PAGE FOUR

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

THE JEWISH CHRONICLE

given on all sorts of occasions often to the distress of .the giver

Issued Every Friday by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Company
and the real humiliation of the recipient.
ANTON KAUFMAN
-
-
President
In ordinary times, however, social foibles, of which gift-giving

MICHIGAN'S JEWISH HOME PUBLICATION

Subscription in Advance

$1.50 per year

Offices 314 Peter Smith Bldg.
Phone: Cherry 3381.

RABBI LEO M. FRANKLIN,

Editorial Contributor

All correspondence to insure publication must be sent In so us to reach this
office Tuesday evening of each week.

The Jewish Chronicle Invites correspondence on subjects of nterest to the
Jewish people, but disclaims responsibility for an indorsement of the views
expressed by the writers.

Entered as second-class matter March 3, 1915, at the Postollice at Detroit,
Mich., under the Act of March 3. 1879.

Another Word About Camp Custer.

In a recent issue of this paper appeared a communication from
Battle Creek in which Mr. Edgar J. Drachman, Jewish Social
Worker at Camp Custer, was referred to as working under the
auspices of the Jewish Welfare Board in the U. S. Army and
Navy.
With pardonable and commendable zeal, but we fear without
a complete knowledge of the facts in the case, Dr. George Fox,
Executive Secretary of the American Soldiers and Sailors' League
of the I. 0. B. B., smuts reading the article, Nvrote a communica-
tion to this paper in which he took serious exception to the
statement that Mr. Drachman was employed by the Welfare
Board, claiming that, as a matter of fact, his salary was paid by
the I. 0.
Believing that Dr. Fox, occupying so important a position
with the Writh, could not be mistaken in this 'natter, we
published his letter in our issue of November 30 without com-
ment. Since that time, however, information has come to its
from official sources that Dr. Fox is really mistaken in every
particular of his contention. In a letter signed by the Executive
Director of the Jewish Board for Welfare Work in the U. S.
Army and Navy, under date of December 7, is contained the
following paragraph:

"Your information that Mr. Drachman is our repre-
sentative at Camp Custer is entirely correct. Mr. Drach-
man receives his compensation front this Board and is in
all respects our responsible representative in the Camp.
"If the American Soldiers' and Sailors' Welfare
League of the I. 0. B. B. likewise look to Mr. Drachmas
as their official representative, it is indicative only of the
confidence that he enjoys its their circles as well as
with us."

Is but one, may be indulged since in the last analysis they do
no very great harm to anyone. In these times, however, the case
is different. Today those who have money to spend should spend
it for the relief of distress in one or the other of the many forms
it takes and for the service of our conthein cause. By this we
do not meats that the child should be robbed of the trinkets and
tttys that bring such a wealth of joy to its heart, but we do mean
that lavish gifts that serve no useful, purpose should today be dune
away with.
A correspondent in the Jewish press has made the suggestion
that for Chanukah children be given a Thrift Savings Stamp.
The suggestion is a happy one and might well be followed this
week by the Jews and at the Christmas season by our Christian
fricud s.
To say the least, it is a manifestation of very poi - taste to
spend lavish sums of money on luxuries at the time when every-
ss Inie men, women and children are crying aloud for the very
necessities of life and when our country requires the fullest
measure of material assistance at the hands of all her people. We
should remember in days like these that justice is even a higher
virtue than generosity.
* * * *
*

A Correction.

EstablIshed1842

GIFTS FROM

The Richmond & Backus Co.

Reflect the Good Judgment of the Giver!

. You'll enjoy seeing this wonderful Holiday display--the whole
store full of practical, sensible gifts—COME.

Boxed Stationery

More Popular This Year Than Ever!

Correct Stationery Is a "year 'round" feature of this store--

almost a tynon vie for the Richmond & Backus Company. For

this holiday season we are "living up to our reputation" with ru

exquisite display with paitieular emphasis upon the fact that

the prices are extreme!) moderate.

In another column of this issue appears a communication
from A. II. Fromenson, Publicity Director of the Zionist organ-
i7,.ations of America, in which he calls our attention to the fact
that inadvertently we had ref.rred to the American Jewish
Chronicle of New York as the official organ of the Zionist Organ-
ization in this country.
We arc very glad, indeed, to make the correction and to
assure 'Mr. Fromenson that we think more of him and of the
raise he sponsors since we learned that it is not officially repre-
sented by the magazine referred to. But comes the question:
If the American Jewish Chronicle does not represent the Zionist
Organizations of America, in whose name is it voicing its
opinions?

* * *' * *

The many friends in Michigan of Rabbi Elkan J. Vistrsanger.
formerly of Grand Rapids, will be pleased to learn of Isis appoint-
ment as Chaplain of the United States Army in France. Rabbi
Voorsanger enlisted at a very early period of the war and has
beein in France for several months.

Orders for Special Engraved Stationery' Should Be Placed

NOW!

A Bigger, Better Line of Leather Goods Was

Never Shown by The Richmond & Backus Co.

Show ease after show case filled with leather novelties of

every kind and description. Leather is scarce--prices today art

soaring but not when we bought tills stock. We Invite particular

attention to the magnificent stock of fancy leather novelties
bottAht especially for this Holiday Season.

