilantes and other fascists( masked
behind the phrase "Americanism'D
are the real foes of the principles
of liberty, freedom, justice. They
are the ones who wish to chain the
workers to dying capitalism no mat
ter what the hunger and misery
Workers-unite in a fighting move
| ,,,,,t ,,rofncf 70 ccisunt