THEPLTROfTIEWM CAROMIGA)

■ nd THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

rtilifiLTROITJEWISRORONICLE

The New Federation Director

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE

Isidore Sobeloff, the successor to Kurt
Peiser as executive director of the Jewish
Welfare Federation of Detroit, will be
confronted with serious issues when he
assumes his new tasks in August. An im-
portant faction in the community is clam-
oring for a Jewish hospital, and it will
take a great deal of tact and understand-
ing of the issues involved to handle the
situation. The realization of the plan for
the formation of the Jewish Community
Council will call for tactful dealing with
Yiddish-speaking organizations which will
demand democratization of our commun-
ity structure, as well as with the more con-
servative groups which favor the hush-
hush policy in dealing with Jewish prob-
lems. Zionist questions will demand the
sympathetic co-operation of all elements
in the community because of the crisis that
faces Palestine. The Jewish Center group
insists upon the construction of a new
building in the Dexter section, and the im-
portant groups affiliated with the United
Hebrew Schools will not rest until the
much-needed building to accommodate
1,000 children who now go without a He-
brew education is erected in the Linwood-
LaSalle district.
Mr. Peiser leaves Detroit with an ex-
cellent record of service. He was respon-
sible for directing the completion of the
Home for the Aged and the present Jewish
Community Center. lie laid the founda-
tion for the Jewish Community Council.
He was sympathetic to the cause of Pal-
estine's redemption and the Hebrew edu-
cation ideal. The precedents he establish-
t:d will be a challenge to the new director.
Because of the serious tasks he will have
to translate into realities, Mr. Sobeloff
will have the co-operation of all commu-
nally-minded Detroit Jews. His efforts
will be carefully watched, but we are con-
fident that he will receive the support of
the community he is to serve because com-
mon needs must before long become com-
mon realities.

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f

Sabbath Reeding. of the Law
Pentateuchal Portion—Num, 26:10-30:1,
Prophetical Portion—Tars 1:1-2:3.

July 2, 1937

Tammuz 23, 5697

"Shylock" in Public Schools

The Boston municipal school committee
has eliminated the story of "Shylock"
from the compulsory classroom reading
list. The play may be selected by pupils
as voluntary reading, but is to be forbid.
den as a subject for classroom discussion.
Complaints from Jewish organizations and
the Bnai Brith Anti-Defamation League
forced action on the part of the school
board.
Boston is now one of many communities
where the use of Shakespeare's "Merchant
of Venice" is barred. Such action natur-
ally met with opposition from some quar-
ters. For example, W. K. Kelsey, writing
in the Detroit News several days ago, la-
belled as "false views" the ideas back of
the movement to bar the reading of "The
Merchant of Venice" in the schools. Which
challenges us to make an explanation. We
know how to respect the sound judgment
of Mr. Kelsey, who is a very fair-minded
commentator. But we have had sad ex-
periences from misunderstanding, and
much of our present trouble throughout
the world comes from young students in
European countries whose minds are pois-
oned by biased teachers.
If "The Merchant of Venice" were to
be explained with fairness by teachers in
our public schools there would be no ob-
jection to its use. But bigotry is prover-
bially more deep-rooted than fair-minded.
ness, as evidenced by the venom which is
injected in the use of the term "Shylock."
It is therefore a vital self-defense need
that we fight against the injection of mis-
understanding and prejudice in youthful
minds through our public school curricula.
Jews have never objected to the use
of "The Merchant of Venice" in higher
schools of learning, whose more matured
students are expected to study with rea-
son and not to be too-easily impressed.
We, believe, however, that we are justified
in objecting to the use of "Shylock" by
younger and more impressionable children.

Why Is Christianity Silent?

The Christian Century, important liberal
periodical, in a recent issue carried the
following editorial comment:

The latest available statistics state that the
population of Poland 1104.9 per cent Roman
Catholic. Would it be unreasonable to expect
the Roman Catholic Church, now so ardently
and properly solicitous for the religious liberty
of Catholics in Spain and Mexico, to bring
pressure to bear in the interest of liberty
and justice for a minority group of another
faith in a country whose population is three-
fourths Catholic?

