The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1935-02-04
JEWISH FINANCIERS
SEEK TO PARALYZE
FIGHT ON FASCISM
Leaders of American Jewish Committee Hail
Radio Priest-Pm Not Against Wealthy
Father Coughlin Tells Daily Worker

with the result that A. F, Of L.
locals have adopted resolutions for
mally censuring him.
IT paid more than the union rate
and I gave work to people in my
district, the priest tried to excuse
himself. I'm willing to go along
with the A. F. Of L., but it doesn't
go far enough"
He was asked whether he thought
the employees representation plan
for shop unions would go far
enough'-in view Of the testimony,
produced to show the oppressiveness
Of this scheme, before a special Mr..
A. Board, in his own city of Detroit.
II don't know anything about it,
Father Coughlin begged off.
ut was reported in the press Of
the whole country" he was re-
minded, especially in the Detroit
press"
He repeated, "I don't know any
thing about it"
Neither did Coughhn know any
thing at all about" the Wagner Ia
Dor disputes bill which proposes a
form Of compulsory arbitration. He
did know enough about the Work
ers' Unemployment, Old Age and
Social Insurance Bill H. R. 1927 to
refuse to endorse it, gain under
the demagogic slogan, Its only
stop-gap."
Would you vote for It if you
were a member of Congress?"
I'D enlarge it."
What would you add to it?"
"Oh we'll" Father Coughlin
Enthusiastically fell back upon
misusing hard word to conceal
his attitude, II don't know if I can
go into that in specie form today"
This nonsensical statement had
been equslled by the holy dema-
gogue earlier during the day. He
counselled some of the monetary
reform" group to adopt a national,
general, philosophic resolution, and
try to avoid becoming too specific"
I was able to ask Father Coughlin
a few questions while the meeting
was getting under way. I was sit
ting at the press table. fastening
to make himself available for pub
Lefty, even before any reporter ap-
preached him, the priest came right
over to the press table and pumped
his well-fed bulk into chair at
my elbow. He bowed unctuously.
The interview had just started
when the news photographers ar
rived, and Coughlin quickly excused
himself to be available for pictures.
I caught him later in the crowded
marble hallway, however, as he bent
lingeringly over the white kid glove
of Mrs. Robert L. owen, wife of the
wealthy former Senator from Colo
RADIO who is both buddy of Father
Coughlin and a leading imitation
propaganda.
you made a disparaging refer
ence to Hitlerism in there, Father
Coughlin,' I said when at last he
was free. Are you opposed to
Hitler?"
The Holy Man looked aggrieved.
He answered II said I was opposed
to Hitlerism for this country Why
do you have to ask me that ques-
ton in that way?"
you ask the question, then, any
way you like-I'm interested in
your answer"
We'll, I'd say am opposed to
Hitlerism for this country. What
we need here is more democracy,
and this monetary movement of
ours is trying to achieve it,"
But your monetary program is
the program of big bankers such as
Mr.. Frank A. Vanderbilt" I said,
thinking of Thomas statement that
he and Vanderlip and Coughlin
were "all working together" I
pointed out that this program is
nothing but imitation, which would
benefit mainly the Rockefellers and
Vanderlips.
81 know that" Father Coughlin
replied simply. That's true. I'm
not against the wealthy. It is the
distribution of wealth I'm inter
ested in - the concentration Of
wealth in the hands of the few"
Are you opposed to the concen-
tration Of wealth in the hands of
the Rockefellers?"
ooh, Rockefeller isn't much of a
banker" he dropped casually.
In the Mind of the People"
"He isn't" I gasped. You know
the Rockefeller's Chase National
Bank is one of the biggest if not
the biggest in the world"
Eyes" - Coughlin admitted, then
reflected, and continued, but in
the minds of the people it is not
associated that way"
Then I asked Coughlin whether
he thought, as many wealthy men
think, that Hitler and Mussolini
served their countries by Saving
them from Bolshevism.
Yes" he answered, Insofar as
they saved their countries from
Bolshevism, they certainly did a
good thing"
Are you opposed to Mussolini?
Again annoyed, he protested
against the question put in that
way" and finally answered: "I'u
say I'm opposed to Hitlerism and to
Mussolini dictatorship for this
country, but of course, the Italians
and Germans have a different point
of view, and if they want a die
tatorship, it's all right"
IF it came to a choice, in this
country, between Fascist dictator
ship and working class dictator
ship, where would you stand?"
why do you make me chOose?"1
Coughlin eyed me with trace of
suspicion. l was just ready to
answer him when another listener