Evening star., 1944-06-27
bundists Plotted
Farmers Strike,
Witness Asserts
Was to Be First Step in
Nationwide Revolt,
Sedition Jury Is Told
BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.

BY CARTER BROOKE JONES.
A farmers strike in the area
around New York was to be the
spark spreading flames of revolt
which the German-American Bund
hoped to fan over the country, the
jury hearing the mass sedition case
in District Court was told today.
This testimony came from Roy
P. Arnold of Los Angeles and he
quoted Hans Diebe1, / of the 29
defendants, as authority.
Arnold quoted Diebel as saying
the farmers strike would be the
signal for the movement" they
had discussed often. Both were
members of the Los Angeles Bund
unit, the witness said.
The New York farmers. Arnold
said Diebel told him, would refuse
to ship their products, and that
would be the spark" of the revolt
did Diebel say what he would
do?" Chief Prosecutor o. John
Rogge asked.
HE said," the witness replied
that if the situation got too hot for
him personally, he would get him.
self five Jews before he was stopped
Conversation in 1896.
Diebel also said, according to Ar
mold, that the bundists had IN
structions from national headquar-
ters in New York to "go under
ground" in case this country broke
off diplomatic relations with Ger
many. This talk took place early
in 1886, Arnold recalled.
The witness quoted Diebel as dis
cussing plans to go to Germany to
raise money for a powerful propa-
ganda radio station, to be located
in Mexico. Diebel also spoke, the
witness said, of often receiving in
structions from officers OF German
ships.
HE said," Arnold testified, that
some of these instructions were so
ultrasecret that no written reports
were made on them"
Diebel has been identified by the
Government as proprietor of the
Aryan Bookstore in Los Angeles.
Arnold said he and Diebel worked
together as optical technicians in a
Los Angeles factory.
Illness Delays Trial.
The trial was delayed an hour to-
day by the absence of Edward James
Smythe, defendant, who was re-
ported i'll in District Jail. Smythe
then appeared. At the request of
his attorney, James J. Laughlin,
Chief Justice Edward C. Eicher said
he would have Smythe examined by
the prison physician at the midday
recess.
Shortly before adjournment yes
terday Arnold described how Diebel
sold" him on the bund, giving him
to- understand there would be q
radical change in the Government
and mentioning plans for q ''putscl. ~
Iss Arnold said he also knew the de-
fendant Herman Max Schwinn
whom the Government has identi-
fed as West Coast Bund leader
The witness told the jury he hae
known Diebel since about 1885
Joined Bund in 1899.
Diebel often said, Arnold added
that the Bund was patriotic Amer.
lean organization and nobody coule
belong who was not an American
citizen. Arnold said he joined tht
Bund early in 1899, and Diebel sale
that when changes which they ex.
pected came" he would be "very
proud of his membership card
He told me-" the witness added
they expected some sort of radica
change in the Government. HI
mentioned word I did not under.
stand at the time-putsch."
Just what did he say about it?'
Mr.. Rogge asked.
Looking for Strong Man."
"He said they expected something
would happen which would cause 8
national emergency to be declared
and the bund was looking for a
strong man to take over when that
happened"
Mentioned Two Defendants.
Arnold said Diebel mentioned two
defendants, Gerald Winrod, Wichita
(KansD evangelist and publicist, and
William Dudley Pelley, leader of the
Silver Shirts, as strong man pos
sibilities.
The witness said he did not at
tend bund meetings because they
were in German, which he did not
speak or understand, though he
dined frequently at the bund S
Deutcheshaus. At one of these din
ners he quoted Diebal as saying:
I'VE are anxious to cultivate the
Sympathy and following of the armed
forces and especially anxious to
cultivate the sympathy of law-en-
1orcement officers and the State
militia "