THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

The only Jewish publication in the State of Michigan
Devoted to the interests of the Jewish people

Vol. II. No. 1

Roman Statesmen to Plead
Jewish Cause

Italian Senators and Deputies Anxious
to See Jews Emancipated.

(Special Correspondence to Jewish
Chronicle.)
Rome.—The "Pro Causa Ebraika,"
one of the leading organizations tak-
ing up the fight for complete Jewish
emancipation in all countries, is in-
cesant in its activities. Realizing that
the more possibility of raising the
Jewish question at the new peace con-
ference depends largely upon the in-
terest aroused in influential circles, it
is trying to enlist the sympathies of
every representative individual in the
country.
With this end in view it recently
circulated an appeal to the greater.
number of Italian senators and dep-
uties defining its platform and invit-
ing their co-operation.
The replies we quote below are but
a few of the most important of which
the "Pro Causa Ebraika" is in receipt
and will suffice to demonstrate the
complete success which is crowning
the efforts of this organization.
Mayor of Rome Volunteers Aid.
Prince Prospero Colonna, the
mayor of our city and a member of
the senate, is by virtue of his connec-
tions no less„than his position and
diplomatic standing the most impor-
tant and influential person after the
king. In answer to the appeal of the
"Pro Causa Ebraika," he says:
"I am called upon to join the move-
ment for the emancipation of the Jews
who are subjected to much ill-treat-
ment due to the injustice of various
governments and to hate which they
have done nothing to deserve. Hav-
ing always believed in and insisted
upon the complete freedom of con-
science and faith, my support to this
movement can but be absolute and
hearty."
Count Mazza, one of Italy's leading
senators wrote: "I have for a long
time been a staunch supporter of the
principle which stands for the freedom
of conscience. Without such free-
dom civilization _cannot hope to ad-
vance. Very gladly indeed do I join
this movement which demands the
recognition of the equality of citizens
irrespective of the faith they may pro-
fess."
Senator Kuzzi of Pallanza, ad-
dresses the committee in these terms:
"No child of our glorious country—
the country which has always fought
for the principles of freedom—can tail
to condemn the inhuman persecution
to which your people are being sub-
jected in a number of countries." Sen-
ator De Novelis of Marinadi, Belve-
dere, writes: "I am impelled by my
feelings of freedom and justice to ad-
dress your • committee and tell you
how deeply I regret that there arc
still countries today, where the worst
possible treatment is meted out to
your brethren just because they are
Jews."
May Offend Russia and Roumania.
Senator Pietro Blasorna writes:
"One of the fundamental principles
of modern civilization, is the absolute
. freedom of religious profession. We
must, however, be very careful in the
manner in which we handle this point,
or perchance we may hurt our allied
friends, Russia or our Roumania part-
ners.".
Sentiments of a similar nature are
expressed by a number of other sena-
tors and deputies, among them Sena-

DETROIT, MICH., MARCH 2, 1917

Determine Election Methods at Jewish
Congress Sitting

$1.50 per Year

Single Copies10 Cents

Joint Distribution Commit-
tee to Resume Activities

State Department Will Not Interfere.

