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Eleanor Roosevelt — Part 9
Page 23
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UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES IN CALIFORNIA
response to a call by one Viola Tima, a conference was organized at New
Wark lnivarcite TH mh ion cet ne Go. BTL WL Os
eis VHITCSy, VHGSINE LUO OGuare, NEW FOFE ULIty.
The Communists contended that Viola Tima was tainted with Nasi
or Fascist exmpathies and that her idea in mobilizing American youth
into the America Youth Congress was ‘‘inspired’’ by observing youth
organizations in Italy and Germany. In any event, the gathering in New
York in 1934 included representatives from national youth organizations,
reaching all the way from the Boy Scouts to the Young Communist
The Communists took over immediately. Earl Browder, in his book
‘‘Communism,’’ describes the capture of the American Youth Congress,
and, incidentally accuses Eleanor Roosevelt, members of the Roosevelt
Cabinet, and state governors, along with Viola Ima, of having Fascist
tendencies. Browder said :
“‘A unique achievement of the youth united front movement
was the building of an anti-fascist bloc inside the American Youth
Congress, which was called together by a certain young woman
named Viola Ilma with the backing of Mrs. Roosevelt, Anne Morgan,
a half-dozen State Governors, members of the Roosevelt Cabinet. etc.,
with the purpose of adopting a program for American youth which
was distinctly fascist in its tendencies.’’
Like many important Communist front organizations, the American
Youth Congress was so cleverly handled that many prominent persons of
| non-Communist tendencies were drawn into its circle of supporters.
With the help of the Socielists, the Communists were successful in
ousting Viola I!ma from the leadership of the American Youth Congress,
and installed Waldo McNutt as chairman, McNutt beld this position for
about « year, when he became the national organizer of the American
League Against War and Fascism, another important Communist front
organization. Waldo McNutt's father, Ernest F. McNutt, was a member
of the Kansas State Committee of the Communist Party and a repre-
sentative from Kansas on the national executive board of the Workers’
z = wh
tee. eae eae MO
Alliance of America, the Communist front for unemployed.
Waldo McNutt’s wife, Rose Troiano, was a member of the adminis-
trative committee of the American Youth Congress.
William W. Hinckley was executive secretary of the American
Youth Congress for e few months in the latter part of 1935 and became
chairman‘of thé organization in January of 1936. He continued to serve
in this position until] July, 1939. The Dies Committee reported that
the Communist Party arranged and paid for Hinckler's trans-atlantic
passare to Europe in 1936, where he was in attendance at the Frat World
Youth Congress. At this time Hinckley was chairman of the American
Youth Congress.
Champion is a publication of the Communist Party and bears the
union printer's label No. 209, Prompt Press. Edward Strong, Abbott
Simon and Rose Terlin, leaders of the American Youth Congress, were
members of the staff of the Champion.
Edward Strong was a member of the administrative committee of the
American Youth Congress, representing the National Negro Congress.
He was also the chairman of the Southern Negro Youth Congress. He
was member of the National Committce of The American League for
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