zrzk,====t6tvgat4. -4.
I
4- , 4-
int, - ,te t ,t
. 7,1, JadAgltag. " 4.i.g.42WatUl
THEDLTROITJEWINI ARON ICLE
Publiolted Weekly by The Jewish Chronicle Publishing Co.,
Entered as second-clue matter March 11, 1916, at the Post-
office at Detroit, Mich., under the Act of March a, 1679.
General Offices and Publication Building
525 Woodward Avenue
Telephone: Cadillac 1040
Cable Addrem Chronicle
London Office
14 Stratford Place, London, W. 1, England
Subscription, in Advance
$3.00 Per Year
To Insure publication,all correspondenc• and news matter
must reach this office by Tuesday evening of each week.
When mailing notices, kindly use one side of the paper only.
The Detroit Jewlith Chronicle invitee correspondence on sub-
jects of interest to the Jewish people, but disclaims respontit
linty for an indorsement of the views expressed by the writers
Sabbath Reading. of the Torah.
Pentateuchal portion—Gen. 28:10-32:3.
Prophetical portion-11os. 12:13-14:14; or 11:7-
12;12; or 11:7-14:10.
December 13, 1929
Kislev 11, 5690
Has U. S. Jewry's Liberality Ended?
Our always interesting London contem-
porary, the Jewish World, seems to have
missed the mark in its observations on the
recent crashes on the stock market. Writ-
ing under the head "The American Slump,"
in a recent issue, the London weekly de-
clares that "the world is too much inter-
knit for any important happening to occur
in any part of it without its effects for good
or evil being felt by almost every other
part," and expresses the belief that "the
ruinous slump in stocks in the United States
is bound to have its severe repercussions
on Jewish affairs."
So far so good. With this conclusion
we are inclined to agree. But the London
Jewish World seems to take too much for
granted when it accepts and presents as in-
evitable fact the following:
This means that the huge sums which for
years past have been subscribed by our Ameri-
can brethren for public purposes, chiefly chari-
ties—and not always, be it said, with chari-
table motives, but sometimes for self-adver-
tisement and enhancement of credit—will no
longer be forthcoming. Apart from internal
calls, there will be a very heavy draught in re-
spect to subscriptions for Jewish Relief in
Eastern Europe and to the various funds for
Palestine work. Considering that hitherto so
large a proportion of the income of these
efforts has come from the other side, that the
demand is now not a whit less urgent—perhaps
it Is the other way about—and that there is no
section of Jewry which can be looked to with
reason to take the part played by the Ameri-
can, the outlook is serious indeed for Jewry as
a whole.
MMr41Z=14
aG
We would be blind to the fact were we to
deny that many donors to local and nation-
al Jewish causes give "sometimes for self-
advertisement and enhancement of credit."
Nor do we belittle the possible repercus-
sions from the recent slump. But to accept
unequivocally the theory that this slump
spells ruin for the causes that are depend-
ent upon American Jewry is to adopt an
attitude of pessimism which would in itself
spell suicide for Jews and Judaism. We
were very frankly surprised by the attitude
of the editor of our English contemporary
whose Jewish idealism as a rule marks
him among the optimists rather than the
defeatists in Israel.
Apropos this question it is in order to
point to figures published by another con-
temporary, the American Hebrew of New
York, showing that more than $51,000,000
was given by American Jews in 1929 for
public benefactions in sums of $10,000 and
over. The many additional millions given
in smaller sums swell the fund to a size
which speaks eloquently for the liberality
of American Jews. The gift of $1,000,000
made last month by Ralph Jonas of New
York for the unification of the Brooklyn
and New York charities is an outstanding
example of Jewish benevolence. Is it fair
to believe that this will suddenly come to
an end just because many Jews were los-
ers on the stock market?
Our answer is emphatically in the nega-
tive. The United States is not yet bank-
rupt; neither is American Jewry ; neither
is American Jewry's inclination to be chari-
table and helpful to needy Jews every-
where. The recent outrages in Palestine
clearly demonstrated the spontaneity with
which our people on this continent is pre-
pared to respond in time of need. Those
who are acquainted with the manifold div-
ers appeals made in American Jewish com-
munities every year, the monetary response
to which has never been listed, know the
extent of the liberality of Jews in this
country.
