Long the home of secret anti-Black, anti-labor, and nativist societies like the Klan, the 1920s saw the rise of Italian fascism and the reactionary American Legion as well.

‘The Fascisti in America’ by I. Amter from International Press Correspondence. Vol. 3 No. 43. June 14, 1924.

America is the classic country of secret societies. There are innumerable lodges and orders, benevolent and otherwise, embracing all classes of the population. There are lodges, such as the Masons and Knights of Pythias, to which the bourgeoisie belongs, with a slight admixture of the aristocrats of labor. Others are exclusively of a middle class character, being composed chiefly of manufacturers and merchants; still others have a petty-bourgeois character.

These lodges, as secret organizations, have the effect of corrupting the upper strata of the workers who belong to them. Thus the railway men being brought into close contact with the “upper crust of society” in these organizations, completely lose their class point of view.

Shortly after the end of the War, the Ku Klux Klan, an organization established after the Civil War for the protection of the Whites against the Blacks, was revived. It adopted a program of hostility to Catholics, Jews and Negroes. Within a short period of two years it procured a membership of nearly 2,000,000 made up of bourgeois persons of all stations, including judges, politicians, officers of the law, business men, and clergymen. Although a secret organization and using the fantastic robe and mask that have distinguished it, it entered politics, electing public officials in the South, in Oregon and the Middle West. It was formed in the South but quickly spread to all parts of the country, and today is to be found in Massachusetts, Texas, Kansas as well as on the western coast.

The Ku Klux Klan has stirred up great antagonism throughout the country. It has been the most militant organization of its kind in the country and has not hesitated to use the most drastic methods to carry out its will. Whipping, tarring and feathering, deportation and murder are its favorite methods. Its tentacles reached so far that an investigation was demanded in the United States Congress. But this inquiry was never made, since it was found that U.S. Senators, Representatives, judges and high officials were among its members. Attorney General Daugherty promised to proceed against it, but did not do so, stating that it had agreed to disband. Instead, it engaged more extensively in politics, and has maintained its secret methods.

The Klan is passing through a transformation. A few months ago, it was suggested by Wm. J. Burns, head of the Department of Justice, that the Klan direct its activities against the radicals. This suggestion has been adopted; hence we know of an inner ring in the Ku Klux Klan organizing its forces particularly against the Communists. Although a secret organization practising violence, the Government has taken no steps to dissolve it. On the contrary, owing to its composition, it enjoys the support of the Government and is becoming an issue in many States.

The latest phase of Fascism has also taken a hold in America. This is Italian fascism, which is branching out into every country where Italians are to be found and is helping to form similar societies elsewhere. It is to be found in Germany, Hungary, Austria, Spain and is gaining power in Mexico.

Although the organization was formed in America only about two months ago, more than 70 Italian societies have joined. There are Fascist organizations in more than 200 cities in the United States. “No member of a Socialist, Communist or Syndicalist body is eligible for membership in the Fascisti of North America”, stated the director of the New York branch, Prof. Bigongiari, who, in addition, is head of the Italian section of the department of romance languages at Columbia University. Under the leadership of Guido Podreca, a renegade socialist, formerly a deputy in the Italian Chamber, meetings of uniformed members have already taken place. Well-known politicians have formed “Defense Clubs” based on the Italian model and are employing the same demagogic methods that have distinguished Mussolini. They are making “social” demands and insist upon improving the position of the workers.

Shouting the battle cry of “Eya, Eya, Alala”, and giving the Roman salute, the Fascisti pledge themselves to make war on Bolshevism. They are called upon to enter the labor movement and perform the same work that the Fascisti in Italy have done. This means to destroy the labor movement, and to make labor organizations playthings of the employers.

As a matter of course, the Fascisti are patriotic and are fighting against the “enemies not only of the American Government but of mankind generally”. Prince Caetani, the Italian ambassador at Washington, has cautioned the Fascisti to be “non-political” and stated that “only the best Italian elements must be included and they must conform to the laws and spirit of the countries in which they are located”. Hence they have the blessing of the bloody, murderous Italian government.

Although the Fascisti admit that they wish to transplant to America the methods of Mussolini and intend to collect funds for the aid of the brutal Mussolini Government, the organization has not been interfered with by the American Government. And why should it be? The organization has the full approval of Gary, head of the U.S. Steel Corporation. “If Premier Mussolini lives up to and carries into effect his declaration of rebuilding the nation, nobody will have reason to complain of his having assumed power. If he continues his campaign, he will be of benefit to the whole people. The entire world needs strong, honest men in the movement for preservation, not for the destruction of the world. We Americans can learn something from the movement which has taken place in Italy.” Mrs. Gary officially joined the Fascist party while in Rome, being formally presented with the symbol of the Fascist organization.

What is it that Gary wants Americans to learn from the Fascist movement in Italy? They must learn how to destroy labor offices, labor temples and lyceums and labor presses, how to disrupt labor unions, clubs and Communist locals, and how to beat up and murder Communists and militant labor unionists. That is the function of Mussolini and his savage Fascisti, that is the function of his frank military dictatorship of the capitalist class, which Gary would transplant to America. America is adapted to such a dictatorship. As a movement that originates in the bourgeoisie and then forces its roots into the working class, the Fascisti of North America are adding the last link to the counter-revolutionary movement in the United States.

Already they have begun their work. Although Italian in origin, branches are forming among other nationalities so that the Fascisti will soon feel quite at home in America. They have already begun their attacks. Meetings of workers have been broken up and the workers attacked. This the Fascisti have done with police protection.

Under the leadership of the Workers’ Party, a movement against the Fascisti has already begun in the United States. 150,000 organized Italian workers have formed an Anti-Fascisti Alliance, which is determined to meet the black-shirts on their own ground. The foreign-born workers, speaking all languages, are to be lined up in a powerful organization to meet the combined attack of the anti-labor organizations including the Fascisti. The contest has begun with the Dictatorship of the Proletariat as the aim of the workers, against the military dictatorship of the capitalist class, the last crumbling form of which is Fascism. The workers of all countries must unite internationally to fight against Fascism, just as the capitalists and their flunkeys, even in the working class, are united in promulgating Fascism. The very terror of Fascism will unite the workers.

International Press Correspondence, widely known as”Inprecorr” was published by the Executive Committee of the Communist International (ECCI) regularly in German and English, occasionally in many other languages, beginning in 1921 and lasting in English until 1938. Inprecorr’s role was to supply translated articles to the English-speaking press of the International from the Comintern’s different sections, as well as news and statements from the ECCI. Many ‘Daily Worker’ and ‘Communist’ articles originated in Inprecorr, and it also published articles by American comrades for use in other countries. It was published at least weekly, and often thrice weekly. Inprecorr is an invaluable English-language source on the history of the Communist International and its sections.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/international/comintern/inprecor/1923/v03n43[25]-jun-14-Inprecor-loc.pdf