THE JEWISH
JEWS IN CONGRESS
Hon. Adolph J. Sabath, of Chicago, is Derrucratic Leader.
ASHINGTON.—In 1866, the same
year that Congressman Julius Kahn
came over to America, from Germany,
the lion. Adolph J. Sabath, of Chicago,
the second of our Jewish legislators, was
born in Bohemia, Austria. With the
exception of Meyer London, Congress-
man Sabath is the most foreign of the
s ix Jewish representatives at the capital.
Arriving in this country at the age of
fifteen, 36 years residence here have not
altogether removed a slight foreign ac-
cent to be noticed infrequently about his
English enunciation. Moreover, of all
the Jewish Congressmen, he is most
typically Jewish in appearance, no less
than in manner. In his general atti-
tude, he is highly reminiscent of the old
type of a Jewish communal leader, one
who is conscious of the responsibilities
which life has shouldered upon him,
and responds accordingly.
Elected Ten Years Ago.
11
CHRONICLE
time there was occasion for it, Sabath
was given official recognition as the op-
position leader to the immigration meas-
ure. Thus was the apportionment of the
time for debate left in his hands, as far
as his group was concerned, and Sabath
was always one of the three House mem-
bers who conferred with the Senate
over the bill. Little wonder that he
was always so full of "immigration." Of
course, today the matter is over, and in
a sense almost forgotten, but there is no
question that such opposition as the bill
obtained was due in no small measure
to Congressman Sabath's efforts.
Congressman Sabath is a Jew who
cannot be said to be attached to any
Jewish sect. While not in sympathy with
the Zionist ideal, he is not known to
oppose it. He is interested in the Ameri-
can Jewish Congress movement, and in
such other Jewish questions as the war
has specifically brought to light. He
takes a keen interest in the Jewish press
generally.
Congressman Sabath is now by no
means a novice as a legislator. He was
first elected to the 60th Congress, ten
years ago. Since then he has been re-
turned regularly every two years, six
Hon. Adolph J. Sabath
times in succession. A point of much
significance is the fact that he was al-
ways re-elected without any opposition. the elect ion of J udges, A ssemblymen
As everybody well knows, this is some- and even state officials. Only last year,
thing of which very few repreSentatives the governor of Illinois officially thanked
can boast. Yet the writer recollects at the Jewish political leader for the as-
least two campaigns for his re-election sistance he lent at his election, and there
in which Congressman Sabath took prac- were those who said openly that Sabath
was the power behind the governor's
tically no share. At the height of one
throne." This alone would he suffi-
of these campaigns, he was busying
himself in Washington with numerous cient explanation of the security of
Sabath's scat in Congress, but there is
other matters. During the other cam-
factor which cannot be over-
another
paign he was away to the country, re-
looked.
cuperating after a particularly strenu-
ous season. On yet another occasion,
Represents Foreign District.
he was working with might and main
Sabath represents a district composed
for the election of the Illinois guberna-
almost entirely of foreign nationalities.
torial candidate, paying no heed to his We Jews, of course, look upon Sabath
own election, yet every time he came
as our representative, but as a matter
. back. •
of fact, the Bohemians, who constitute
no mean portion of his voters, look upon
This very unusual fact is accounted
for, on the one hand by his influential him with that pride of exclusive pos-
political position, and on the other by session which well rivals our own feel-
ing about him. And the Poles, and even
his personal popularity.
the Irish, a great number of whom are
Judge in Chicago.
to be counted among his constituents,
For well nigh twenty years, now, are no less proud of this foreigner, each
Sabath has been one of the best known of ‘vhoin discerns a kinship in this very
and . most respected of political leaders fact, that, like themselves, lie hails from
in Chicago. Prior to his first election abroad. Needless to say, the fact that
to Congress in 1906, he had already their Congressman is the very head of
.served Chicago in a judicial capacity for Chicago politics makes him doubly de-
full twelve years. As a member of the sirable in their eyes. In truth, and in
bench, he created for himself a repu- his heart of hearts, he is first and last
tation of the highest order. Since then a Jew, and the Jews of Chicago are
he has been made chairman of the Demo- certainly not in a position to say that
cratic Party Executive Committee, in they exert no political influence.
