•
Christian Fronter McWilliams Looks to 1960
Pie-War Professional Anti-Semite Fails
To Make Headway at Political Conventions
•
Joe McWilliams, former
Christian Fronter and one of
the nation's most rabid pre-war
professional anti-Semites, at-
tempted to leap • back into
prominence at the scene 'of the
Democratic National Conven-
tion, the Ant i-Defamation
League of Bnai Brith reveals.
On Aug. 12, Chicago licitels
were flooded with orange hand-
bills exhorting all to come and
hear McWilliams, "famed pa-
triot and thrilling orator," ex-
plain the "doctrine of race
fulfillment — the answer to
the white man's dilemma." Mc-
Williams made his appearance
as leader of the "Chicago Com-
mittee for Reception of Na-
tionalist Observers at ' t h e
DemocratiC National Conven-
tion," a group meant to serve
as a clearing house for ex-
tremist, nationalist, and bi-
goted points of . view in Chi-
cago.
Despite the handbills, despite
all attempts at organization
dating back many months, the
"Chicago Committee" failed
completely to make any im-
pression on the • Democratic
convention. McWilliams had ap-
parently planned on capitaliz-
ing on some major schism
within the Democratic Party—
as occurred in 1948 — but lost
his chance when none devel-
oped in 1956. -
Joe McWilliams retired from
the organized hate movement
in - the mid:1940's and settled
in Chicago where he worked
at various business operations.
Early in 1956, he started to
organize the "Chicago Commit-
tee" which included such sup-
porters as Lyr/ Clark Van
Hyning, head of the "We, the
Mothers, Mobilize for Ameri-
ca" and others: Members of
the committee planned
to
establish headquarters in a
downtown Chicago hotel for
convention delegates and -their
friends who could be influ-
enced by their extreme na-
tionalist and anti-Semitic liter-
ature and plans.
Throughout the month of
July, a number of extreme
right wing groups met in Chi-
cago organizing plans for par-.
ticipation in the "Chicago
Committee" campaign. McWil-
liams invited support from all
such groups and announced
that at least 5,000 guests would
attend the four-day sessions of
the "Chicago Committee."
The first major meeting of
the committee, on Aug. 12,
gathered only about 250 per-
sons, including well - known
anti-Semites of the Chicago
area. Lyrl Clark Van Hyning
introduced' McWilliams who, it
Lehman Won't
Seek Re-Election
Senator Herbert H. Lehman,
of New York, announced Tues-
day that he will not be a can-
didate for re-election.
One of the country's most
distinguished Dem ocr at ic
leaders, Senator Lehman's latest
triumph was the adoption of
the resolution he sponsored, to-
gether with 22 other Senators,
to 'repudiate discriminations
against Jews by Arab countries.
Among those who are be-
lieved to have the best chance
to- win the Senate seat to be
vacated in New York is N.Y.
Attorney General Jacob Javits,
who was the only Republican
elected on the New York state
ticket when Averell Harriman
was elected Governor.
had been announced, was to
make an historic speech that
would make "William Jennings
Bryan's 'Cross of Gold' speech
seem like kindergarten recita-
tion." -"mystery' national
celebrity" heralded for the
meeting failed to show up and
McWilliams' speech failed to
have the desired effect. The
following day's meeting brought
an audience of about 50; the
next day's meeting • was can-
celled. Those _ who did show
up there were urged to attend
a meeting of the "Independent
Elector Plan," held at another
hotel at the same time.
T h e Democratic National
Convention failed to serve as
a rallying ground for pur-
veyors of bigotry and hatred;
the Republican National Con-
vention offered them as little
opportunity. Joe McWilliams,
however, in his Aug. 12 speech,
refused to be daunted. He told
his audience not to be dis-
heartened for after all, he said,
"1956 is not .nearly a_s im-
portant as 1960."
STATE FAIR
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IN POLLEN - FREE NORTHERN MICHIGAN
ON M-22 ON GRAND TRAVERSE BAY
22 Miles north of TRAVERSE CITY ,
Repudiates Lilienthal
Puerto Rican Helps Israel
By MILTON FRIEDMAN
(Copyright, 1956, JTA, Inc.)
-C HIC AGO-- A vigorous
fighter for Israel emerged at
the - Democratic National Con-
vention in the person of Jose
A. Benitez, chairman of the
Democratic State Committee of
Puerto Rico.
The Platform Committee saw
the s u r p r i sing spectacle of
Benitez, a Catholic, supporting
Israel in argument . against the
anti-Israel propagandist Alfred
M. Lilienthal, of Jewish origin.
Benitez was a Puerto Rican
delegate to the convention.
Lilienthal, who has identified
himself with Republican right-
wing thinking came to testify
before the platform committee
against Israel. The feeling_of the'
committee was that Lilienthal
intruded with provocative in-
tent to agitate against the Jew-
ish State.
Benitez listened in alarm to
Lilienthal's testimony. The ex-
tremism shocked him. When
Lilienthal finished, Benitez
gained recognition of the
chairman. Speaking in a voice
reverberating with emotion,
Benitez expressed the admi-
ration of the Puerto Rican
people for Israel and Zionism.
He emphasized that Puerto
Rican delegates would vote
against any anti-Israel plank
urged by Lilienthal.
An idealist whose admira-
tion of Israel is seemingly un-
bounded,' Benitez said later
that he plans to visit Israel
next year "unless the Arabs
attack and I have to go sooner
.--as a volunteer."
Benitez sees Puerto Rico, an
underdeveloped land striving to-
ward progress, as similar to
Israel. To him, the Zionist con-
cept is meaningful. He feels,
too, that Jewish Puerto Ricans
have contributed much to the
island.
Years ago, a Chicago friend,
knowing of the affinity felt by
Benitez for Israel, invited him
to speak at an Israel Bond din-
ner in Chicago. Not only did he
speak, but he pledged $50,000
in Bond purchases by Puerto
Rico. He returned to San Juan,
helped organize the first Israel
Bond dinner there, and raised
about -$60,000. James Grover
MacDonald, first U.S. Ambas-
sador to Israel, • flew to Puerto
Rico , to speak. Benitez saw five
friends, selling each a $5,000
b o n d. Subsequently, Benitez
visited the Virgin Islands to ad-
vance bond sales there.
Today Benitez is an "Hon-
orary Citizen" of Israel. • This
distinction was conferred upon
him by Israel diplomats. He
was invited to Israel by Moshe
• Tov, Israel specialist on Latin
American affairs. Israel Min-
ister Reuven Shiloah Pinchas
Lavon, and others have noted
his efforts.
Benitez is looking forward to
Visiting Israel, despite his many
activities in Puerto Rico. Apart
from his chairmanship of the
Democratic Party, he conducts
a radio and television program
in Puerto Rico. He also is an
unofficial "A m b a s sador" be-
tween Puerto Rico and Puerto
Ricans living in New York. He
maintains an of f ice in New
York.
To him Zionism is consistent
with good Americanism because
he knows that the love of Puerto
Ricans for their island in no
way impairs their patriotism as
Americans. Benitez served in
World.War Two as a Staff Ser-
geant in the U.S. Army. He
loathes totalitarianism. He ap-
preciates the aid • rendered by
many Jews to a fellow minor-
ity that suffers varying meas-
ures of discrimination in the
United States. Of Lilienthal,
the individual of Jewish birth
who works against the Jewish
State, Benitez has little to say.
He merely shakes his headi-
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