We make this unqualified statement
while admitting that there is room for criti-
cism of certain groups. But there never
was a time without the need for educating
people to the value of giving to worthy
causes. Nor are we to expect the millen-
ium to come too soon. And this country,
with all its materialism, has nevertheless
reason to be proud of the liberality of its
Jews.
Russian Persecution of Judaism.
The attack on Soviet tactics in persecut-
ing Judaism, Hebrew education and Zion-
ism, launched at the conference of Jewish
organizations called in New York City last
Sunday, serves to reopen the case of our
people against the Soviet.
The authoritative statements presented
by Leo M. Glassman, correspondent in Rus-
sia; Rabbi Maier Scharf, who was impris-
oned by the Soviet several times and whose
son was shot by the Bolsheviks "because
he was the son of a rabbi ;" Professor M.
Kroll, noted Russian scholar now residing
PIAV14-441AVT.
•1494 . : ' ^&K9R
its LTRorKIEwisii (ARO/41614
W
in Paris, and others, form a case against
the Communists.
If, as was charged at the conference,
American Jewish leaders are refraining
from criticizing Russia because of their col-
onization efforts; and if, as was repeatedly
charged by participants in the conference,
the Russian colonization project is a fail-
ure, then it is high time that American
Jewry's voice was raised against the per-
secutions, which are now so generally ad-
mitted, and which have shocked world
Jewry.
Professor Einstein's Frankness.
Dr. Albert Einstein has won fame not
only for his great scientific works, but as
well for his wit, and for the brevity with
which he is able to express his views.
To these may DOW be added another vir-
tue—that of frankness. Berlin newspapers
report that in the course of his brief ad-
dress on the occasion of the conferring upon
him of an honorary degree by the Sorbonne
at Paris recently, Professor Einstein said:
"If my theory of relativity is proven suc-
cessful, Germany will claim me as a Ger-
man and France will declare that I am a
citizen of the world. Should my theory
prove untrue, France will say that I am a
German and Germany will declare that I
am a Jew."
Combined with wit in this statement is
the frank and unafraid statement of a fact
affecting all peoples towards all Jews.
Leave it to Einstein to illustrate that brev-
ity is the soul of wit.
It is worth pointing out in this connect-
ion that Professor Einstein is the exception
among great Jews in that he never dissoc-
iates himself from his people. Great art-
ists and scientists who are referred to as
Russians or Germans or Frenchmen are as
a rule so designated because they would
probably themselves prefer to be co classed.
Einstein alone stands out as a Jew, and that
of his own volition. Therefore he has
earned the love of his people.
A Polish Historian on Jewish Rights.
The transfer from Paris to Vilna, by way
of Warsaw, of the remains of Joachim Le-
level, the great Polish patriot and histor-
ian, turns back the pages of history to the
days of the "aristocratic revolution" in Po-
land in the '30s of the last century. Lelevel
was among the leaders of that lost cause
who found themselves refugees in Paris.
In a manifesto in 1832, Lelevel addressed
himself to the "Israelitish Nation" and
urged the Jews in Poland to forget the in-
sults heaped upon them for the sake of the
Republic of old and the free Poland to
come. He assured the Jews that they
would be given equal rights in a Polish free
state, and that Poles would be ready to as-
sist the Jews' return to Palestine, should
they desire it.
Here is an interesting paragraph from
Lelevel's "Manifesto to the Israelitish Na-
tion:"
The reign of nations is drawing nigh. All
peoples will be merged into one, acknowledg-
ing the one God Adonai. The rulers have fed
the Jews on false promises; the nations will
grant them liberty. Soon Poland will rise from
the dust. Let then the Jews living on her soil
go hand in hand with their brother Poles. The
Jews will then be cure to obtain their rights.
Should they insist on returning to Palestine, the
Poles will assist them in realizing this consum-
mation.
Lelevel's understanding of the Jewish
problem in Poland during the beginning of
the last century so well corresponds to the
problews of our own day—and his pro-
posals that the Jews issue an apologetic
Judaica in Polish and affect a change in the
Jewish economic practices are now taken
so seriouhly and are to some extent being
put into practice—that his manifesto is an
historic document.
