fitEnentortknisn (A tarn lois ■ t 114,, soN'a _ are' , N. • REVETROITJEWISII etRONICIA Tn. 11.V4111■1141.M...... MY.) UV WIll1.13.1. Publielted Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co, log, JOSEPH J. CUMMINS, President JACOB MARGOLIS, Editor JACOB H. SCHAKNE, General Manager Entered as Second-class matter Much at the Postogice at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of Much 3, 1 0 79. General Offices and Publication Building 525 Woodward Avenue Telephone: Cadillac 1040 London Office: Cable Address: Chronicle 14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England. Subscription, in Advance $3.00 Per Year To insure publication, all corrmpondence and news matter must reach this Ake by Tuesday evening of each week. The Detroit Jewi s h Chronicle invites correspondence on subjects of Interest to the Jewish people, but disclaim.re•ponsibility for an indorsement of the views expressed by the writers. February 19, 1926 Adar 5, 5686 Hoover Approves J. D. C. ry 4 aG ■P $ 4 The timid, hesitant, excuse hunting souls who were not sure about the cleanliness of the Joint Distribution Committee may now take heart, exert themselves and abandon their excuses, for Herbert Hoover, Secretary of Commerce of the United States, has written to David A. Brown approving the J. D. C. and all its works. We wondered all the time whether this fear of displeasing the government was really the cause which affected those Who raised the hue and cry about the unpatriotic character of Russian land settlement, Po- lish relief and the other objectives of the Joint. As a subterfuge the objections had all the weaknesses of a straw man, as a gas attack they had the characteristics of charlatanry and as a menace they betrayed all the vices of special pleading. We believe that the ground has been cleared. The needs of European Jewry are insistent. As a matter of fact the starving in Poland are becoming impatient, and who can blame them? ' Dr. Bernard Kahn, who opens his plea with the re- minder that the Jews of Poland do not want philan- thropy, informs the world that the plight of Polish Jewry is the worst calamity that has ever befallen Jew- ry in its history of travail and catastrophy. This is not the rhetoric of Shylock but it is the cold blooded ob- servation of a sociologist who knows the facts at first hand. The latest report on Russian land settlement is fur- nished by Isaac Don Levine in a recent issue of the Detroit Times. In a special article Levine, whose know- ledge of Russia is based ppon many years residence there, is certain that the only solution of Russian Jew- ish problems is land settlement. He has seen thousands go on the land of their own initiative with their own funds. Perhaps Levine is in the pay of the Bolsheviks, or perhaps he has an interest in some harvester machine company. Who knows what specious reason may be advanced; the range of the baroque is wide, especially for those who condemn all that does not fit into their prearranged schemes for saving Jewry. Now is the time to make contributions. If you are really in earnest about helping you need not wait until a representative calls upon you. You can send your contribution or a part of it at once for it may do more good now than at a later (late. Difference of Opinion. 4 4 4 M. Ussishkin declared in a recent speech before the Jewish National Assembly that "during his recent tour in Europe he had become convinced that Jewry demanded a politically Jewish Palestine, otherwise it was impossible to expect of the Jews that they should make the great sacrifices needed for the upbuilding of the country." The leaders of the parties in the as- sembly at once characterized the statement as one which merely expressed the personal opinion of Mr. Ussishkin and was not by any means the view of the elected representatives of the Jews of Palestine, par- ticularly those who are doing everything for the actual upbuilding of the country. Apparently those who are engaged in the recrea- tion of a Jewish homeland are not at present commit- ted to a program which emphasizes a politically Jewish Palestine; they are satisfied to leave the question to be decided at a future date which may be more pro- pitious. They are too busy with economic, social and cultural problems of their own, while at the same time attempting to establish friendly relations with the non- Jewish population. The last two years have been years of exceptional sacrifice on the part of the Jews and in those two years the political aspects have been minimized and prac- tically excluded from Zionist considerations. We won- der what Jews in Europe convinced Mr. Ussishkin that Jewry demanded a politically Jewish Palestine. From observation of American Jews who have contributed generously (although one could hardly call their offer- ings in the nature of sacrifices) we can say without hes- itation that the demand for a political Palestine has not been urgent or clamorous. If anything the spirit which has manifested itself was rather