Evening star., 1937-11-21

termanyS plan TO rally Germans
outside the Third Reich in support Of
the four-year plan for economic self
sufficiency will find American friends
of National Socialism already we'll Or
ganized for this purpose. For the
last two years an organization known
in English as the German-American
Business League, sister organization
OF the pro-Nazi German-American
Bund. has been promoting consump-
tion of German goods and advocating
patronage of good German stores"
The Deutscher Konsum Verband
the German Consumption Associa-
tion), as the league is known to Ger
man-speaking members. was organized
in Chicago in 1885 Its headquarters
were moved to New York under the
leadership Of Fritz Kuhn. who now
heads both the league and the bund.
In recent months the leagues activi-
ties have been extended to Philadel-
phia, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee
and San Francisco. Its aims are to
protect the German American trade "
Actually, it was organized to Offset the
effective boycott of German goods by
anti-Nazi organizations.
In its two years the league has
not made much headway against the
anti-Nazi boycott. 1t has been unable
to persuade large department stores,
which were forced to discontinue lines
Of German goods, to stock these items
again. Its work has been directed
more toward increasing consumption
of German goods among the German
speaking population here and at
tempting, by use of sales stamps, to
make sure that German-Americans
patronize stores operated by pro-Nazis.
Suit Plan Abandoned.
At one time an investigation, not
conducted by the league, however, was
instigated with the idea Of suing boy
colt groups for damages caused by
illegal restraint Of trade" under the
Sherman Antitrust Act. The at
tempt was abandoned.
In a recent issue Of the Deutscher
Weckruf und Beobachter, ofhcial or
gan of the bund, it was said openly
that the purpose of the league was
to persuade consumers not to patronize
Jewish stores The article said:
"The-essential purpose Of the league
is to make known to the buying pub
lie those stores whose proprietors are
either Of German descent or who re-
fuse to take part in the anti-German
boycott Of men and goods. On the
other hand, q steady mass Of CUSTOM
ers Is led to merchants, customers
who, despite need and economic boy
colt, still patronize non German or
nom Christian stores"
In its fourth trade guide, published
last week, the league printed in Ger
man and English / 1,135 listings under
2S2 classifications. Actually, however,
the number of league members is
much smaller because of the dupli-
cation Of listngs. Ofncials Of the
league said that many members were
not listed in the guide because 1t
might hurt the trade Of those Sur
rounded" by Jewish stores or In Jewish
neighborhoods. Apparently local Naxis
do not have the same hesitation
against accepting Jewish patronage
that merchants in the Third Reich
are supposed to have, 81.
Stamps Are Redeemed.
Merchants who belong to the league
pay . classification fee of g . year
and in return may purchase sheets Of
500 stamps for $3.50. One stamp IL
given to customer for every 10 cents
worth Of merchandise purchased
These stamps are saved, pasted in .
book with spaces for 500, and when
the book has been filled the customer
turns 1t In to the league of1lces at l7S
East Eighty-fifth street, where it
shares quarters with the bund, for
9l.3S IN cash. Ths league also main.