Of interest in connection with the Polish
insurrection and the activities of Lelevel is
that the late Rabbi Marcus Jastrow, who
later occupied a pulpit in Philadelphia and
was the head of the famous American-Jew-
ish family of Jastrow, preached a sermon
in his synagogue in Warsaw in 1861 in
memory of the Polish historian. Lelevel was
honored by the Jewish community on
numerous other occasions. During Rosh
Hashonah services in 1861 prayers were of-
fered in synagogues for the success of the
Polish cause and the Polish national hymn,
"Boze cos Polske," was sung.
A
t
"
*4451WtStagrtg trkft
1 4‘.6
Scanning the
Jewish Horizon
ullegali!iggibts
Gossip and News of Jew-
ish Personalities.
A
By DAVID SCHWARTZ
HOW THEY STARTED.
Some clever publicity man once
started the gag that Max Gabel,
the Yiddish George M. Cohan,
started his career by selling shoe-
strings. He was trying to put over
the dramatic idea that the Yiddish
Thespian literally, as well as fig-
uratively, received a front page
break in all the New York dallies.
And well it might. Nothing really
so pleases the homo Americanus
(correct my Latin if I am wrong)
than these stories of the successful
arising from darkest obscurity.
Well, my column aims to please.
I want my customers to be satis-
fied. So here are a few items that
ought to tickle some of my read-
ers:
Franklin P. Adams, or F. P. A.,
as the famous New York World
columnist is more frequently
dubbed, peddled insurance at one
time.
Jed Harris, famous producer,
was a hobo and a waiter.
Roxy, also of theatrical fame,
can look back at a past in which
he functioned as a bartender and
house-painter.
George S. Kaufman, playwright,
author of "The Butter and Egg
Man" and other hits, was a drum-
mer.
Benjamin Winter — a house-
painter.
DID YOU KNOW—
If a girl's mother is a Jewess and her father
is a Gentile is she considered a Jewess or a
Gentile?
That is a most difficult question to answer and
depends entirely on the point of view, and what we
mean by the terms used. The best authorities define
a Gentile (1) among the Jews, a person of a non-
Jewish race or faith; (2) among the Christians as
one who is neither Jew nor Christian; a pagan, a
heathen; (3) among the Mormons one who is not a
Mormon; (4) in India one who is not a Mohamme-
dan. So a Gentile may be one of many races and
of many religious beliefs. A Jew, we are in-
formed, may be racially a Jew, or a Jew only
through belief in Judaism; that is, religiously. If
we adhere to religious terms then it is easier to
answer the question. If a Christian and a Jew
marry, the offspring is what their religious training
makes them. If the girl in question is reared in the
Jewish faith she must be considered a Jewess; if in
the Christian religion, then she must be recognized
as a Christian. In the event that the parents arc
nidifferent to religious training and the girl is reared
in any faith, then socieallY, she is recognized as a
member of the group in which the parents move.
If the husband who is a Gentile decided to throw
his lot with the people of his wife's faith, who
happen to be Jews, then in all likelihood the children
will be regarded as Jews. If the Jewess seeks to
escape from her Jewish social ties and associates
with her husband's people then the children will
come to be regarded as Gentiles.
have been many instances of similar cases
T HERE
and it is difficult to make an absolute statement
regarding tlfem. For example: Joseph Pulitzer,
the lute eviller of the New York World, was, I be-
lieve, the child of just such a mixed marriage. Ile
in turn married a Gentile and his children today
are regarded as Gentiles. But the world still seems
to regard Pulitzer as a Jew. That is the attitude
taken by the majority of the Jewish press. But
that does not necessarily establish the fact that
Pulitzer was a Jew. The non-Jewish world, it
seems to me, has just as valid a claim to him. The
confusion arises because the Jews themselves are
not sure whether there is a Jewish race, and in
fact the Reform element take the definite position
that we are Jews by religion only. But this has
created confusion, and contradictions without num-
ber. I know Gentile girls who have married Jews
and whose children are being reared as Jews. In
such cases the world accepts them as Jews without
question. As I started out to say, it all depends
upon the individual case and the special circum-
stances surrounding it. But generally speaking, I
believe that children of such marriages are regarded
as Jews, though inaccurately, unless reared as Jews.
I have propounded this question to any number of
"experts" and I am unable to obtain a clearly
defined status because of the number of puzzling
elements involved.