anti-political with the idea of physical upbuilding uppermost. The Keren Hayesod, the Hadassah, have appealed to the sym- pathies and understanding of American Jewry and these are hardly in the category of political organiza- tions. But even if European Jewry has indicated that it will not continue to make sacrifices yet the attitude of those who are doing the actual work is of much greater importance. If those who are living, working and sac- rificing in Palestine are satisfied to submerge their po- litical aspirations why should European Jewry attempt to tell them what political demands they should make? It is quite true that European Jewry has a right to refuse to make further sacrifices, but under the circum- stances those on the ground are in a much better posi- tion to know what should be done. And if perchance there was discrimination against the Jews in Palestine as a minority people it would not be improper for the Jews of Europe to make representations to the manda- tory power or to the League of Nations but no one would make such a charge against the Palestine ad- ministration. We think Mr. Ussishkin was guilty of a gesture and was merely interested in finding out what sort of a re- sponse it would evoke. He should feel satisfied with the repudiation of the elected representatives of Pales- tine Jewry. The paramount problems of Palestine are economic, r sajThs . 1 44.. ss/A` t air sue(, social and cultural with special emphasis upon social relationships with the non-Jewish populations. The Jews of Palestine seem to understand this fully and it is about time that those who are anxious to help should also understand. s (A- 4 ..r- Vss foirA'Ogs. reA").7 A DIGEST Chaim Nachman Bialik. Mississippi and Tennessee. The House of Representatives of Mississippi passed an anti-evolution bill by a vote of 76 to 32. This does not mean that the state will necessarily pass it for the Senate may defeat it and even then the governor may veto it if both houses do pass it. But if illiteracy is synonomous with anti-evolution Mississippi may be counted in the Fundamentalist column for although the whole country has an illiterate population of six per cent the sovereign state of Mississippi boasts 17 per cent illiteracy and 29 per cent of the negro population can neither read nor write. With all the apologies one may offer for the South these figures do not reflect any great credit upon this commonwealth. Many who think that the mere exposure of an un- healthy or unsatisfactory condition ends that condition believed that the Scopes trial meant that we would no longer be troubled with such exhibitions of ignorance and superstition. But the fact remains that a fitful light is not a solvent nor does ridicule which does not reach the ridiculed prove effective in destroying error or stupidity. The world has not yet stopped laughing over the monkey trial and Mississippi, unregenerate and un- touched, proceeds to pass a law which forbids the teaching of any theory which would show that man is descended from a lower animal. In one sense this should not cause much worry for a state which has such an overwhelmingly illiterate population would hardly be able to profit much from a knowledge of evolution or science generally. The present low state of education precluded any possibility of teaching anything of ser- ious import. Still the passage of such a law is a piece of folly. It bespeaks a low grade intelligence on the part of the alleged superior group or better classes who are in power in that state. Tennessee and Mississippi are evidences of the downright ignorance of the hinterland. We know exactly where they stand. They shout Fundamental- ism and accept everything that is written without even the change of a single syllable. The spectacle of Tennessee and now Mississippi is bad enough but yet compared with the meretricious attack from so-called learned circles it is inconsequen- tial, for honest ignorance is not as bad as casuistry. Some of the Fundamentalists have discovered that not all scientists are agreed with Darwin and consequently the whole evolutionary theory is unsound. They have brought forth Jacques Loeb to support their position because Loeb stated that the theory was not proved. It is obvious that if it were proved it would no longer be a theory and, what is more, Loeb, who reduced all things to mathematics, chemistry and physics, would require proof which would be more exact than would any biologist. If Loeb could have proved by a series of experiments the origin of life or have produced a higher species from a lower species he would then have accepted evolution, for it would have satisfied his re- quirements. He subjected everything to mechanistic fundamentals. He did not reject evolution; he merely stated it was unproved. The group of scientists who have not accepted Dar- win in tote are numerous. Even in his own (lay Alfred Wallace took violent exceptions to his theory of sexual selection while Weismann added much on heredity which Darwin