Chicago. This position, which he is still
But Sabath's political role extends be-
retaining, makes him the practical and yond Chicago. or Illinois state. During
virtual leader of the Democratic Party his many years in Congress, he has sort
in Chicago, and exerts for him an in- of anchored himself politically in the
fluence throughout the state. It must capital, and is today a power to be reck-
be borne in mind that with him rests not oned with. Next to Julius Kahn, lie is
•lone the nomination, but very often certainly far and away the most impor-
tant Jewish legislator in Washington.
More than that. If we consider that of
the two Sabath is by far the most Jew-
ish, we may with right look upon this
Bohemian-Polish-Jewish representative
as the most important of the six Jew-
ish Congressmen.
Dr. Max Goldfarb, who was exiled
from Russia six years ago, and who
for the last four years has been labor
editor of the Jewish Daily Forward,
has returned to his native land.
Dr. Moses Behrend was recently
appointed attending surgeon at the
Mt. Sinai Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.
Dr. Behrend has been surgeon at the
Jewish Hospital for several years.
MR. BERNSTEIN APPEALS FOR
JEWISH RELIEF.
Following the receipt of a cable dis-
patch from Herman Bernstein of Petro-
grad, telling of the distress of Jewish
refugees in Russia, the Central Relief
Committee for the Jewish War Suffer-
ers, 51 Chambers street, issued an appeal
for subscriptions to relieve suffering'
caused by the latest shifts in the battle
line on the eastern front.
Mr. Bernstein, who is a director of the
Central Relief Commmittee for the
Jewish War Sufferers, is in Russia as a
correspondent of the New York Herald.
His cable dispatch, which was addressed
to' Harry Fischel, treasurer of the com-
mittee, was as follows:
"New wave of Jewish refugees bread-
less and shelterless at Charkov, Polataya
and other places. Need of relief most
urgent."
Charkov is the center of a rich agri-
cultural department in the Ukraine,
while Polatava is about eighty miles
west of Charkov in the direction of the
Galician border. It is supposed that the
refugees were driven from their homes
by the German advance which followed
the temporary collapse of the Russian,
defensive after a successful push for-
ward into Galicia.
"Somewhere
in France"
HEN that brave Soldier
Boy of yours leaves to join
his comrades in the trenches, let
him carry a personal remembrance from
those who will miss him most. As a
daily reminder of your good wishes may
we suggest one of the following as espe-
cially appropriate—
CIGARETTE CASE—Easy to carry
and a handy friend.
GOLD POCKET KNIFE—Useful
and a fine remembrance.
SIGNET RING—We will engrave
the giver's initials without charge.
WRIST WATCH—With illuminated
dial. Tells time day or night.
SILVER OR GOLD PENCIL—For
writing to the "folks at home."
allan
Woodward at Gratiot
"The Salton Corner"
Leader in Immigration Fight.
"Meet Friedberg--
Wear Diamonds "
Ts eator
Griswold St. a rt rfaith
We can well afford to overlook the
fact that he is chairman of the more or
less important "Liquor Traffic Commit-
tee," and is prominently connected with
various other committees, satisfying our-
selves by pointing out his position on
the Immigration Committee.
On every House Committee, the Demo-
crats are the dominant factors, being in
a majority. Four year previously , the
position was exactly reversed. Hence,
the very important role of the Demo-
cratic Chairman of the Committee, Bur-
nett, who had the bill named after him
because of his chairmanship. From his
position on the committee, Burnett was
able to carry on his propaganda against
in
the immigrant. Next to Burnette
point of importance on the Immigration
Committe, on behalf of the Democrats,
however, was Congressman Sabath, and
Congress came to recognize in Sabath the
leader of the immigrants' friend, even as
Burnett was their recognized leading
enemy. Sabath thus became the center
of the group for immigration, and every
When Wanting
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B. MUSCOVITZ, Prop.