•
•

•
••

ISE SURE TO VISIT OUR

"Dennison's" Christmas Booth

•
The name alone brands the stock of Christmas
: Gifts, Gift Dressings and Decorations— as THE
: BEST. A Booth on our main floor displays this
celebrated Dennison line of Christmas Goods.
•

Hundreds of Gift Suggestions—Ready Now

Fveryabere you look—gift suggestions on every hand. Games
of all descriptions—Fountain Pens, Desk Sets, Diaries, Calen-
dars, Wicker Waste Baskets--all sensible and practical gilts
every one of them.

The information that Mr. Drachman's compensation comes
from the Jewish Board for Welfare Work has been duly verified.
In this connection a letter written by Raymu nd D. Fosdick,

Push-Cart Peddler Gives Novel
Contribution to War Relief Fund

The Richmond & Backus Co.

Bookmakers, °Mee Furniture .

N. W. Cor. Congress

formally with your Board some months ago to the effect
that this commission recognized your society as the
official agency for Jewish welfare work in the military
camps of the United States.
It is necessary for us, in each case, to deal with one
such agency, so as to eliminate duplication of effort and
overlapping of function. I trust that you will be able
to co-ordinate all the activities along this special line
which are seeking independently • to work with Jewish
soldiers in the camp."

In the light of these facts the duty of the Independent Order
of B'nai Writ's in the premises should lie .perfectly clear. Inas-
much as the Jewish Board for Welfare Work, representative of
a number of leading Jewish organizations, Orthodox and Reform.
in America, is actually carrying on welfare work through its
accredited workers: and inasmuch as this organization is rec-
ognized by the Government as the official agency for Jewish
welfare work in the military camps of the United States, it would
not only be the part of wisdom for the Order to merge its activi-
ties and to give its whole-souled co-operation to the Welfare Board,
but it is unquestionably its duty to do so. Any further insistence
upon the maintenance of its separate identity in these times when
there is a growing need for unselfish service on the part, of men
and organizations must tend to lay open to question the motives
behind this attitude.

walked all the way from Brooklyn to
reach the Central Relief Committee's
offices at 51 Chambers street.
Nine tittles Ile asked, "Where is the
Relief Committee?" in an English pe-
culiarly his own, for there are nine
floors to reach before he was able to
make his otTering which he carried
with him all the way from home. The
package he brought contained a pil-
low, one of two that he felt Ile can
and must part with.

all I enjoy the comforts of a bed,
while my stricken brethren have not
even that, to rest their weary heads
on. My sister died of starvation in
Lomza, now under German control,
so you see 1 have paid the price.
"I only wish that .instead of this
pillow I could have given a thousand
dollars for every feather that it con-
tains, but there are men, God be
thanked, who may be able to do that.
Please accept it."

* * * * * * *

The Ethics of Gift Giving.

Phone Cherry 3300,

The
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OWNERS
AND PROSPECTIVE BUYERS

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In the light of this statement we should not be misunderstood
whet) we say that under certain circumstances gift-giving may
not only become unethical but in very truth a manifestation of
supreme selfishness. Particularly in times like these, when
adversity and want abound and when the conservation of all
our resources is an elemental duty, it should require no intricate
argument to prove to anyone that the expenditure of money for
gifts that fill no real want in the life of the recipient is an un-
worthy act. For it is true, perhaps even in the majority of
instances, that gifts are selected and given rather to gratify the
vanity of the giver than to bring real satisfaction to the heart
of the receiver of the token. The very commonness of gift-
giving in these days robs it of its ethical significance. Gifts are

GSA

CORRESPONDENCE

New York, N. Y.
December 5, 1917.
Editor The Jewish Chronicle,
Detroit, Mich.
ttti
My Dear Sir:—
itt•
I beg to inform you that the Ameri-
can Jewish Chronicle, from whose
columns you quote an unsigned edi-
torial in connection with the edi-
torial as a contrast, in your issue of
Friday, Nov. 23, i, neither the offi-
cial nor semi-official organ of the
Zionist "party."
It is a private enterprise entirely
uncontrolled directly or indirectly by
our organization, and we must not
be held responsible for anything that
appears in its columns.
Will you be kind enough to give
is the season of the year when the impulse to generosity space to this statement in an early
issue of your publication?
is unrestrained. Among Jews the celebration of Chanukah has
Yours, in the Hope of the New
been characteristically marked no less by the giving of gifts to Zion. .
1. H. FROMENSON,
the poor than by the lighting of the Chanukah tapers in the
Publicity Director, Zionist Organiza-
home. Among Christians the Christmas season has always been
tions of America.

the time of unrestrained giving.
Nor can anyone question the beauty or the appropriateness
of the custom of interchanging token, of affection and esteem
On occasions such as these. Indeed. it is a custom that within
reasonable limits ought to be heartily encouraged. Anything
that will lift man out of the slough of his primitive selfishness
and inspire bins with an appreciation of the joy of service is to
lie commended.

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To Insure non-freezing of auto-radiators ask for

"Concentro" Denatured Alcohol

costs no more than ordinary denatured alcohol yet hu greater strength.
From your druggist or direct from Lambert & Lowman, 12th and Howard
)00.0000.000000,3e0 Streets, Cherry 6709-11846.

