The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1934-08-21
Liberal Viewpoint
-BY DIR. HARRY ELMER Barnes
rhi, is the second oftwo articles by Harry Elmer

by DR.. HARRY ELMER BARNES -
This is the second Of two articles BY Harry Elmer
Barnes. Pm. d. on the character Of the actual Fascist
organizations operating in the United States today
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TN my column Saturday I called attention to
il the origin, nature and strength of the So
called "Silvert Shirts" or Christian Militia led
by William D. Pelley Of Ashevile, N C. There
are a number of lesser shirts enlisted in the
American Fascist movement.
In 1881 the Crusaders for Economic Liberty
we're organized by George w. Christians of
Chattanooga, Tenn, who probably excels even
Pelley in his talents for appealing to the dis
contented masses. The militant branch Of his
Crusaders are known as the White Shirts"
Christians wishes to set up a dictatorship to
destroy the gold standard, repudiate the public
debt and punish political ~grafters. The insignia
of his White Shirts is indicative of the ideals Of
the organization:
They shall wear white shirts with a large
red Crusader cross on the front middle. and with
small crossed American and red Crusader flags
on the left breast, the White Shirts d~enoting
the purity of our purpose; the red Crusader
cross denoting the religious significance of the
Crusade; the American flag, patriotism; and the
red Crusader flag courage and sacrifice"
The procedure envisaged by Christians is adj
mirably summarized in the following paragraph
from his general orders" 9TH first objective
should be to take control of the local govern
ment in the following manner; march in mill
tary formation to and surround the govern
mental buildings. Then, by sheer numbers and
a patriotic appeal, force the officials to accept
and act under the direction of an economic ad-
wiser appointed by the president of the c.. F. E.
L. This advisers first duty will be to r~epudiate
the public debt and utilize the payments as
signed thereto for the public welfare"
a +
DRAFTING politicians are to be dealt with
W summary but fairly: Dishonest officials
should be Immediately brought to justice
Great care should be exercised so that the situa-
ton does not get out of control and some poor,
muddle-headed but honest politician get hung
without fair and legal trial"
The most militant Of all shirt organizations
to date have been the Khaki Shirts led by
General Art J. Smith. They derive their inspira-
ton primarily from MuSSolini, rather than
Hitler. Among Americans they are most fond
of Congressman McFadden, General Smedley
D. Butler and Huey Long.
They once started to march on Washington
With the plan OF lOOting armorieS on the way
and Installing Mr.. Roosevelt as dictator. The
march" was disrupted in Philadelphia when a
patrol wagon of Philadelphia policemen dis
persed the army"
Smith boosted that he had an army of $780,
900. When his encampment was stormed at
Philadelphia only a few hundred were discern
able and all Of these were generals. The high
command seemed to be ample but the rank and
file had failed to rally.
General Smith is now serving a sentence of
from three to six years as a result of a perjury
conviction in connection with the murder of a
youthful anti-Fascist by one Of his overzealous
generals.
A MONG the lesser organizations are the
"a White Legion, organized in Alabama to re-
press Negro radicaliSm; the Gray Shirts or the
Pioneer American Home Protective Association, :"
designed to protect and preserve the ~sanctity and
safety of homes owned and maintained by it's
members; the United States Union Of Fascists,
and drawing heavily from the former supporters
of General Smith, and the Order sof rs, whose
mania is f1ngerprinting everybody they can get
to submit and who are vehemently against the
Jews and bankers.
Finally there are the Dress Shirts" leaders
Of whom are Seward Collins, who publishes the
American Review. and Lawrence Dennis and
Harold Lord Varney, who edit the Awakener.
These are Fascist publications and appeal pri-
marily to the silk hats.
Dennis and Varney make a special play for
Republicans, but insist that the only way in
which the present Republicans can 0 back
into power will be through abandoning the Re-
publican party and forming a frank Fascist Or
ganization.
All this might sound very much like a con-
%tribution to high humor were it not for the fact
that we can prO6tably reflect that Mussolini
was a ludicrous joke in 1919 and so was Hitler
after the ignominious failure of his Munich
pUtSch a decade ago. At that time Hitler'S fol-
lowers were less numerous than the members of
one of our lesser Fascist organizations like the
Order Of rs.