Evening star., 1941-10-12

which in Washington leads the
fight against President Roosevelt's
foreign policies, Is on the boom
financially. 1t moved yesterday from
headquarters in an old red brick
residence at 126 c street NE. to an
office costing approximately four
times as much in monthly rental.
New headquarters are at 1712
Connecticut avenue NV, where it
was announced that each day some
prominent person will be assigned
as hostess" or "host" to welcome
new members. A staff of six work
erS, headed by Miss Isabel French,
manager, will be on full-time duty
to conduct the office as if it were
IAN election campaign headquar-
terS."
While the migration was still in
progress, Miss French issued a COM
plant to reporters:
Our real problem here is fear
of the administration" she said.
For this reason the isolationist
committee cannot reveal to news
papers who its members are or how
much they contribute, she declared.
Government job holders might be
imperiled, she declared, If publicity
were given.
Open House Tuesday.
ut would be awfully interesting
to know how close to the admins
tration some of our members are
awfully interesting" she said.
At $3.50 pm. Tuesday an open
house will be held at the new head
quarters. Invited are approximately
80 Senators who are classified as
non- n-interventionist, and their wives.
Among those expected to attend are
William R. Castle, former Under
secretary of State. and Mrs. Alice
Roosevelt Longworth, Miss French
said.
BY then the items which were
being moved yesterday will have
been properly arranged-desks, type
writer's, flags, banners, posters and
supplies of franked Congressional
envelopes.
This local chapter of America
First receives no financial support
from the national organization IN
Chicago. headed by Gen. Robert E.
Wood. former quartermaster gen.
eral of the Army. nor do any local
members pay dues, Miss French
said.
Supported by Contributions.
"We are supported by contribu-
tions, and sometimes our bank bal
ance is awfully low she reported.
She declined to say whether COM
mittee finances are now at their
peak. The lease on the new Office
is on a month-to-month basis.
People are always asking how we
are financed" commented Miss
French, "as if we were paid by the
German government. AS a matter
of fact, our books are open to the
authorities, if they want to examine
them"
Mrs. Bennett Champ Clark, acting
chairman of the committee and wife
of the Missouri Senator, telephoned
J. Edgar Hoover and offered to let
him send a Federal Bureau of In
vestigation man to inspect America
First records, Miss French said.
Nothing ever came of it, she added.
The Office manager said the most
exciting event since the old Office
was set up May 81 occurred when
United States marShals descended
on the place last month. They seized
10 mail bags wanted by the grand
jury investigating activities of al
legged Nazi agents.
The bags, containing franked con-
gressional envelopes and speeches,
had been sent from the office of
Prescott bennett, secretary of Make
Europe Pay War Debts Committee,
a few hours after he was sum-
moned before the grand jury, the
Justice Department reported. The
America First Committee accepted
the bags, but Mrs. Clark later told
reporters her staff had not known
who had sent them.
Broadcast Parties Held.
In their old quarters local mem
bers arranged frequent broadcast
parties, gathering to hear speeches
in all parts of the country by Charles
A. Lindbergh and other non-inter-
ventionist leaders. From this Office,
also, organization was completed for
chapters in Montgomery County,
Md, and Arlington County, Va.
The advantage of the old location
was that it was near Capitol Hill,
with every opportunity for 'liaison
work" with Senators and Repre-
sentatives, according to Miss French.
But it was too small and uncomfort-
able for local members, most of
whom had to travel from homes in
the Northwest section, she said.
America First will continue to hold
weekly discussions at the Friends
Meeting House, Pill Florida avenue
NV. On October 25 it will inau-