At the same time Prof. Paul H. Doug-
las of the University of Chicago made the
statement that a word from the Pope
would be sufficient to end persecutions of
Jews in Poland.
We can go a few steps further and
state that if the Christian churches
throughout the world would practice what
they preach, an end could be put to hat-
Leon Blum's Stewardship
red and bigotry almost over night. .
How long will the Christian churches
M. Leon Blum remains an important
factor in the conduct of the French gov- remain silent in the face of torture inflicted
ernment. As vice-premier in the cabinet of upon an entire people?

Camille Chautemps, who succeeded him
as premier, he continues to help guide the
destinies of the French people as one of
the leaders of the popular front govern-
ment.
M. Blum remained in power for a little
over a year. This is in itself an unusual
achievement for a French political leader.
During his stewardship he guided his gov-
ernment with courage and with dignity.
There were many who feared that the
rise of a Jew to the position of premier of
one of the world's greatest powers might
react unfavorably upon Jews throughout
the world. M. Blum's genius belied such
defeatism. He was a credit to the French
and the Jewish nations alike.

Paperhangers vs. Hitler

Two Philadelphia locals of the Inter-
national Brotherhood of Painters, Paper-
hangers and Decorators have let it be
known that they object to George Cardi-
nal Mundelein's reference to Adolf Hitler
as a "paperhanger" and "not a very good
one" at that. Said the paperhangers'
resolution:
"That egotistical, anti-labor dictator
plight have hung paper at one time, but
that does not qualify him for the honor-
able title 'paperhanger.' The only thing
Hitler has hung in the past 10 years is
the liberty of the German people."
And that ought to be final. Hitler is
anathema to all lovers of liberty, and he
Is acceptable to none except the slaves in
spirit. The paperhangers of this country
must not be classed among the latter or
with Hitler.

Dr. Magnes' 60th Birthday

Dr. Judah L Magnes has for more than

two decades occupied a position of inter-
national importance. As a leader in the
Zionist movement, as a great liberal, re-
cently as chancellor and now as president
of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he
has attracted attention among non-Jews
as well as Jews and has made an impor-
tant place for himself in cultural and lib-
eral circles.
The occasion of the celebration of the
GOth birthday of Dr. Magnes on July 5,
therefore, becomes an event that is not
limited to Jews alone or to only one coun-
try. Furthermore, because of the position
he holds he is no longer able to observe
his birthday by himself but must permit
the world at large to share with him his
milestones.
Dr. Magnes is still in the height of
power as a contributing factor in Jewish
life. We are confident that he will do a
great deal for the betterment of his peo-
ple's position in years to come, and in
greeting him on his birthday we express

We Value Our Freedom

Hendrik Willem Van Loon, the noted
historian, writing in Redbook Magazine,
pays a glorious tribute to American de-
mocracy and advises us to be thankful
that we live in a free country instead of
under a European dictatorship. Mr. Van
Loon's tribute is deserving of quotation:

It has been my own good fortune to live
in every kind of world. I have gone through
the entire scale of need and want, from the
old Russia's plains, where the peasants used
to eat the straw of their roofs, and from that
sweet and spiritually minded land of the
Hindus, where people fight each other bitterly
for every speck of cowdung, so that they may
have at least a little fuel for their handful of
moldy rice, all the way up to our own squan-
derous bailiwicks, where the socially-elect would
throw away enough food to keep an entire
French village in provender for at least half
a month.
I have lived under almost every form of
government and misgovernment. The lances
of the Cossacks of the late Little Father
have pushed me none too gently off the side-
walks of Moscow and Warsaw, and I have
felt the threat of llerr Hitler's brown-shirted
rowdies. But these experiences have convinced
me that sensible people can only be happy
under just the sort of conditions which still
prevail in America.
Our own system happens to be theone sys-
tem that beat suits our own personal prefer-
ences. We are so accustomed to it that we
never give it another thought But wait until
you visit the happy countries where such mat-
ters are "differently arranged." Wait until
you have had • couple of weeks of being told
what to think, when to laugh, when not to
laugh (this especially is very important), what
to revere, what to detest, what to say, what
to eat (because It is not there to be eaten),
when to smile, when to frown, at what age
to put your infant sons into bright little uni-
form, at what age to send your infant daugh-
ters to • labor camp, whom you may know
or marry, and whom you must not know and
whom you must not marry, when to applaud
and when to him, and by what means you may
seek salvation and by what other means you
must not even aspire to reach a blessed here-
after.
Wait, all ye good discontented neighbors,
until you have had that agreeable and enlight-
ening experience, and then tell me in what
particular respect we do not happen to be
Just about 10 per cent better off than almost
all of our neighbors.

