Chicago, Apr. 3.
IR. Harold Ickes, Secretary of Interior, warned the nation tonight In a speech broadcast throughout the country that the real menace to free American institutions was Fascism which he characterized as "arrogant, devoid of conscience and knowing no mercy to man, woman or child."
Mr. Ickes said he rejected claims that Communism constituted a threat to American institutions, indicating he believed Communism had made slight headway in the United States, He severely criticized "those who ery in tones of simulated anguish that at this moment a dictatorship exists in the United State:
"rhe simple and conclusive answer to false and Insincere clamour that 2 dictatorship exists—in the United States at present," Mr, Tekes. said, "is the fact that if the President were the dictator certain, people and Interests say he is, he would quickly and eMeiently: silence such clamour:
Speaking at a banquet here eelebrating the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the "Jewish Daily Courier," Mr, Tekes delivered one of the most. outspoken condemnations of. Fascism. ever uttered by un "Let us make no mistake about totalitarianism being the real threat to our natitutions," he said. "More and more people are coming, to recognize the danger of this ruthless political monster which hunts by day And prowls by night... Totalitarian= {sm is insidiously boring to-day within the temple of our liberties Tt rides the radio waves, spews from the presses, soars in the air on bomb-Ing planes' and slinks under the ea submarines. It erosses the surf: of the earth to a chorus of clanking Root of Dictatorships Mr. Ickes recalled that Fascism sprang from strong economic groups which were trying to protect their property.
"We have only to look abroad," hho said, "to discover that while in theory Fascism is controlled cap-Matis, before Yang there is always someone ready and able to seize control of controlled capitalism.
Mr. Tekes said that Fascism was a tworeylindered engine operating on the illusion of greater economic security and on racial or religious hate or hate of a minority.
The Secretary said that if Fascism wore established in America, "it would not only create" Jewish devil? but its bloody vengeance and assorted variety of other devils' which it would fashion out different nationalities and religious Broups which have come to our shores to seek peace and freedom."
Mr. Tekes urged Jews to do their utmost to "keep clear the sources of democratic power in America." Attacking German and Ballan efforts to control Germans and allan. in the United States through various Fascist organizations, Mr. Tekes said a true citizen of the United States could not be "subject to the commands of an alien government.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.