INIM ■•■ ••,,,
'6.'6
T
R9/4.9
READER complains that we
gave a one-sided view of ex-
Senator Reed last week, and insists
that we have forgotten Reed's acri-
mony and bitterness in the days of
the Sapiro-Ford trial. "In all his
years in the Senate, did Senator
Reed ever do or say anything defi-
nitely in favor of Jews? I chal-
lenge you to say another good
word about Senator Reed."
We accept the challenge, not be-
cause we are particularly anxious
to defend the Missourian, but be-
cause our critical reader is entirely
unfair—and untrue besides. We
cannot claim to know every pro-
Jewish act of Senator Reed's, but
we are well acquainted with one
particular address which Mr. Reed
repeated a number of times in his
grandiloquent fashion. Here are
a few sentences from that famous
address, which ordinarily takes
about one-half hour:
"In the history of his people
every son of Judea should find in-
spiration fur a life of the highest
nobility. Poor, indeed, is he who,
dwelling upon sublime ancestral
achievements and heroic race his-
tory, feels not that exaltation of
soul which renders hint incapable
of debasing his illustrious heri-
tage ....
"If I were a Jew I would teach
my fellows the proud legend of my
people. I would inspire them with
the thought that in them courses a
blood as rich as ever filled the
veins of man....
"Amidst universal despotism the
Jew founded and maintained a de-
mocracy, based upon the will of
the people....
"But the Jew has always con-
quered adversity. Jewish genius
has broken the shackles of preju-
dice and the chains of supersti-
tion. It has triumphed over race
hatred and religious intolerance.
(sic). • • •
"The Jew in America holds a
proud and unchallenged place.
Here all distinctions of race and
caste and blood have been dis-
solved. Here is equality before the
law. Here is that freedom for
which your patriarchs long have
prayed and of which your people
have long dreamed."
Thus the senator used to close
his speech with the following para-
graph. It was a great peroration
filled with thunder and lightning:
"A vision of the future rises be-
fore me. I see your wonderful
people already equipped with
financial strength and power, but I
behold beyond the brighter radi-
ance of those days when the ex-
haustless energy and boundless am-
bition of the Jewish people, no
longer fettered by prejudice or
chained by adversity, shall produce
even more men and women whose
lives of labor and achievement, of
sacrifice and love will gain the ap-
proval of mankind."
tee on the judiciary. It is II. J
Res. 47:
"Whereas the Star-Spangle,
Banner for more than a century
of use has become deeply en
shrined in our hearts as the an
them of our country; and
" \S'hereas tradition and history
have always associated the melody
and words of this immortal song
with heroic deeds and patriotic en.
deavor; and
"Whereas both the army and
navy have adopted it as their an-
them; and
"Whereas, on occasions certain
musical conductors have been
guilty of refusing to play; there-
fore be it
"Resolved by the Senate and
HOUR, of Representatives of the
United States of America in Con-
gress assembled, that the Slim-
Spangled Banner be adopted and
authorized as the national anthem
of the United States of America,
and that recognition be given to it
as such on all appropriate occa-
sions."
ing picture monopoly concerning
which we told you last week. You
will recall that the attorney-gen-
eral has dug, his nails into the skin
of Messrs. Fox, Warner, etc. The
Brooklyn congressman's bill, which
is H. R, 1652, is referred to the
committee of interstate and for-
eign commerce, which is now con-
sidering, it. The bill aims to "pre-
vent obstruction and burdens upon
interstate trade and commerce in
copyrighted motion-picture films,
and to prevent the restraint upon
the free competition in the produc-
tion, distribution and exhibition of
copyrighted motion picture films,
and to prevent the further monop-
olization of the business of pro-
ducing, distributing and exhibiting
copyrighted motion pictures by
prohibiting blind booking and
block booking of copyrighted mo-
tion-picture films and by prohibit-
ing the arbitrary allocation of such
films by distributors to theaters in
which they or other distributors
have an interest, direct or indirect,
and by prohibiting the arbitrary
refusal to book or sell such film to
exhibitors in which they have no
such interest."
IF YOU like to look at prize fight
films and have been chafing un-
der the ruling which prevents the
transportation of such films from
one state to another, you will be
particularly interested in the Jew-
ish congressman's bill, which aims
to repeal the act of July 31, 1012,
that prohibits the importation and
interstate transportation of prize
fight pictures. The committee on
interstate and foreign commerce
will be sitting many mornings on
this question, and if you are not
especially anxious to see the bill
become a law, you are invited to
come down to Washington and use
your influence in its behalf.