was unable to explain. Since then Mendel, De Vries, Loeb, Bateson and hundreds of others have made contributions which modified the Darwin theories. But as De Vries, the author of the "Mutations Theory," stated, we are still seeking the explanation of the "arrival of the fittest," which is the fundamental quest of the biologist. Evo- lution and Darwinism, however, are not synonomous and Darwinism is not Charles Darwin alone but in- cludes those thousands of earnest workers who have studied and toiled in the field which he originally map- ped out. If the theory of evolution and descent should be proved unsound the men of science shall be the first ones to know it, for the man of science always proceeds with a skepticism which lends itself to the acceptance of the sound and the rejection of the unsound. Cer- tain it is that the exclusion of science from the curricu- lum of the schools will avail nothing, while mendacious and casuistic attacks will merely bring those who launch them into disrepute. In the meantime scientists are working to perfect their technique and learn the mysteries of life and Mis- sissippi votes to ignore all they may discover. To Bialik By ELIASH (Translated by Samuel S. Grossman.) No trumpet blast will peal to greet you Oh mighty singer of our song, For our flesh and blood is song to you and greeting Our very soul a trumpet loud and strong. For we are your despair and mighty anger, Your hope, your joy, your passion too, We are your tears and your refreshment, The gnashing of your teeth, your words so true. Out of our depths you drank your bitter cup, You took your strength from out our well, Out of our bone and from our marrow, Out of our will you wrought your song's great spell. We are the song of joy and pain and anger That you have sung into eternity, Inseparable. the song and singer, One body and one soul with you are we. And now we cry our song to greet you, No trumpet blasts, no shofarim, tis true; For bitterness and ache have changed to sunlight And at your coming every pain is silenced too! The entire Jewish press of Ameri- ca greeted the great national poet Chaim Nachman Bialik upon his ar- rival here. Some of the periodicals devoted to this event special Bialik issues. Thus, the Zionist weekly, The New Palestine of Feb. 5, is almost entirely devoed to the Ilebrew poet. Other pa- pers published many articles by lead- ing writers, as well as editorials, on the occasion of Bialik's coining to America. Hebrew poetry before Bialik, writes Dr. A. Coralnick in The Day, knew filly plaintive notes, songs of wailing and of prayer. Then Bialik came and the Jewish people felt at once that a new note was struck, that a new and strong voice has arisen calling upon his brethren to break through the dark jungles into the sun. As the poet says in one of his songs, he has come not merely to sing but to chop wood, to clear the way out of a thick and dark forest. But while other poets before him had aimed to uproot the old trees, Bialik spared the roots. His voice has been a hatchet and a ham- mer. For he was not only clearing the path to sun and life, but also forg- ing the will and the future of Jewish history. Bialik is more than a poet, he is more than a mere singer, a ly- ricist. There are even among the Ile- brew poets of our day some who will give a more complete expression of our feelings and appeal more elo- quently to our imagination. But these are only poets and they lack that Bla- nk tone of the merry hatchet and the mighty hammer, for which the Jew- ish people has given the place of hon- or among its bards to Bialik. In the Forward, B. Botwinock re- lates the life and the public career of the poet. Ile tells the story of the famous "City of Slaughter," which Bialik wrote after the Kishinev po- grom and which at once made him widely popular among the Jewish masses. P. Frog, too, wrote his fa- mous poem after that memorable event, with the lines "Give tachrich- im to the dead and bread to the liv- ing" as the burden of each stanza. But Bialik's poem was radically dif- ferent in tone. it was a poem breath- ing wrath and storm. In it the poet derides the passive attitude of his peo- ple in the face of violence and death and calls to resistance. The poem is prophetic in its tone, and from it dates Bialik's universal fame. The New Palestine greets as the representative of Hebrew culture. "American Jewry is now ripe for its spiritual renaissance," says the paper. "It most continue to refill its great spirival reservoir. It must be Ile- braically orientated to gain new spiritual strength. Who can aid more in this new orientation, which is our greatest need, than the representative of modern Hebrew culture—the per- sonification of the united spirit of Hallachah and Haggadah? The Zion- ist movement has Hebrew and that which goes with it as its very corner- stone, and Zionism is not only called upon to rebuild Zion for he Jewish people but also to bring about pro- cess of Ilebraization in Jewish life. The men chosen by destiny