Mr. Van Loon echoes sentiments which
Jews in particular have felt all along. Not
only the citizens of this country, but the
Jews all over the world look to America
as the great democracy that will have to
shed light for many years to come upon
a gioomy world picture. For us, in par-
ticular, the freedom that is embodied in
American traditions provides the hope
that we shall survive dictatorships and
that we shall see the dawn of a day that
will be fraught not with dangers from dic-
tators, bigots and tyrants, but will instead
make men free by allowing them the lib-
erty of thinking, writing and speaking

freely.

America is, indeed, mankind's supreme

blessing.

Lights front Youngest Emigrant from Poland Strictly
Shadowland Finally Reaches Father's
Confidential
By LOUIS PEKARSKY
Embrace in Argentine
Tidbits from Everywhere

Reproduction in part or whole forbid.
deo, without pormi.lon of the Seven
Art. Feature Syndicate, Copyright.. of
this feature.

(Copyright, 1937, 8. A. F. A)

STORY BOUGHT FOR
BOBBY BREEN
Screen rights to the best-selling
European novel, "Katzen-Musik,"
written by Rene Fuelop-Mueller
and translated into 19 foreign
languages, have been purchased as
the next picture to star Bobby
Breen. "Lucky Star" Is the title
chosen for the film. It will be
adapted for the screen by the au-
thor in collaboration with Julius
Klein, veteran Ilearst newspaper
reporter and correspondent and
writer. Klein, whose home is in
Chicago, has been active in Holly-
wood film circles for the past three
years. He is a leader in the Jewish
War Veterans of the U. S. here.
Edward Gross will be associate
producer to Sol Lesser, president
of Principal Productions, w h o
holds the young Canadian singing
star's contract.

BOOK ON SOPHIE TUCKER
Yeas have heard that Sophie
Tucker is writing a screen play
based upon her life. Now we learn
that a book on her life is also near
completion and is to be released by
the printers soon. Miss Tucker's
career has been one of the most
colorful in any branch of the thea-
trical profession.
VINCE BARNETT-
A POPULAR ACTOR
It is said of Vince Barnett, one
of Hollywood's most popular at-
tom, that he "insulted" his way to
fame in this city of glamour.
Vince, you will remember, is the
news photographer in "A Star Is
Born.' When it comes to giving
freely of his time and talent for
Jewish and other causes, you al.
ways find Barnett right on the
job. In fact, last summer he broke
an ankle while playing in a movie
stars' ball game, which he helped
sponsor, for the Mount Sinai Home
for Chronic Invalids in Los An-
geles. His presence in America's
film capital became known by his
success as a professional "ribber."
His ability to make people laugh
at dinners, parties and other so-
cial affairs won him an oppor-
tunity to show it on the screen,
Vince Barnett, now a free-lance
actor, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa.,
on July 4. He attended Carnegie
Tech, where he was in the class
of 1923, but his prowess as a "rib-
ber" was already developing and
he did not graduate. Instead, he
became an actor, and in 1927 and
1928 was in Earl Carroll's "Vani-
ties." He came to Hollywood in
1931. He is married to the former
Genevieve Meier of Detroit.
NEWS BITS FROM
THE STUDIOS
George and Ira Gershwin are
at work on the songs for Samuel
Goldwyn's $1,600,000 musical pic-
ture, "The Goldwyn Follies."
Bennie F. Zeidman, new Grand
National Films producer, is one of
the most experienced veterans in
the motion picture business, He
was formerly production manager
for Mary Pickford, assistant to
Jack Warner, and producer for
Paramount.
Jerome Cowan came down with
ptomaine poisoning the day before
he was to start on 'Hurricane"
and came to the studio with his
doctor, who kept an eye on him
while he appeared in every scene
... Cowan made a successful
debut in "Beloved Enemy;" ap-
peared in an important role with
Fred Astaire in "Shall We Dance"
and just completed a part in "New
Faces."