Many senators are said to be in
favor of this bill because "although
we always go to see the big fights,
we don't know what it is all about
or what happened until we see it
in the movies.
"Our ringside seats are two
blocks away from the canvas!"
That's as good a reason as any
other that has been advanced for
or against this bill.
o
A Review by Philip Slomovitz.
THE MAURIZIUS CASE. By Jacob Wassermann. Published
by Horace Liveright, 61 West Forty-eighth street, New
York ($3.00).
Jacob Wassermann has reached
new literary heights in "The Maur-
izius Case." The great German-
Jewish novelist here combines his
art at story-telling with his ability
at analyzing human nature and the
hidden motives of man. The re-
sult is a great novel.
"The Maurizius Case" is a great
story of the miscarriage of justice
es seen by 16-year-old Etzel Ander-
gust, whose father, Wolf Ander-
gust, was responsible for the life-
conviction of Leonhart Maurizius.
How Etzel follows up every clue
in the case, locates Georg Wan-
scaurer, an apostate Jew who as
Georg Waremme was the witness
responsible for the conviction of
Maurizius, how he learns that
Anna Jahn, with whom Leonhart
was madly in love, was the one
who fired the shot which killed her
sister, Elli, the wife of Leonhart-
these adventures, told by the master
writer and story-teller, form a
great theme, placing Wassermann's
latest novel on the shelf of the
best in modern literature.
The life story of Warschauer-
Waremme, as related to Etzel An-
dergast, contains an interesting
Jewish angle. Warschauer, finding
little interest in his own people,
was baptized early in life. He be-
came known far and wide as an
educator, philosopher and lecturer.
Then his Germanism, which he
kept holier than the Germans
themselves, came in conflict with
his Jewishness. He knew that
(Turn to Next Page)
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Dr. Kurt Gruenwald of Jerusalem has been named an honorary
consul of Jugo-Slavia for Palestine.
•
•
•
John D. Hertz rejected an offer of $1,000,000 for his champion
thoroughbred horse, Reich Count, made by W. T. Waggoner, multi-
millionaire Texas oil and cattle :min.
•
•
•
Ludwig Lewisohn has transported the legend of the Wandering Jew
into modern times and modern manner in his new play, "Adam," an-
nounced for publication this month by Harper & Brothers.
•
•
•
Louis Untermeyer, who besides being a poet and critic is one of the
editors of Paper Books, published by Charles Boni, has sailed for
Europe to secure manuscripts for forthcoming Paper Book publications.
Edmund Fleg's "Life of Solomon" is to be published soon by E. P.
Dutton & CO.
•
•
•
A. 11. Herrman of Vienna has been awarded the gold medal of
the Austrian republic for the promotion of Austrian industrial interests
in the United States. The Jewish community of Vienna has congratu-
lated Herr Herrmann on the honor that has come to him.
•
•
•
.1. Singalovsky, an official of the Ort in Germany, arrived in Moscow
to take up with the Comzet the matter of former traders in the artisans'
co-operatives.
•
•
•
•
Emil Ludwig, the eminent biographer, arrived in Jerusalem. He is
making a tour of the Jewish settlements.
•0 Q.,• 0 0a9.
., ,,,wece.e
7r4i
CELLER has also Introduced
M R. a bill
which refers to the mov-
Jacob Wassermann, Master Story Teller, in "The
Maurizius Case," Reveals His Inherently
Jewish Passion for Justice.
The Gratz College,
Philadelphia, Pa.
Dec. 3, 1929.
ago? Irving Berlin's reply to the
question as to why he married a
Christian girl was: "Love is the
greatest religion"?
That George Jesse) carries two
brands of cigars, one of which he
smokes himself?
That Al Jolson seldom laughs.
Mr. Henry Charles Luke, the modern
That "Caught Short," Eddie
Nero who fiddled while Jerusalem bled, is C antor's opus on the Stock Ex-
hange, sold 40,000 copies during
leaving Palestine for a five-months vaca-
he first week after its publication?
tion. Is it one of those mutual agreement
--- ■ —
EVENTUALLY—WHY NOT
vacations?