to bring about the revival of the Hebrew spirit in the numerically strongest and eco- nomically most prosperous Jewish group of today is Chaim Nachman Malik, the central figure of modern Ilebrew literature. Chaim Nachman Bialik thus conies with a double mes- sage to American Jewry with a ma- nage of he new Zion now in process of reconstruction as well as with the message of Ilebrew genius radiating energies which shall transform a heap of bones into living flesh and blood. The Zionists of America greet Chaim Nachman Bialik as the harbinger of Geulah and as the carrier of the liv- ing Ilebrew word." Among many other articles on Bia- lik the paper also publishes the tribute of Vladimir Jabotinsky to the poet, a sketch of his life and poetic develop- ment . Referring to the Kishinev mas- sacre which called forth Bialik's "City of Slaughter," Jabotinsky writes: "The future historian of the Jewish National Movement will certainly recognize those three days of massa- cre in the Bessarahian capital as marking, in many ways, the birth of a new Jewish mentality. For the first time in modern Jewish history the main feeling provoked in the commun- ity was not that of horror and grief. It was something else, some new at- titude which as yet had no popular name. Bialik found the name. The most famous of his poems, 'The City of Slaughter,' sums up the effect of the massacre in the following words. 'Great is the sorrow, and great is the shame,—and which of the two is greater—answer thou 0 Son of Man!' Bialik is not only a gifted poet, he is also a great worker In his despair, he did not turn his back on his people, nor even upon its Renaissance move- ment: he still works for it, but no longer in the role of a prophet who leads; he simply plays the part of an ordinary toiler who executes. His re- markable activity as editor and pub- lisher of classical and school literature in Hebrew need not be reviewed in an essay dedicated to the poet; as to the poet's story, for the moment it is told." "The man whose lips seem to have been touched by living coals, "writes the Jewish Tribune, "whose great love for his brethren has caused his to cas- tigate them with scorpions whenever he saw them act in a manner un- worthy of the heiaa to Hasmonean glory, who puts a tongue in every wound of every Jewish martyr who fell in the Kishnev new massacre, and who has given voice to a nation's joys and woes, to its hopes triumphant even its fears—surely, if ever a man deserved a rousing welcome from Jews of all parties and opinions, Bialik is that man. Let us therefore receive this great Ringer of ours, this modest great man, with truly Jewish hospital- ity and with becoming dignity and lis- ten respectfully to the message he brings an of Israel and Zion reborn." "Malik. the paper concludes, is not in need of our praise, for in a certain sense nothing that we can do can add to or detract from his glory. In hon- oring him American Jewry will only he honoring itself." Wit is the glittering froth of the surface, humor the pearl from out the deep. 1. 114, r4W..t.14, rafts At resit Prominent Jewish Personalities in British Politics By LIEUT..COM. HON. J. M. KENWORTHY, R. N., M. P. British politics during the last '70 years have been greatly enriched by the services of prominent Jews. At the present time the most active and well known is undoubtedly Sir Alfred Mond, who wields a greater political influence than any man of his race since the great Disraeli. Sir Alfred has been in Parliament almost con- tinuously since 1500, and in the Coali- tion government held high office. In spite of his very rigorous views on Free Trade he has always had the re- spect of the Conservatives and on the break-up of the second Coalition gov- ernment he could have accepted a high office if he bad thrown in his lot with the Conservatives. It is much to his credit that his political principles pre- vented him from taking this step un- til only a short time ago. At heart a Liberal and a pro- nounced individualist, he is a typical representative of the old-fashioned Radical of the Manchester school, now nearly extinct. Between Sir Alfred Mond and Mr. Lloyd George there was a close bond for many years. Their very divergencies created a strong combination of the two men so very for opposed in their mental make-up. Lloyd George is all imagination, senti- ment and imbued with a burning ar- dour for the cause he is immediately advocating. Sir Alfred Mond, on the other hand, while by rio means devoid of sentiment, has an intensely practi- cal brain and refuses to overlook the difficulties and obstacles in the way of any plan he wishes to accomplish. In the present (louse of Commons Sir Alfred Mond is the most proficient op- ponent of Socialism and Collectivism. By far the best speech on the anti- Socialist side in the now famous de- bate in the Parliament of 1522-23 was that made by Sir Alfred Mond; and as they went through the Division Lobby in opposition to the motion moved by Philip Snowden on that oc- casion, many Conservatives were heard deploring the fact that Sir Al- fred Mond was only a temporary ally in this battle and not their permanent associate. For sheer intellectual gifts Mond has no superior in the present House of Commons. One of the caus- es he has at heart is the fulfillment of the Zionist program in alcstine, and he approaches it from the standpoint of a captain of industry and a great leader of business. In spite of the crossing of the floor by Sir Alfred Mond his advocacy of the Zionist pro- gram may be relied upon now and in the future. His political future with the Conservatives is hardly in doubt. The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin has few such experienced administrators an dmen of affairs to draw upon and he is sure of high cabinet rank with- out very long delay. His son, Henry Mond, follows his father in change of alliance and is now to be numbered among the Con- servatives. Young Henry Mond is a product of our public school and uni- versity system. During the one year that he was in Parliament he showed brilliant promise. But he will have to wait his turn. In politics, youth is only an asset for the future, espec- ially in the conservative party, and young Mond has not even a seat in Parliatnent. Were he there now, ho would only be one of a crowd of young men of promise, but his time will come and he should go far. Of quite a different type is Samuel Samuel, a director of the great Shell Oil Company and reputed to be the richest man in the House of Commons. He has been in Parliament for 13 years and speaks very seldom. His nickname is "Recurring" Samuel, his double name reminding members of recurring decimals. He never speaks on oil matters about which he natural- ly has a profound knowledge; but he is a recognized authority in the House of Commons on bullion, by reason of his long association as senior partner with the firm of Montague Samuel and Company, the great silver merchants and bankers. And on bullion and cur- rency problems he lets his views be known. He appears to have no par- liamentary or other political ambitions but is one of those steady supporters of the Conservative Party, always in the House of Commons and, from the Whip's point of view, a very satisfac- tory menthes. There is another Samuel in the House, the parliamentary secretary to the Overseas Trade Department, one of the subdivisions of the Board of Trade, in the person of Arthur Michael Samuel, who claims to be a member of the oldest Jewish family in Britain. Ile is a retired boot man- ufacturer and has been Lord Mayor of Norwich, his native city. Ile is one of the most promising of the younger members of the Conservative Party; before he took office he was a very val- uable critic, from the country's point of view, of the government's financial and industrial policy. His knowledge is varied and encyclopaedic. Thus, be- sides being a distinguished economist he is an authority on the herring and a collector of ancient coins. He has already distinguished himself as an answerer of parliamentary questions —a most difficult art. Arthur Michael Samuel is always ready to answer the most erudite question from his great stores of knowledge and can cap any classical quotation in the very best style. After Sir Alfred Mond, the Jewish politician who is most likely to he heard of in the near future is Sir Herbert Samuel, known affectionately among his colleagues as the "Infant Samuel." Of his work as High Com- missioner for Palestine and as chair- man of the Coal Commission. it is un- necessary to speak, but he has given it to be understood that he intends to return to politics as soon as may be. But from the Liberal point of view it is unfortunately not mute certain that he will return to the Liberal fold from which he sprang. It would not be sur- prising if he joined either the Con- servatiee or the Labor Party instead. He wool,' be more welcome in the lat- ter On the other hand, he may stick to his old Liberal faith and would be a wrest addition to the Liberal Party, rrni zp e c anIfl vt ss it his r r r se sspnroe„- kw e N and h i pres- tige es an ex.Iliah Commissioner. It is said that much will depend on the findings of the coal commission. If he has been conaineed of the reeessity of collectieism in the coal fields be will robahly we, Lahor. Otherwise, ha will remain Liberal. or follow his friend Sir Alfred Mond into the Conserve- tisa ramp. There is a new member among the Conservative Jews who has already made his mark, in the person of Sam uel Finhurgh, the Conservative mem her for North Salford. It is an Oil fortunate fact that many Jews, es. pecially on the Conservative sid e o the House, identify themselves It closely with interests hostile to Brit ish Jewry. It is a hard saying bas many of them hide their pride in the' • race and religion and seem afraid la speak up where their co-religionh.t s are suffering persecution either her or abroad. it was difficult for ex• ample, during the Polish pogrom s af- ter the war, to induce a