The Wilmington morning star., 1943-12-24
Bx vEsTBRooK PEGLER

NEW YORK.-After l finished the living
document about the Harlem ghponnes de-
scribed in the Limpns-Leyson eulogy OF FL
orello LaGuardia, 1 did a little scurrylng
around to see what 7 could find out on my
own about this strange organization which IN
all important respects answers the descrlp-
ton of Benito Mussohni's early blackshirts.
And sure enough, an old-time policeman who
served long while in Harlem and held a
high official job in the department in 1894
when the ghibonnes were organized to win
an election for the Little Flower, remembered
them WE'LL although not by that NAME which
means in ngliSh SWaShbuckle, which means
swaggining braggart which, in turn, seems
neatly appropriate for the followers of F. H..
LaGuardia. He remembered them just as a
mob of muscle used for political purposes in
the traditional American strong-arm way with
special little qurks refinements of intmi-
dation and conspiracy inherited from long
line OF Sicilan and Neapoutan black-handerS.
! anticipate that this last remark will evoke
many passionate letters and kilograms accus-
ing me of trying to sully the memory of many
brave young Americans whose names have
vowel endingS but the fact rem aims that the
malta and the camorra were neither Scandi-
navian nor Hibernian but Italian and that
Mussolini, when he started to town in 1922,
just adopted their old, tradltional terroristic
methods. The ghibonnes were and are lust
somewhat American placNshirts and l call
your attention to the fact that Limpus and
Leyson in their biography of LaGuardia were
not trying to louise him up, as the saying
goes, but were sprnkling MIN over with new
moWn rose petals. There is a kiss in every
paragraph and LaGuardia. himself cooper
ated with them to the extent that they were
given access to his personal files 1t certainly
was one of the dumbest jobs l have ever
seen, however, for even while they are baWl-
ing from their high pitch about this great
and wise and freedom-loving friend of the
people they cross up themselves, and their
hero, by dressing him up In Mussolini's clothes
and placing him at the head of an oath-bound
society OF political terrorists attached to La
Guarola by a pledge of personal allegiance.
My friend, the cop. being Irish and the
ghlbonnes being, as Limpus and Leyson wrote,
Italian and secret fraternity known to very
lew New Workers, it Is understandable that
ne did not remember them BY that name
But another authority, WHO has been very
active IN Iammany politics in LaGuardia' S
district Tor long time. did knew them as
the ghlbonnes and says they are still doing
business but that now they are more inmed-
tely attached or beholden 10 LaGuardia's old
protege, law partner and friend, Vito Mar
cantonlo. the incumbent congressman, Who
IN every single issue from the CONSUMPTION
bill down to this hour has voted consistently
with the changing policies of the communist
front.
MY Tammany informant says the ghibonnes
make any old-style Irish political mob look
like little boys and tells me that their play
now is to enroll in sufficient numbers, accord
ing to orders, in the Republican, Democratic
and so-called American Labor parties so that
LaGuardia and Marcantonio can control in
dorsements by all three [ told you yesterday,
out mere think you may want to be reminded,
that IN their description of the ghibonnes,
Llmpus ana Leyson spoke OF them as 'ideal-
lsuc hero-Worshippers. led by the brilliant
Marcan1onlo They trace Marcantonio's de-
velopment and political rise under LaGuar
ola S patronage and write, in one sentimental
passage: Assuming an almost Maternal at.
titude, ne carefully supervised Marcantonio,s
legal training and worked him into the well.
oiled little political machine whirb was or,d
ually evolving in Harlem. Afterward he fo1nd
ed law flrm, admitting his proteqe to nant
nershfp and seven years late, he had "a a.
satisfaction OF seeing Marcantonio take t. ~
seat he had occupied in the hnnee 'iie
| Marcantonlo is now the he,a 49,, -. /.
| left, or communist wing of the so. o.11ad ~, e
party and LaGuardia plays Goth ends aa naoor
the middle And these little chi,s ~ afsalnst
ton and some things that ~, 80 ~. INA
the past about Dave Dubinskv w. NJ NGa. YOU In
who recently was licked for '1. ~ Na r. Levy.
Court by another friend Of ne supreme
some that l presently will 80 and
LaGuardia, Sidney Hillman. az. ~ you about
wholesale murderer. will build ~ q a. prominent
the so-called American Labor part, 80 70 Keep
if it does NOT ourn THIS rats 49, warm