The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-12-10

Ao& Us paEt lH etuSnAPe-'1 - on another World War. The Ger man-American Bund avowedly works in this country to win sup. rort for these ideas, and shoulo not be tolerated in Connecticut or in any part of the United States.
 Holmes Keeps Up Fight
 Meanwhile, at Southbury. George A Holmes, erstwhile Ku Klux Klansman currently engaged in at- feinutInr organization of a group to ha known as United Americans went forward with his program which will develop at a meeting at a0uthbury Community Hall tonight. MT. Holmes, whose Klan activltleS at Naugatuck some years pack wert made known by The Democrat, re- iterated today that this former af, filiation was o mistake and tnat hIs present plan is to fight un- American activities in SouthDury' Connecticut and the United States.
 From Washington, Congressman ]. Joseph Smith informed The Democrat that he had noted MT Holmes protest, as the latter re- marked yesterday, pointing 10 con Rressnar Smiths solicitation ot d. Edrar Hoover, chief of the Fed- eral Bureau of Investigatioh'
 Absence of Proof
 The Waterbury congressman however, is understood to nave re- ceiyed word from Mir. Hoover that absence of proof of anti-American propaganda by the German govern rnent in Southbury, precludes any immediate action by the "G" men. 8ut the matter, 1t is said, has been brought to the encouragement TOT investigation, to the secretary ot state and to the house committee on immigration and naturalization.
 Consensus of the states repre- sentatives at Washington seemed to point that under the Constitution and laws, in the absence or any overt act in violation of the statutes, Congress can take no action to pre- vent any group from using Q camp flor social and athletic purposes so. MT. Holmes has been informed.
 To Educate Children
 Thus, with Bund officials insist ing that like objections of com ninities in other states had been overcome when "the true purpose, (that of training our children m proper ways and fighting Commun- isrn) of the Bund was known, "tne southbury enterprise remained m status quo, 50 far as the bunc group Is concerned.
 The Holmes meeting tonight at .gouthbury occurs on the eve ot trial at 10 o'clock tomorrow of two Naw York residents, Bund members, who were selected from 30 men Of the organization for arrest last Sunday and charged with violation of the Sunday "blue law" barring work on Sunday. No one yet has admitted onus for these arrests, effected by Grand Juror Alric Nell snn and Constable John B. King, but this point is expected to oe- velop at the trial.
 Bund to be Represented
 Officials of the Bund said today that they will be represented at the "trial" and that appeal from the action may result from any adverse ruling on the Bund in the matter. tn the offing are two further South- bury meetings, one that of the yonine commission to allow consid- eration by the citizens of the by laws just completed, bylaws which Attorney Albert Ashton, Of the commission, remarked will place the Bund tract at Ketletown In a residential and farming zone.
 This classification bars military drill and recreational activities" and N seen as a legal barrier to evi- dencing of the "Hitler program" subject of the original protest of @ group at @ Southbury zoning meet Ing two weeks ago.
 Facts About Mr. Holmes
 Denial by MT. Holmes of long time utilization with the Ku Klux fSlan is borne out by comment of some of his former associates who reported that MT. Holmes, Q native of Peekskill, N. r., where he was a past commander of the Sons oi Union Veterans, came to Naugatuck in Dle after spending the years ot the war in the employ of the Win chester Repeating Arms Go, at New Haven.
 MT. Holmes was employed by the United States Rubber Co.,, as assist ant masetr mechanic and director ot safety from 1919 until December 3i. 1928, when he was "laid off" Ills record at the company t marked "good". It was during the latter period of his residence at NauQatuck that he became affili- ated with the Klan and solicited membership.
 This membership is said to have reached 76 at the time or the or Ranization's greatest recent activity and during the campaign of Gov Alfred E. Smith of New York foi the presidency of the United States Feeling was intense In NaugatucR and disorder attended gatherings oi the Klan at Bethany and other points, the burning of "fierJ crosses" the attempted persecution of certain racial and religious groups.
 Was Never Guilty
 The Southbury resident said to- day that he had never been guilty of the Klan activity which pressed persecution by night of the group' at which the organization pointed It's hidden weapons. He said h' withdrew from the Klan when h' found that 1t was Q commercial en- terprise and that graft was curren among the organizers.
 Editors Note: The Democrat, con- curing with the general proposition that any protest from Q recognized organization concerning the well' being of our country, state, com munIty, deserves fullest publicity ir the newspapers, prints, In full, the following letter and resolution from the New Haven Trades Council: