THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

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

DETROIT, MICH., JUNE 29, 1917

Vol. H. No.18

$1.50 per Year

Single Copies10 Cents

Zionist Convention at Baltimore Decides Not to Force
"Back to Palestine" Issue at Jewish Congress

In Tumultuous Session Resolution to Keep
"Peace Agreement" With Anti-Zionists
Carried by Large Majority.

Leading Figures at the Convention

DR. HENRY FRIEDENWALD RE-ELECTED PRESIDENT

Over $500,000 Pledged at Opening Session to $1,000,000
Zionist Fund--Bitter Factional Fight Between
"Administrationists" and "Opposition-
ists" Won by Former.

APPEAL TO ALL JEWS TO JOIN MOVEMENT

HE twentieth annual conven-
t;on of the Federation of Am-
erican Zionists began in Bal-
timore on Sunday, June 24, with
an ;tttendance of over 1,000 delegates.
The prediction that it would be the
most important gathering of Zionists
ever held in America was not far-
fetched. Mayor Preston of Baltimore,
in welcoming the convention at its
opening session, declared: "Zionism is
another movement toward world-wide
democracy." The important matters
to be disposed of by the convention
included the framing of an appeal to
the United States government to ex-
tend cognition to Palestine as an au-
tonomous home for the Jewish peo-
ple; the raising of funds to organize
and equip an industrial army, which
\vill go to Palestine, as soon as the
war is over, to prepare the territory
for occupation, and the laying of plans
for the Jewish Congress which will be
I eld in Washington in September.

T

Ovation to Brandeis.

A great ovation to Supreme Court
Justice Louis C. Brandeis, as lie came
On the stage in the midst of Mayor
Preston's address, was one of the
most impressive features of the first
session. The mayor had just said, "on
the part of the people of this munici-
pality—the Jews and the gentiles of
Baltimore—I bid you welcome," when
the tall figure of the jurist and Zionist
leader emerged from the wings of the
stage and moved toward a scat.
Every person in the theater, which
was crowded in the auditorium and
the balcony, jumped up and began
waving hats and hankcrchiefs. The
cheering continued for two minutes,
;!nd then the crowd sat down, only to
Jump up and cheer again. Justice
Brandeis bowed and smilingly ac-
knowledged the greeting.

"Fireworks" Begin.

Justice Brandeis left before the
"fireworks" started. They grew out of
a clash between administration and
anti-administration forces over the
matter of appointing a committee of
nine, which will, in turn, name execu-
tive committees to act during the ses-
sion. The convention became an up-
roar over this matter for nearly a half
hour.
The "peace agreement" between the
Zionists and anti-Zionists in the mat-
ter of the Jewish Congress became at
the start a subject for prolonged de-
bate.
Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, whom Zion-
ists regard as something of an oracle,
is for the preservation of peace, but
not for the total relinquishment by
Zionism of its power in the coming
congress.
"The American Jewish Congress,"
he said in his speech yesterday after-

noon, "is not to he transformed into
opportunity for the victory of the
Zionist ideal." But he went on to say
that the congress could not have conic
into being except for "the spirit Zion-
ism has breathed into the Jewish pc,o-
plc." and he added:
"As for those who threaten to with-
draw from the Congress, let me re-
mind them that the Congress is the
business of all Jewish people; that it
would have been held despite them,
and that it will be held without them
if necessary."

;i11

Wise Warns Against "Peace."

He said later, referring apparently
to the "peace" agreement:
"Let me warn you against making
peace with those who arc neither with
its nor for us, when victory is almost
in sight." He scored the "men who,
for the sake of Sholom (peace), are
willing to surrender principles with-
out the attainment of which Sholom
is moral death, he said and concluded:
"On this day of rededication of this
cause, we will not suffer our national
enterprise to become an international
charity."
The great applause that greeted this
betokened another early and bitter
fight, for the report of Louis Lipsky,
chairman of the executive committee
of the Federation, which was dis-
tributed yesterday, counsels strict ad-
herence to the peace agreement.

"Peace Agreement Sacred"—Lipsky.

"We should regard the peace agree-
ment as sacred," said Mr. Lipsky's re-
port. It is the constitution upon
which the authority of the Congress
rests. A breach of the agreement
would break the authority of the Con-
gress, and enable those who are luke-
warm in their allegiance to use it as
a justification for secession. By ad-
hering to the peace agreement, we
shall have the moral advantage of all
\ vho may even now be seeking to un-
dermine the authority of the Congress,
and, at the same time, give moral
strength and prestige to its delibera-
tions."
Another important report was that
of Jacob de Haas, secretary of the
provisional executive committee for
general Zionist affairs, which denied
that the emancipation of the Jews in
Russia had removed the cause for
Zionism, and declared that every
change in the political fortunes of
Jews in Europe has "augmented, in-
stead of weakened, the Zionist forces."

Dr. Friedenwald's Address.

In the presidential address of Dr.
Harry Friedenwald, many vital ques-
tions were placed before the conven-
tion. Urg:ng the delegates to throw
themselves into the movement to the
last effort, to prepare for the great un-
dertaking which lies before them, and

1. Dr. Shmarya Levin,
member of the first Rus-
sian Duma.
2. E.W. Lewin-Epstein,
treasurer of the Provisional
Zionist Committee.
3. Jacob de Haas, treas-
urer of the Provisional
Zionist Committee.
4. Dr. Henry Frieden-
wald, of Baltimore, pres-
ident of the Federation.

emphasizing the fact that Zionism has
room for only one organization, lie
said, in part:
"We are keenly sensible that what-
ever may be the opportunities open to
the Jewish people to establish a home
in Palestine after the war is over—
whether these opportunities be larger
cr smaller—the task before us is great.
"It now is for us to be prepared for
the great undertaking. It is for the
Jewry of America to make ready for
the duty which has fallen to its lot. Is
it awake to the glorious privilege of
serving in the restoration, in the regene-
ration of Jewish life, in its rededica-
tion to the ancient and eternal Jewish
ideals? Are we willing to immolate
ourselves, our personal interests, our
selfish and petty concerns, on behalf
of the highest duty and the greatest
privilege, the service of one's people?
Or shall we let pass the opportunity
which never may return, and cover
ourselves with shame?
"I am confident that it will not be
so. American Jewry is awakened. It
is harkening to the peals of the Shofar•
which is calling us to our standard.
Everywhere we meet with sympathetic
response, from among all classes of
Jews, from among those of all nations
and of all shades of opinion.
"Within the ranks of the Zionist or-
ganization there is room for every Jew
and Jewess who feels bound to his or
her people, past, present and future.
In it there is room for every Jew or
Jewess who wishes to make the future
as glorious as the past.

Pleads for One Organization.

"But Zionism has room for only one
organization. All who have the ob-
ject of Zionism close to their hearts

owe it to themselves and to all others

who are in agreement with them to
unite with them in this great organ-
ization. There is no room for them to
work outside without robbing the
movement of the .strength which
united effort almie can give.
"By the democratic methods of this,
the most democratic republic in the
world, every Jew and Jewess was able
to register his or her vote. The re-
cult expressed as clearly as any elec-
tion ever held in this country the will
of those entitled to vote. They voted
overwhelmingly for those who repre-
sent the Zionist point of view. The
election of so large a number of Zion-
ists to Jewish leadership proves the
deep root which the Zionist idea has
taken in American Jewry. You will
permit me to state here, in speaking
for those elected, that they appreciate
and value this vote of confidence, and
further, to declare that whatever be
the number and the strength of the
Zionist representation in the Con-
gress, the Zionists will be bound ab-
solutely by the terms of the agree-
ment made when our organization
joined with others in the calling of
the Congress.
"We have lived to see the hour when
the dawn seems breaking. The great
revolution in Russia gives us every
reason to hope that the sad chapter of
our history, that nightmare of anguish
and suffering, is ended. A brighter
and a happier time is in store for mil-
lions of our brethren. For this we are
profoundly grateful."

Factional Fight Mars Proceedings.

The factional fight began when Doc-
tor Friedenwald, at the close of his
address, announced that the conven-
tion was ready to take up the matter
of naming a committee of seven or

