The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1935-06-15

during the saengerfest.
Proposal Turned Down
II was learned today that one
group In Stamford had promised
to send a delegation of $500 to
Waterbury for the affair providing
they could carry Nazl banners. The
proposition was promptly turned
down by the committee.
Those sponsoring the Saenger.
fest in this city, II was stated TO.
day, are people who have been res
idents of. waterbury for many
many years and who do not desire
any show Of politics In the carry
ing out Of the plans for the state
whether those politics
might be local or foreign. There.
fore, II was said, no Nazi banners
and no Swastika emblems Will be
allowed on display during the two
day meeting.
Letter Is As Follows
The letter received IL as follows:
Waterbury, Conn., June ID
Dear Mr.. Editor: 2
The writer was sent TO Water
bury by q national labor organ
ization in order to help, to clarity
the standpoint for the work.
ingman In participating with
the Connecticut State-Saenger-
fest. an affair to which 5000
5000 people are expected. II we
could apply tho term class-con.
seriousness to American labor.
my explanation at the meeting
or this letter would not DO need
ed. This letter introduces the
question:; How is labor con-
ccrned with the coming Saen.
gerfest, as public demonstra-
ton OF German people?'
Copnecticut's largest AFFAIR OF
that sort was held In New Bril-
tain two years ago. The affair
was called German Day." cele.
brating the 250th anniversary OF
the frat landing OF Germans on
the American shores. Such pur.
pose Is acceptable for good. The
financial success or net profit to
tho promoting organization was
small unavoidable, discrepancy
was blamed by an attendance OF
about 5000 people for the dis
couraging result. No donation
for u good social purpose or re-
lief institution was made. But u
good 90 per cent OF the attend
ance were working people, their
hard earned money spent, that q
couple Of business-e enterprises
made q fine profit?
Tho previous paragraph Is
mentioned for tho sake to bring
out the basic fundamentals OF
this affair and the public should
be Interested, II part OF the pro.
1T could find It's way to some
sort OF relief. which IL 10 badly
needed to-day.
The purpose Of this affair may
be condensed to the following:
The musical environment Of
German singing societies In
which each participating society
sings for about S-15 minutes In
tho prize contest. The value of
these prizes may be too small TO
discuss. Why this planned huge
parade? We can appreciate the
spectacle OF hoiiday-carnival and
festivities as beneficial TO both.
participant and spectator alike.
But II IL advisable keeping the
affair clean OF politics, particu.
larly such as have have shown
themselves as working towards
the detriment Of labor as a
whole.
Inasmuch as the spirit OF
America has always been one OF
tolerance and fair play, 1t is the
duty of every fairminded Amer
lean to protest any activity
which has as its sole reason for
being the purpose of influence
ing group of German born and
descendants OF German-born
people. Our purpose is not to
cast undue reflection on the pro-
posed principal-speaker (the
Consul GENERALLY himself. who
we understand Is gentleman of
character and culture. But We
believe the government he rep-
resents to be so opposed to free
speech and tolerance, that to
allow such an official to appear
at the gathering of American
workmen would be. to say the
least, out of place. The Nazi
government as we understand it,
has destroyed the greatest labor
organization on earth. has killed
thousands of its best labor
leaders. kept and keeps hundreds
OF thousands in concentration
camps. TO say nothing of the
thousands, who are driven into
exile. The suffering is probably
intensified when we consider the
treatments accorded TO relatives
and families of those prosecuted.
A government which has stolen
millions of dollars worth OF prop
erty belonging to labor and their
co-operatives. And finally the
government which restricts
knowledge. arts and science and
puts such a progressive nation
back 10 the dark middle-ages OF
bloody terror and insane self
destruction.
American labor must protest