Jewish mem- ber of parliament to enter the lists as a knight-errant on behalf of thooe poor victims of anti-Semitism. Mr. Finburgh only entered parliament at the last election. But he has already made it clear that he means to be II courageous upholder of the rights and interests of his race. An effective speaker, and with plenty of courage, he has already disturbed the serenity of the home secretary on the question of naturalization of Jewish aliens in Britain. One speech of his coming so unexpectedly from the benches behind the government on this topic created something like a sensation. He is most valuable recruit to Parliament and can be relied upon as a friend of the suffering and the oppressed when- ever and wherever his services arc needed. Of the younger politicians, Sir Phil- ip Sassoon, Bart., the under-secretary of Air, and Major Hose-Belisha, the Liberal member for Devonport, must be mentioned. Sassoon is the inheri- tor of a great name and a great for- tune. He has not been identified with the Jewish question, but has exercised his influence in the background, es- pecially while parliamentary private secretary to Mr. Lloyd George during that gentleman's premiership. Ile has been spoken of as the perfect private secretary, having filled that post with great distinction and success under Earl Haig in France. As a junior member of the government, he has made good in the air ministry. lie is generally liked in the House, though the impression he gives of Oriental inscrutability makes some of his bu- colic colleagues rather nervous. Hore-Belisha has the distinction of holding the only Liberal seat retained at the last election in the whole of the South and West of England; and if for this reason alone is entitled to re- spect as a personality. He is pretty active in the House and is helping at present to organize the Palestinian Committee in Parliament, to he com- posed of all parties, irrespective of creed or politics, who are interested in he fulfillment of the Zionist pro- gram. Sir Alfred Mond will probably be elected chairman. Considering the small number of Jews in British politics they wield considerable influence and their par- liamentary success is remarkable. And the House of Commons is certainly en- riched by their contributions to its de- liberations. "ISRAEL" Ludwig Lewisohn's first autobiog- raphy, entitled "Upstream," was an attempt of a Jew to assimilate com- pletely with the world at large and sever all relations with his own peo- ple. The attempt failed for him as it did for so many others in Eu- ropean lands. "Israel," the second stage of his development, sees him throwing in his lot wholly with the Jewish people. He bids all would-be assimilationists not shamefacedly to hide their identity under the protec- tive coloring of Gentile environment, but urges them to be completely themselves. Therefore, he asks then) first to become acquainted with their hitherto neglected legacy from the past, that wondrous culture both of the intellect and of the spirit, with which Israel has endowed the human race, and also counsels them to foster their inherited endowments as peo- ple. In this way they will be most serenely content with their lot in life. At the same time, will be able to con. tribute as Jews to the civilization of the world at large. For he warns the Jews settled in Palestine that they must not live wholly aloof. The an- cient "election" of Israel was not for themselves but for others. He considers the Jew essentially democratic, liberal, rational and anti- militaristic, able to teach the world a new kind of patriotism; no longer resting on fear and taking form in antagonism to other nationalities. That was a product of barbarism. The state of the future will not de- pend upon force or armies or ma- terial defense. But just as the Scrip- ture declares that "righteousness es- alteth a nation," so a new spirit of co-operation between country and country may advance national ideal= and offer a program of peaceful ar- bitration for the future. The Jew in Palestine may offer his object lesson to the world. For he must be the apostle of peace; the ideal of Isaiah of "turning swords into plough- shares" must become a realization. Let Israel be the advance herald of the era of peace, bringing this mes- sage of good tidings. Let him lead this peace crusade—how much more beneficient than the Crusades of old —Dr. Maurice IT. Harris. A MAN IS POOR— if he is without friends. If he has lost his honor. If he has a guilty conscience. If he has lost his self-respect. If he has lost his grip upon himself. If he is selfish, uncharitable, or cruel. If he has forfeited his health for wealth. If his mind and soul have been neglected. If his wife and family do not love and respect him. If making money has crowded out the cultivation of his aesthetic facul- ties. A clean mouth and an honest hand will take a man through any land. You can tell the master by his servant. The tree must be bent while it is young. The great oak bears small fruit.