BUENOS AIRES, Argentine.—Soprotimos, the
Argentine branch of the IIIAS-ICA Emigration
Association, facilitated the entry into Argentina
of David Heger, the youngest Jewish immigrant
to have arrived here from Poland in many years.
He travelled alone—the distance from Warsaw to
the Argentinian shores.
Little David, who is four years old, is an or-
phan. His mother died soon after his father had
migrated. The burden of caring for him fell upon
the shoulders of his old grandmother who lives in
a township in the District of Lublin.
It required his worried father in Argentina
nearly two years to save up the amount necessary
to pay for the transportation and government fees
connected with the issuance of a passport and
visa. Even then, the road of little David to be-
come reunited with his father, was not spread
with roses. Unfriendly officials of the provincial
authorities were reluctant to issue the necessary
documents certifying to his parentage, date of
birth, etc. It required manifold efforts of the Po-
lish branch of the HIAS-ICA to secure these docu-
ments and to make possible the completion of the
legal requirements necessary for the issuance of
the visa.
The HIAS-ICA has also seen to it that the
youngster, appropriately dressed for a journey of
so long a distance, bra accompanied by his grand-
mother to Warsaw, and looked after on the rail-
roads, as well as on the steamer.
"Ta-a-te!" (father), little David exclaimed,
sobbing, as he fell into dad's embrace.

Pledge to Charity Binding and
Enforceable, N. Y. Court Rules

NEW YORK (WNS) — Jewish philanthropic
agencies whose books are loaded with unpaid and
presumably uncollectable pledges are expected to
begin a series of suits to collect what may amount
to hundreds of thousands of dollars as a result
of an important decision by the Appellate Division
of the New York State Supreme Court holding
that a pledge of money to charity is binding and
enforceable at law. The decision was made in the
case of Isidore Bainsburg, New York lawyer, who
had reniged on a pledge of $5,000 to the Beth Is-
Jae! Ilospital. In reversing the decision of Su-
preme Court Justice McCook, who had ruled the
pledge unenforceable because it was made with-
out receipt of any consideration, the Appellate Di-
vision declared that "the subscribed who fills in
a subscription blank and the charity promisee
do not contemplate a bargain in the mercantile
sense. Nevertheless, where the subscriber agrees
to pay for a certain purpose and the promisee
thereafter spends the money for that purpose both
intend a binding pledge and the former should be
compelled to live up to his promise. The acts
of the hospital here in reliance upon the pledge
made by the defendant as alleged in the complaint
furnished the consideration for the promise to
pay and created the promissory estoppel."

Recalls How Jew Saved Catholic
Univerity from Foreclosure

NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y.—(WNS)—How Mar-
cus Brown, a young Jewish merchant of this city,
saved Niagara University, a Catholic institution,
from foreclosure during the winter of 1882-83
was recalled by Rabbi Jacob Freedman of this
city in an article in the Buffalo Courier-Express.
When the sheriff was threatening to take over
the university unless a payment of $3,000 was
made. The university's officials were almost ready
to give up when the Rev, Michael Cavanaugh,
treasurer of the university, thought of his friend
Brown. On the morning of the day before the
foreclosure sale a terrific blizzard struck Niagara
Falls, Late that night, during the raging storm,
Father Cavanaugh plowed his way to Brown's
house to ask the Jewish merchant's aid. In the
morning Brown fought his way through moun-
tains of snow to a livery stable to get a horse,
and after an exciting ride through the storm-swept
and snow-covered streets reached the auction just
in time to put up the 1,3,000 that saved Niagara
University. Brown, a native of Germany, now lives
in New York City. Since that stormy day he has
contributed to the building fund of Niagara Uni-
versity, but the $3,000 he advanced was paid back
to him two years after he lent it.

