Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-08-27
100000 in U. 5.
Lean Toward 'Isms,'
Dies Declares
Treason, Not Invasion,
Is Greatest Danger,
He Says in New York

By tie Associated Press.
NEW YORK, Aug. 27.-Chairman
Dies of the House Committee In
vestigating Un-American Activities
said yesterday there were 100000
sympathizers of Communist, Fascist
and Nazi organizations in this
country.
Here to inquire into subversive
groups, particularly German" Mr.
Dies said his committee was in
unanimous agreement on the figure
He quoted Earl Browder, Commu-
mist party presidential candidate, as
estimating that. nearly 100000
Americans were sympathetic to the
party program.
Among the other 100000 "totali-
tartan sympathizers," Mr.. Dies list
ed 100000 German-American bunds-
men in New York State alone and
100000 attendants at Fascist func-
tons, as well as "gullible Ameri-
cans"
An audit of the Communist party
books, Mr.. Dies said, disclosed that
the party's annual income was So
900, 900 a year and that 5000 con-
tributors made annual gifts of from
$40 to $4,000.
Treason Danger Cited.
"The fifth column in the United
States is better organized and
financed than in any country over
run by Hitler" he told the joint
annual convention of the National
Association of Credit jewelers. and
the American National Retail Jewel
ers' Association.
"As a matter of national defense,
he added, our leaders can not ig-
more the threats of Communism,
Fascism and Nazi-ism which are
fundamentally alike in doctrine.
I'VE are not in danger of invasion
by foreign armies. No power or
group of powers can invade us as
long as we stand prepared and
united to the principles of Ameri-
canism. The enemy within consti-
tutes the greatest danger to democ-
racy, and treason from within,
rather than invasion from without,
Is our greatest menace"
He said strong minorities of Ger
mans and Italians who had obtained
American citizenship were opposed
to the principles of Americanism
and added that "if I had my way
would pass a law revoking their
citizenship and have them de-
ported"
Luise Rainier Interviewed.
During the day Mr.. Dies began
a series Of private hearings. Among
those he interviewed was Luise
Rainier. film star.
Mr.. Dies said in an interview later
that he might make public the
names OF "a great many" persons
in Government service in Washing
ton who he said allowed their names
to be used by un-American organi-
cations or gave them funds. Sew
eral Congress members. he said,
were included in the list.
ct don't charge them with being
traitors or being Intentionally dis
loyal to the United States, but they
have lent themselves to Trojan horse
organizations" Mr.. Dies said.
He said the committee had I'M
earthed in New York "a great guam.
tity" of German propaganda de-
signed to create racial, religious and
political strife and appealing to
American businessmen to take a
conciliatory attitude toward Ger
many in the expectation that she
would win the war.
He said the committee had in
uuired into activities of the Federal
Writer'S Project in collecting ma
terial for a book entitled Under
ground New York" which contained
photographs and maps of vital in
dustries in New York
Mr.. Dies charged the material was
made available to members of the
Communist party by Communists
on the project. The committee, he
said, had signatures of ia of the
writer's preparing the book that they
were members of the Communist
party.
Mr.. Dies reiterated that he would
write President Roosevelt and Wen
dell L. Willkie and ask for nom
partisan support for bill to outlaw
Communists, Nazis and Fascists as