National Reports
LEWIS, WALTER K.
National Reports Atlanta: Joseph R. Fiszman. Boston: Courtney R. Sheldon. Chicago: Albert N. Votaw. Dallas: Bicknell Eubanks. Minneapolis: Sam Romer. New Orleans: Stephen Ryan. Richmond: Lawrence...
...Whether For America will reach a membership of 5 million, as predicted by Hamilton Fish, seems more than doubtful...
...We have to prepare a list and then start assorting them by states...
...These included a prominent wool-company executive, one of whose associates, ironically, is high in national Democratic circles...
...But it is clear that a new rallying ground has been created for America's ultra-Right...
...For America has not yet established open ties with Senator Joseph R. McCarthy (a fact reportedly responsible for McCarthyite John T. Flynn's quiet withdrawal from active participation in its work...
...Probably the most significant point about this program is that it says absolutely nothing about the menace of Soviet imperialism...
...James F. Spoerri, Chairman of the Chicago Bar Association's Committee on Corporate Law...
...It is quietly canvassing Jewish and Negro prospects, and has already landed a prominent Jewish businessman as well as Theodore K. Lawless, a Chicago physician and Negro community leader...
...For America is ready to pour its energies into a drive against domestic "Socialism and Communism," but its only response to expanding Communism abroad is to warn against "interventionism...
...McCarthy is believed to have spent several hours with Frank Hughes, Chicago Tribune writer and For America's public-relations sparkplug...
...while the Organizing Committee includes former Senator Burton K. Wheeler and former Congressman Hamilton Fish...
...In its incorporation papers, filed in Springfield last June 1, For America listed the following as Directors, in addition to Wood and Manion: Orville Taylor, former President of the Chicago Board of Education arid currently a member of the Illinois Toll Roads Commission...
...We'll have a larger staff soon, and we're opening New York and Washington offices...
...On a recent visit to For America's temporary headquarters, I noted a number of letters lying about which bore the signatures of influential American businessmen...
...General Robert E. Wood, who headed America First, is co-chairman (with Clarence E. Manion, former Dean of Notre Dame Law School...
...and Frank C. Rathje, President of the Chicago City Bank and Trust Company...
...Born in Colonel Robert R. McCormick's Tribune Tower, it boasts most of the big names of American isolationist super-nationalism...
...For America' Gains Momentum By Walter K. Lewis 'FOR AMERICA,' the new ultra-conservative, isolationist group formed in Chicago last May [see "'For America'—An ADA for the GOP Right," by Albert N. Votaw, The New Leader, June 14], is gradually expanding its operations with an eye fixed on the 1956 elections...
...San Francisco: Frank Mankiewicz...
...when it does, it will have several of the world's largest steel companies as neighbors...
...Richmond: Lawrence King...
...Nevertheless, there is no doubt about its friendly feelings toward the Senator...
...It is interesting to note that Gerald L. K. Smith has been quoted as endorsing For America, while avoiding open affiliation lest he "give them the stigma of anti-Semitism...
...The new organization summarized its goals in a statement released on June 5: "to give the millions of Americans who are dissatisfied with internationalism, interventionism, involvement in foreign wars, Socialism and Communism at home, and huge foreign spending with its attendant confiscatory taxes on individual earnings, education in the issues and a voice of protest...
...Senator from Illinois in 1936...
...However, Arthur Rubloff, a Chicago realtor who was named to the Executive Advisory Council on May 15 along with Lawless, resigned two days later...
...There is apparently no lack of financial backing, for the new group is to move into its own suite of offices on the 18th floor shortly...
...For America is a lineal descendant of the old America First Committee and its postwar successor, American Action...
...Louis: William Wyant Jr...
...Those claiming to be in the know say that, if the GOP does not send McCarthy into key states in this fall's election campaign, For America will sponsor a speaking tour for him...
...Both Spoerri and Taylor were formerly active in the Taft-for-President movement, and Taylor was Republican candidate for U.S...
...At present, For America is operating from Room 710 at 208 South LaSalle Street, in the heart of Chicago's financial district...
...On a recent visit to Chicago...
...For America is making a special effort to steer clear of racial and religious hatemongers in order to avoid the bigotry charges hurled at the America First Committee and American Action...
...Ever since the June 5 announcement," I was told, "there have been thousands of inquiries...
Vol. 37 • September 1954 • No. 36