Adopt Report of Committee on Manner of
Choosing Delegates

Washington.—Information of the
utmost consequence to suffering
Jewry on the other side has just been.
(Special to The Jewish Chronicle)
given out. The joint distribution com-
The administrative committee of any congress district, the candidate mittee is no longer in the helpless
the executive committee for an Ameri- receiving the next highest vote shall position in which it was placed when
can Jewish Congress met on Sunday, be elected.
the state department broke off diplo-
The consideration of the question of
February 25th, at the offices of the
matic relations with Germany. Ful-
chairman, Mr. Nathan Straus, Aeolian special representation to be allotted
hall, and held two sessions, one in the to national organizations gave rise to ton Brylowsky, who looks after the
much heated discussion occasioned by local interests of the joint distribution
afternoon and one in the evening.
Colonel Harry Cutler, chairman of radical differences of views. The com- committee, was informed by Secretary
the administrative committee, presid- mittee, however, afterwards agreed on
of State Lansing, that the state de-
ed, and present were most of the mem- a unanimous plan of representation
partment would not further withhold
for
these
organizations.
The
list
of
bers residing in New York and a con-
organizations
recognized
•
and
the
its approval for the transmission of
siderable number of members from
out of the city. Both sessions were number of delegates apportioned to relief moneys to Germany, moneys
in the main devoted to a considera- them is attached herewith.
The following is • a list of national which while insufficient to adequately
tion of the report of the committee on
organizations
and number of dele- relieve the prevailing distress, are
methods of election to the congress,
urgently needed to redeem millions of
of which Dr. Isaac A. Hourwich is gates apportioned to them:
Six delegates — American Jewish our brethren from starvation.
chairman. After a thorough consid-
eration and a number of lengthy dis- .committee, Federation of American
When diplomatic relations with
cussions of the issues involved in the Zionists, Independent Order Bri'th
problem giving representation to all Abraham, National Workmen's Com- Germany were severed, the joint dis-
tribution committee, the only medium
elements and sections in Jewry, the mittee on Jewish Rights.
Three—Arbeiter Ring, Hebrew Shelt- through which American relief moneys
major portion of the report, compris-
ing its chief features, was adopted. ering and Immigrant Aid Society, In- reach the most unfortunate Jewish
A number of sections of the report, dependent Order Bnai Bri'th, Inde- victims of the European catastronhe,
however, referring to the representa- pendent Order Bri'th Sholom, Jewish addressed itself to the state depart-
tion to be given to the different cities National Workers' Alliance of Amer- ment trying to learn to what extent
of the country and to some states ica, Mizrachi of America, Order Bri'th the new developments would affect
were referred back to the committee Abraham, Order Sons of Zion, Union
its work. The reply of the depart-
on methods of election for further of American Hebrew Congregations, ment was an emphatic advice. against
elaboration. Other parts of the re- United Hebrew Trades.
any further connections with that
Two — Association of Orthodox country in any form whatsoever.
port dealing with the payment of fees
Rabbis, Central Conference of Ameri- This. of course nut the committee, in
and the taxation to be levied upon
participating organizations were left can Rabbis, Jewish Socialist Federa- a serious predicament; seeming to
for consideration at the next meeting tion of America, Independent West- suspend its onerations, indefinitely.
ern Star Order, Jewish Socialist La- Bearing in mind the urgency of the
of the administrative committee.
The next meeting of the adminis- bor Party Poale Zion, Progressive situation in Poland and other parts
tractive committee will be held on Order of the West.
would be no less affected by
One — American, Jewish Historical which
Sunday afternoon, March 11, at 2
an interruption of its work, the corn-
o'clock. The committee on methods Society, American Union of Rou- mittee set itself in communication
is to meet and to prepare its final manian Jews, Council of Jewish with the state department and by
recommendations on the matters re- Women, Council of Y. M. H. and Kin- pointing out the tremendous consid-
dred Associations, Eastern Council of erations involved, the department was
ferred back to it before that time.
The main portions of the report Reform Rabbis, Faculty of Dropsy brought to a full realization of the
College, Faculty of Hebrew Union facts and saw fit to modify its orig-
adopted provide for the participation
of every Jewish man and woman, College, Faculty of Jewish Theological inal edict.
twenty-one years of age. in the elec- Seminary, Faculty of Rabbinical Sem-
Neutral Power to Assist.
tions to the congress. Voting - will he inary, Federated Zionist Societies of
the
Middle
West,
Federation
of
Bess-
of
Jewish
done through the meetings
Moreover, the assistance which the
organizations and by mail, and every arabian Jews, Federation of Galician state department previously rendered
society, lodge, congregation, or any and Bukovinean Jews, Federation of in ensuring the trancmission of prop-
other organization consisting of in- Hungarian Jews, Federation of Jew, er instructions for distribution of re-
dividual members, will constitute an ish Farmers, Federation of Oriental lief moneys, will be obtained from an-
Tews, Federation of Roumanian Jews, other neutral power, the name of
election precinct. The United States
is to be divided into a number of con- Federation of Russian Polish Jews, which can not be disclosed at this
gress districts and each of these dis- Federation of South Russian Jews, stage. Negotiations with this Power
tricts is to be entitled to elect at least Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, are now fully under way through the
one representative. A general board Hadassah, Histadruth Ibrith, Inde- kind offices of the state department,
of elections will have the supervision pendent Order Bri'th Sholom of and just as soon as the diplomatic
of the elections, and in each of the Baltimore, Independent Order Free
• congress districts, this general hoard Sons of Israel, Independent Order resources of this neutral nation are,
thanks to the efforts of our govern-
will organize a district election board. Sons of Israel, Independent Work- ment, at the disposal of the joint dis-
Nominations for candidates may be men's Circle of America (Boston), tribution 'committee, the committee
made either through district conven- Intercollegiate Menorah Association, will be in a position. to carry forward
tions or by mail, if the holding of con- Intercollegiate Zionist Association, its.work as thoroughly and efficiently
ventions will be found to 1,) .e imprac- Jewish Publication Society of Amer- as it did prior to the crisis which has
ticable. Each election precinct must ica, Jewish Socialist Territorialist La- been forced upon our country.
give special written notice to its mem- bor Party of America. National Con-
While the acute state of distress on
bers of the meeting at which the elec- ference of Jewish Charities, Order
the
other side is but too well known,
Knights
of
Joseph,
United
Synagogue
tion of representatives will take place.
the
committee is just in receint of a
of
America,
Union
of
Orthodox
Jew-
Elections in all Jewish congress dis-
pressing
reauest, for further relief, in
tricts must take place on the same ish Congregations, Zeta Beta Tau
which
the
fatal condition of Jewish
Fraternity.
•
day. In case of vacancies occurring in
war sufferers - is emnhasized. The
committee, it is stated here. is ready
tors Chianpeli from Florence and Jewish Military Officer in Argentine to dispatch another five hundred thou-
sand ($500,000) dollars, but having
Guido, a learned • legislator who ex-
Distinguishes Himself in Military
completely appropriated its funds for
presses his hope that our desires in
Academy.
transmission abroad. the work of the
behalf of our people will be attained
Buenos Ayres.—At the head of a relief committees will have to be re-
"himhore" (very soon), the last word
of the senator being in Hebrew in the number of young men just graduat- newqd with greater vigor than ever.
original Hebrew letters.
ing from the government military The excuse for a, momentary halt on
the part of donors no longer exists
From these open avowals on the
Part of Italian leading public men it academy, is Benjamin Rotenbach, the since the state department is now in
is evident that whatever may be the soil of a prominent Jewish merchant. complete understanding with 'the joint
attitude of other powers at the de- The young Jewish militarists distin- distribution committee. and assures
cisive moment, Italy will do herself guished himself in every branch of his its aid to all relief bodies under all
work.
circumstances.,
credit.