BIBLICAL DEMOCRACY

Concluding the Series: Hebraic Mortar

By DR. ABRAHAM A. NEUMAN

ROFFOR1 01011t. In this. the fourth and last article of his series on Jew'eh
lona.. on Ametkum iftlitutimm. IN. Neuman trace. the milciotte element
In the founding of our devuocreey and .short. American Jewry to do
its share In lho ..... uartling of this tkmotracy.

(Copyright, 1937, Eleven Arta

Feature syndicate)

The Sabbath laws were made about the unwarrantableness and
the subject of renewed and con- unsafeness of referring matters
stant legislation in Puritan New of counsel or judicature to the
England. All serville labor and body of the people, quia the best
all passing from place to place, Part is always the least, and of
save for necessity, mercy, or at- that best part the wiser part is
tendance upon worship, were always the lesser." This senti-
prohibited with severe penalties. ment was emphatically repeated
Constables and tithingmen were by John Cotton. "Democracy," he
to arrest all Sabbath breakers. said, "I do not conceive that ever
Noisy offenders were put into a God did ordeyne as a fitt govern-
public "cage." The most innocent ment for church or common.
pleasures were strictly forbidden. wealth. If the people be gover-
Children playing on the streets, nors, who shall be governed?"
youths and maidens strolling in
Social equality was still the ex-
the fields. were "things tending clusive dream of the fanatical
much to the dishonor of God, the and disturbing Quakers. Class
reproach of religion and the distinctions had the full sanction
prophanation of the holy Sab- of the Puritan mind. Sumptuous
bath."
dress was forbidden to the com-
Needless to say, these punish- mon people only. In Harvard and
ments are not traceable to the Yale Colleges the names of the
Bible, but to the medieval bar- students were arranged according
barism of the English and the to social standing. The change
continental codes of law. The in- to the alphabetic order was in-
terpretation of the Sabbath !awe troduced only • few years before
seem to hark back to outmoded the social creed of the Declara-
conceptions of sects disowned by tion of Independence proclaimed
Judaism. What a gulf separated that "all men are created equal."
the Oneg Shabbath from the Indeed, human equality was fun-
Puritan Sabbath. Having broken damentally irreconciliable with
with tradition, the Puritans. in the theology of the Saints and
a sense, resembled the Karaites the Elect. Freedom of conscience,
and fell into their errors of literal- which was to be defended with
ism and asceticism. How much one's very life, was for one's own
they could have learned at the salvation and for those who
feet of a Pharisaic Rabbi!
shared the same creed. Religious
So strange are the ways of his- liberty for a community of Saints
tory that man's stumbling-blocks was compatible with ruthless per-
often become the stepping-stones secution of heretics of the type
to larger vvisions of truth. Not of of Roger Williams, Anne Hutch-
the breadth of mind, but of the inson and the tribe of Quakers.
narrowness of spirit was the soul When Roger Williams thundered
of America fashioned in those "The armies of Truth like the
early days. It was the ardor and armies of the Apocalypse, must
not the mellowness of religious have no sword, helmet, breast-
convictions that drove the colon- plate, shield or horse, but what
ists to stake their life and lumpi- ie spiritual and of a heavenly na-
ness upon the great spiritual ad- ture," he was speaking as the
venture of America. To create a Prophet of a new era, but in
new order of society, a common- Massachusetts he was heretic and
wealth in which God is King and a disturber of the peace.
the revealed Word is the law of Religiess Liberty Was Primary
the land, called forth an intensity
But again we are faced with
of passion which alone can revo- o ne of those paradoxes which the
lutionize the soul.
history of errant humanity takes
Heresy
• Prophet
delight in springing upon the sur-
Not democracy, but theocracy prised spectator. A slight mistake
was their ideal. Thus we are told in Columbus' geography made
that Winthrop "expostulated
Ptiasw Mts. TO wax? ra,011

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 113i. a. A. ..