NOW?
Well, it will be done some day,
HE announcement of Dr. Judah Magnes, dean of
The "Gemilath Chesed" or Free Loan so we might as well do it now. No
one has proved as yet that Calvin
the Hebrew University in Palestine, that he de-
Kassas made possible by the United Jewish
sires a spiritual and cultural Jewish center created
has Jewish blood in his
Campaign are reported to be of great eco- veins.
in Palestine, and no far as he is concerned, to relin-
We can't say that we are quite
quish our political aspirations, has developed a
nomic aid to the Jews of Eastern Europe.
situation that will have a far-reaching effect upon
prepared to prove so broad a thesis
Some of the "caught short" Jews nearer ourself, but our private detectives the entire issue of Zionism. This is a time that
have unearthed some evidence that
calls for sound thinking, cool judgment and, per-
home won't reject such Kassas either.
is auspicious, so to speak.
mit us to say, tact and diplomacy of the highest
Mr. Coolidge, it will be recalled,
order. Whether Dr. Magnes was right or wrong,
li aces ine
i t l quiet town of North-
The Talmud and the Koran share honors
this much must be said in favor of those who have
with Kant, Plato, Spencer and Carlyle in s o mpton. And if you will walk down so bitterly criticized him, as an outstanding leader
Sr of the main streets of that he should have conferred with other leaders repre-
the decree for their destruction issued by it sod town you will soon come to a senting the various phases of Zionism, before a
Madame Krupskaya, Lenin's sister, in Soy- A uilding called "Cohen Brothers' statement was iseued. That, to my mind, was a
nnex." On the second floor of serious error in judgment for his opponents to fly
let Russia. And Russia is speedily head- t his
building are the offices of off at a tangent, become hysterical and bitter to such
ing for medievalism.
a degree that even non-Jewish magazines and news-
(Turn to Next Page)
papers have seen fit to criticize their attitude.
A
A PLEA FOR JUSTICE
received from an earnest-minded Jew associated
with Gratz College in Philadelphia. I appreciate
very much the interest the writer takes in me and
my writings, but I hasten to assure him that I am
not guilty of the lapse he charges me with. I never
referred to Moses or to any other great leader,
ancient or modern in Jewish life, as a "wiseacre."
If such "epithets were used it must have been in
nature of a quotation. If the writer can point out
specifically wherein I have so grievously erred I
shall make proper amends. But the letter is worth
the space I give it in this column:
Dear Mr. Joseph:
Moses, I have often felt, must have written
the 90th Psalm about the time that he received
the command, "Go unto Pharaoh and say unto
him, Let my people go." Now when he is 80
years old he has burdens and responsibility and
subjection to criticism heaped upon him for
that indeed he must have special powers given
him by the Guardian of Israel.
At present I ant open to the conviction that
this "prayer of Moses the man of God" was
composed in that short period wherein he re-
proved the children of Israel (just prior to his
death) when he might be inclined to say that
the last third of his 120 years was the most
arduous and strenuous and (according to his
experience) the one wherein the reward ap-
peared least commensurate with the toil, and
yet he would not relax in work educational and
otherwise, for his people, he would not give up
his faith in God's promises.
Thou art a sage, dear Charles, and we are told.
"Sages, be careful of your words." Enroll
not thyself with a Korah, a Dathan and an
Abiram by speaking of our great teacher as a
wiseacre. Chatty effect can be achieved with-
out casting slurs or hurling epithets unde-
served.
Sincerely yours,
ARTHUR A. DEMBITZ.
By Hillel, The Observer
DID you know that the Star-
Spangled Banner was not our
national anthem? Probably you
weren't aware of that fact, for
very few who really ought to know
were able to answer this question
correctly. Leave it to Represen-
tative Emanuel Celler, however, to
discover such a situation, for he
can discover anything, anywhere,
somehow. This Seventy-first Con-
gress has before it a joint resolu-
tion introduced by Mr. Celler
which is now before the commit-
.
the Jewish Review and Observer of
T HROUGH
Cleveland, the following interesting letter is
These facts may help to cause present
persecutors of Jews in Poland to change
their tactics which are so unworthy of the
patriotism displayed by our people in the
days when Poland fought for freedom.
