.`6
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
6
even discourtesy. When we read the other day in one of the English
dailies in connection with the Schiff case that "Mr. Schiff has quit Jew-
Issued Every Friday by the Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company.
ish politics," we were unable to understand the term. Now we under-
General Manager stand it. By "Jewish politics" is meant Jewish public affairs. The latter
-
ANTON KAUFMAN
have become Jewish politics because they are characterized by the same
lack of moderation, the same display of temper, the same indulgence in
Michigan's Only Jewish Publication.
personal insult, which have so long been the earmarks of American poli-
Editor tics. And there is this difference. While American politics are steadily
SAMUEL J. RHODES,
$1.50 per year getting better and cleaner, "Jewish politics" are steadily getting more
Subscription in Advance
polluted and worse.
Is it not about time for a general clean-up?
Offices 314 Peter Smith Bldg.
THE JEWISH CHRONICLE
Phone Cherry 3381
The Jewish Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of inter-
est to the Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorse-
ment of views expressed by the writers.
All correspondence and society notes to insure publication must
be sent in so as to reach this office Tuesday morning of each week.
—
187st Office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of
Entered u second-class matter March 3, 1916, at the Po
9
Mrch
a 3 .
FRIDAY, JULY 28, 1916.
The Conference of National Jewish
Organizations
•
If, as a result of the historic meeting that took place at Hotel Astor
on Sunday, July 16, there shall be brought about united action by the
various parties in American Jewry who are interested in securing for the
Jews of the world full and equal rights at the conclusion of the war, the
gathering will rank with the most important assemblies in Jewish history.
At this writing it seems likely that such happy condition may result.
While during the course of the debate participated in by men of such
eminence as Justice Brandeis, Louis Marshall and Judges Mack and
Sulzberger, agreement on essential and fundamental points at issue
seemed fairly out of the range of possibility—the sponsors of the Jewish
Congress and the proponents of the Conference idea being equally unwill-
ing to yield their positions—Committees later appointed by both the Con-
gress Organization and the Conference Organization Socities had reached
an agreement on all points involved in the controversy and will submit
identical reports to their parent organizations.
What united action will mean to world Jewry in this important crisis
can scarcely be over-stated. The unfortunate divisions that have arisen
among the Jews of America in these last years, and that have become
more sharply defined by the issues of the war, have been less iniquitous
in the immediate influences that they have exerted upon us, than in their
ultimate effects upon the position of the Jews in the war-ridden countries
• of Europe. The moral influence of a united American Israel upon those
who have in their hands the shaping of governmental policies in dealing
with the Jews of various lands is tremendous. Except for his brethren
in America, there is none at this time to speak for the Jew in Russia,
in Poland, in Roumania. Let them be divided into parties and factions
and let the word go forth that a divided opinion is setting Jew against
Jew even here, and the last chance that the oppressed Jew of other lands
will be given even a fair modicum of consideration is likely to be lost.
It is therefore to be sincerely hoped that the two parties will get
together. While some of us hold that it were better for no Congress to
be held until after the conclusion of the war and while many are con-
vinced that when such a Congress is held that no matters shall be dis-
cussed save those having to do with the securing of equal political, re-
ligious and economic rights to the Jews of the world, it is likely that these
points can be amicably adjusted if only there is agreement on funda-
mental issues. For the promise of such agreement we are grateful.
May the promise be speedily fulfilled.
Is the Church to Blame?
A Chicago Judge of the Court of Domestic Relations in render-
ing a decision in a divorce case last week, ascribes the growing nuni-
bee of cases brought before his court to the failure of parents to attend
church services, thus setting to their children a proper example and
gaining for themselves the inspiration to right living which the
church offers.
The opinion of Judge Rooney is worthy of more than passing
notice. Statistics prove that by far the vast majority of cases of
domestic infelicity arise among persons without church affiliation.
