The producers news., 1934-04-27
Los Angeles.

!
Silver Shirts of California. it could
DO it by just hating him a little
bit. He would really be grateful,
for if only Communists would hate
him with a deep and bilious hate
he could point out to the suckers" "
as he terms his members. what a
dangerous guy he is to Commu-
nism and thus get more "coconuts"
as he quantity calls the donations
received from the aforesaid "suck-
ers."
| had heard a great deal about
Silver Shirt activities in Southern
California. l had learned. during
my stay in the San Joaquin Val
ley. that fascist groups. like vigi-
lante committees. were organizing
rapidly wherever Communists were
active among migratory workers.
These vigilante committees. how
ever. were scattered and without a
central leadership. The trend to-
wards Fascism was clear and more
pronounced than in any other area
/ had visited and it is onlv a ques-
ton of time before some capable
leader unites the scattered groups
springing up all over the state,
with the American Legion, county
and state law enforcing officers in
10 a powerful fascist bund.
had been unable to find anyone
who showed possibilities of hecom-
ing the fascist leader. but in San
Francisco l heard that the Silver
Shirts. though not active in central
and northern California. were ex-
tremely active in the southern part
and that the head of the Silver
Shirts was trying to weld the scat
tered fascist groups into one pow
erful whole. So l went to Los
Angeles TO talk to this "leader"
and find out. if possible. Just why
people start leading fascist orga-
nizations.
l had not conducted my inquiries
verv long before l came to the con-
clusion that Capt. Case would re-
ceive a reporter from The New
Masses and the Daily Worker lots
quicker even than one from a re-
dictionary paper like the Los Ange-
les Times. An appointment was
arranged for me by the printer OF
the Silver Ranger. a four-page
half-pint. anti-Communist. anti
Jew. pro-100 per cent American
weekly newspaper issued by the
; Silver Shirts and peddled for Z
penny copy.
: The interview was refreshingly
frank. l cannot account for its
frankness unless Capt. Case haC
expected a reporter from Commu
mist publications would shoot hin
first and interview him afterward
and in his relief that this was no
the approved Communist procedure
he talked-plenty. Or perhaps i
was his bloodshot ewes. Maybe
when / saw him he had not quit,
recovered from a spree of haN
and still had his tongue loose.
don't know.
The leader of the Silver Shirt
is 80 years old. thinning hair, ant
bloodshot eyes (at least when
saw him), rather pleasant Aryal
face and dressed in a fashion com
parable only to Jimmie Walker.
At the hour appointed l shove,
up at the Walker Auditorium. 73
South Grand. the Silver Shir
Headquarters. There were severa
lean, 1.-THE. hundred per cent Amer
leans in the room and one dark
skinned fellow of German ances
try: DIR. E. F. Weber. an officia
national Silver Shirt lecturer an
a Scientific" Jew and Communist
hater. During the week l was il
Los Angeles DR.. Weber got $50
! for hating from the public plat
form.
A large table with a few, hat
leaflets on it occupied the cente
of the rather cramped room. An
other, and smaller table. near tn
} windows had some more hate leaf
let's. Only one of the men marche
around with sprightly military
air and an awe-inspiring, vast re
l. emblazoned on his bosom. TIL
L looked very serious.
l was Immediately ushered int
Capt. Cases small private office
The printer came along as a wit
ness for both of us so there woul
be no misquotations.
"Capt. Case" T began, greetin
him like a long lost brother, "
should like to interview YOU fo
The New Masses and The Daily
Worker. The Daily Worker is tn
official organ of the Communists
party of America, affiliated wit
the Third Internationally which
l presume. you've heard?"
Capt. Case gave nv hand {
hearty grip. "Sit down." he in
vited.
"I should like to ask a lot O
questions. Some of them NAV b
personal. Those you wish to an
swer. l shall take down verbatir
so you will not be misquoted; thos
YOU do not wish to answer. pleas
say so. l am sure YOUR not want
ing to answer will make as goo
a story"
Capt. Case laughed pleasantly
and rubbed one bloodshot eve. :
THAT is fair enough. Shoot"
. First. little information abou
you. You look like a clean-cut. in
telligent sort of person and I'd Iik
: to know a little Of YOUR back
ground-whv a fellow like vo
takes up the Silver Shirts"
Communism must be wiped"
1--WE haven't got to that vet,
Captain. First about voursel.
Where did YOU get the title "Car
tain?"
"In the 9Th Cantonese Nation,
Army in China when / saw servic
with them in 1922. They paid m
$1,000 a month. / also had tn,
title Captain when serving unde
Gen. Manzas in Mexico in 1872!
In Mexico / drew S35 a dav. Tn
1 1An--.-L- n