"(V hIgh'
LADY residing in Eau Claire, Wis., writes me
THROUGH the Jewish Times of Baltimore I am
asked the following question by a reader resid-
ing in West Virginia:
That Meyer Lesser, one of the
big men in the Warner organiza-
tion, is a son of the late Orthodox
rabbi of Cincinnati?
That the late Prof. Gotthard
Deutsch of _Cincinnati was very
fond of Rabbi Lesser, notwith-
standing the fact that the rabbi
used to call him a shagetz to his
face?
That in the near future a well-
known Jewish news agency will an-
nounce
edtrure
a fairly
well-known i "Zionist
new
started his phenomenal climb to
the extraordinary position he now
occupies as an office boy in the
Zionist Organization many years
'
WASHINGTON JEWISH
MIRROR
Charles 1f. Joseph
.7.
that listening to a radio talk given by Floyd Gib.
bons, the well-knoWn correspondent, she heard him
say that Charles Steinmetz was a Protestant. She
had always thought he was a Jew and asked me to
express my oppinion. In view of the fact that hun-
dreds of thousands of others "listened in" on the
talk, and believing that others possibly might have
misunderstood Mr. Gibbons, I decided to answer
her question through this column. Charles Stein-
metz, the late genius of the General Electric Com-
pany, was a Jew. When Mr, Gibbons said that he
was a protestant he did not mean Protestant in a
religious sense. Steinmetz was a cripple, he had
been paralyzed and this condition was inherited as
his father had suffered similarly. Steinmetz felt
that those who were incurably incapacitated as he
should never marry. And he protested against
such marriages being consummated. In that sense
he was a protestant. He was also a protestant
against other conventionalities in society. Ile was
an extreme individualist and was regarded by slimy
as eccentric. When he first went with the General
Electric Company he found a notice posted in the
letkatories that smoking was prohibited. Ile im-
mediately notified the company "no smoking, no
Steinmetz," so they revoked the rule for his special
benefit. Steinmetz though a Jew, was only a Jew
by birth and not by religion.
-----
GREENHUT CHAIN
The plan of the Greenhuts, of
our New England section, to estab-
lish a chain of some 40 newspapers
—or, other, to buy out a large
number of papers and form them
into a chain—seems to have mis-
carried. It will be recalled that
when the plan was first broached
there was quite a bit of vocal op-
position on the score that big busi-
ness would soon have its hands
over the throats of the last Palla-
dium of our liberties, as the Fourth
of July orators might say.
I confess frankly that I, person-
ally, do not cherish the idea of
such gigantic newspaper chains,
but that is neither here nor there.
At any rate, it appears that the re-
cent market reverses have nipped
the plan in the bud.
But what I was going to say is
that the editorial father of the
whole plan, it develops, is Moses
Koenigsberg. And thereby hangs
a very interesting tale. A tale
about Moses Koenigsberg himself
—formerly of Texas, now one of
the most interesting men in the
panorama of American journalism.
Koenigsberg once told this writer
the story of his younger years—
the difficulties-he met in entering
newspaper work, how his father
actually filed a charge with the
police against him, causing his ar-
rest with the hope of keeping him
in jail rather than permitting him
to become a newspaperman. Those
were the days when newspapering
followed more closely the old tra-
ditions typified by Murat! Halstead,
who edited his paper in Cincinnati
with a bottle of Bourbon on one
corner of his desk and a .44 shoot-
er on the other. To good, respec-
table people the word "news-
paperman" was synonymous with
"rowdy" in those days. But the
senior Koenighberg's efforts availed
not. Moses stuck to the game;
and when he became chief of the
Universal News Service, the In-
ternational News Service and four
or five other press services Papa
Koenigsberg forgave him.
Recently Koenigsberg was noti-
fied by the French government
that they desired to confer upon
him the Legion of Honor. Mr.
William Randolph Hearst forth-
with issued an order that no man
connected with the Hearst organ-
izations might accept the French
ribbon. Whereupon Mr. Koenigs-
berg announced that he would ac-
cept the ribbon, and tendered his
resignation to Mr. Hearst.
After that incident Mr. Koenigs-
berg was next noted in the press
as having acquired two papers in
Cuba. And now—well, Koenigs-
berg abounds in ideals and energy.
It will be interesting to watch him.
'
2/4.9.
.14
.
fsfr
f
74,if