This is not to be wondered at. Religion in all its forms lays stress
upon the sanctity of the home and emphasizes domestic fidelity and
filial piety as among the very highest of virtues. Indeed, the church
and the home are co-operating forces in the maintenance of social
idealism. One takes its strength from the otfier and it is no exag-
geration to say that the safety of the home may be measured by t:.e
spiritual influence of the church in a given time.
However, just because there is an apparent deterioration in the
moral standards of a period, as evidenced in a growing quota of
divorces, of unhappy marriages, of race suicide—so-called,--of broken
engagements and similar phenomena, it must not be inferred that the
church is utterly ineffective and that it gives inadequate returns in
terms of life uplifted for all the energy and money that is given to its
support. The fact is, that in these days 'church and synagog are fight-
ing against tremendous odds. The people of our day are so enthralled
by the prevailing materialism, that however eloquent and forceful the
appeal of the church, it falls all too frequently upon dull ears. And
so the church is called inefficient. But the charge is unjust. • By the
same token the school, the stage, literature, art, music would all be
open to a similar charge of failure, for due to the lust for things ma-
terial, which is unfortunately characteristic of these times, all agencies
of the higher idealism seem to be making their appeal to dull and un-
hearing ears. The church is in this regard in no worse plight than
all the other agencies that make for human betterment and that seek
to lift men out of the mire and muck of a slavish materialism.
Indeed there is room to wonder if conditions might not be in-
finitely worse than they are, if the church were not essentially an
efficient social force. That, after all, the majority of men and women
live their lives cleanly and decently ; that most homes are happy and
that only the fewest parents and children are unmindful of the
sacredness and the mutuality of their obligations, should give courage
to those who look to the church and synagog as store-houses of
spiritual energy and as the inspiration to right living and high
thinking.
The Jew in Medicine
An
anonymous writer in a recent number of the America's Hebrew
makes the claim that while historically the Jew has always occupied
a foremost place in the medical profession, in this country he has been
denied the opportunity to advancement which is offered by large hos-
pital and faculty positions to men of real ability. The writer goes on
Jewish Politics
to say, "I could conceive a Jew a member of a medical faculty in New
Several weeks ago Jacob Schiff announced his retirement from the York as easily as I could conceive him to be a Presbyterian elder. -
field of Jewish public affairs. Several days ago Justice Louis D. Bran - He even holds that good work actually accomplished by a Jew in
deis, according to press reports, resigned from membership in the Con- the medical profession fails to receive a fair need of recognition.
gress Organization Committee. Mr. Schiff's action was caused directly Further he says : "A Jewish interne in a non-Jewish hospital 'has to
by the indignities and insults to which he was subjected at the hands of pay more attention to his behavior and to petty persecution on the
some of the Yiddish dailies of New York. Justice Brandeis explains part of his colleagues than to scientific investigations."
All of this sounds to us like the words of one who has tried and
that his resignation is due to the stress of his judicial duties. However,
him
by
failed
to break into the ranks of the medical elite. Certainly conditions
.
following as closely as it does the immoderate words spoken of
Dr. J. L. Magnes at the New York Conference, and the stinging insult in this part of the country do not bear out the contentions of the
administered him by Judge Mayer Sulzberger, when following a speech writer. Not only is it a fact that Jewish physicians here stand well
of the Justice, he left the room, declaring that he "didn't come to listen to at the head of their profession, but they have standing in the faculties
any fancy speeches," we should not be surprised if there were another, of our universities and on the staffs of our hospitals. One need think
only of such men as Dr. Wile of Ann Arbor, or Drs. Bailin, Freund.
more deep-seated cause for Justice Brandeis' action.
These events emphasize the fact that there has lately crept into the Aaron, Amberg or Levy of Detroit, to bear out our contention. We
field of Jewish affairs a tendency, which must be viewed with alarm by believe that the New York physician has made an incorrect diagnosis
all right thinking Jews—a tendency marked by intolerance, disrespect, of the case.
kisinah„