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Into national headquarters, after the Lindbergh speech, poured a flood of mail, which America Firsters broke down into the "for" and the "against." According to their tally, 93.3% of the letters were in Lindbergh's defense, usually taking the line that a great patriot was being maligned and attacked by interests with ulterior motives. Typical: "We know that the heart of this boy is Pure Gold. We know that in speaking to the American People he gives of his best." One Midwest chapter reported that it had lost three members, gained 60. Other chapters reported similar results.
Something was shooting up. But what? It was not the original, homely bean plant which the General had nurtured. For that reason there was at the same time apparently a trend among some of the Committee's supporters to drop out quietly from the movement. Lessing Rosenwald had already resigned. Whether America First would gain or lose in strength remained to be seen. Last week FORTUNE'S survey reported a 2.3% decrease in national sentiment for bucking Hitler at all costs.
This week, as Lindbergh got ready to speak in Fort Wayne, Ind., the question in most minds was whether he would retract or repeat his Des Moines attack. Best guess was that he would let it lie. Says Lindbergh: "I never compromise."
It was doubtful whether the General realized what had happened as he surveyed his America First garden last week. While he and his advisers had been busily cultivating the young bean shoots of isolationism, the weeds had got out of hand, and threatened to choke the garden—Jew-haters, Roosevelt-haters, England-haters, Coughlinites, politicians, demagogues. The General's followers had run away with their leader. The General's firm, meaty, businesslike points (an impractical partnership . . . a squandering of wealth . . . Hitler will die some day) were still as respectably moot as ever. But the General's beans were being rapidly overshadowed by the rank weeds.