NAZI BUSINESS
The Italian shipping lines oper-
ating out of American ports no
likee Mussolini's Jew-baiting • • •
The day after II Duce's paper
published a blast against Zionism,
the Italian lines received scores
of cancellations from tourists
who had booked passage for
Europe and Palestine . . . The
French Line, incidentally, got
most of this business . . . Speak-
ing of tourists, it might pay to
look into the whispers that Cook's
Tours discourage Jews from tak-
ing its planned tours.
The Polish Student and Alumni
of America must have forgotten
President Roosevelt's remark in
his second inaugural address
about Poland's plan to force the
emigration of Jews, for it gave
FDR its first annual award for
outstanding service . . . Now he
has awards from Jews and Poles
. . . What a combination!
The new Nazi consul in San
Francisco (we told you last week
he was the murderer of Mathias
Erzberger) also had a hand in
the Reichstag fire trial . . . Most
of the other high Nazis who put
the torch to the Reichstag were
shot in the 1934 purge, but Con-
sul Killinger was spared because
of his friendship with Goering.
ETHER WAVES
Carlo and Nello Rossetti, the
Italian anti-Fascists who were
murdered in Paris, were sons of
an old Jewish family from Tus-
cany . , . Their father was a co-
worker of Mazzini, the Italian
patriot ... The Rosselli brothers
were nephews-in-law of Mrs.
Frederick Nathan, New York
civic leader, and nephews of a
former Jewsh mayor of Rome,
Signor Nathan.
The crime for which Helmuth
Hirsch was beheaded in Germany
was not, as reported, a plot to
assassinate Nazi leaders, but an
alleged attempt to smuggle mu-
nitions to the Loyalists in Spain
. . . It was Hirsch's alleged re-
lations with the Loyalists that
enraged Hitler.
Take it from Dr. Vazsony,
Jewish member of the Hunger.
ian parliament, that the Hun-
garian Jews are not related to
any other Jews, nor have they
any racial ties with them . . .
Vazsony claims that the Hun-
garian Jews are the descen•
dents of the Chabares, a Cen-
tral Asiatic tribe of horsemen,
who came to Hungary together
with the Magyars thousands of
years ago and adopted Judaism
shortly before settling in Hun.
gary ... Hence, says Vazsony,
there are no Hungarian Jews,
but only "Chabares of Mosaic
faith,"
Residents of llonolulu are still
talking about the former Ameri-
can soldier who ripped down a
swastika from the flagpole of a
German store while the German
consul was shopping there.
THIS AND THAT
Albert Levy, editor of La
Vara, the organ of Sephardic
Jews in America, is touring the
country to gather material for a
history of the American Sephar-
dim.
The Temple on the Heights
in Cleveland has joined the
Zionist Organization of Amer.
Ica collectively.
Don't pay any attention to
those rumors about the Zionist
Congress being postponed or
called off . . . They're just plain
hooey.

FAIRNESS!

By PROF. St BRODETSKY
President of the Maccabi World
Dans

For the Maccabiah as for
all Jewish sports festivals, the
supreme and principle law is
FAIRNESS!

It is of less importance as
to who the winner is but that
both loser and winner fight
cleanly and honestly.
You must never forget not
even in the fiercest struggle
that you are friends--sports-
men—MACCABIM.

Whoever the opponent may
be, he is your equal. Do not
treat him other than you would
have him treat you.

Victory means honor, but
defeat does not mean shame.
There can only be one victor.
Congratulate him and he will
thank you for a fair fight and
courageous opposition.
Youth is wonderful—it is no
merit.
Age is not always agreeable
—it is no crime.
Older men should be proud
of the virile youth of the grow-
ing generation; should lead
them as comrades and share
their pleasures.
Youth should not smile at the
advice proffered by the exper-
ienced man, should willingly
accept it and have full faith in
him.
One is not the best judge of
ote's own ease. When the ref-
eree decides against you, ac-
cept it as jug and salute op-
ponent and jury.
Sport means more to us than
competition and games only; it
must be used as a means of
education for the Jewish peo-
ple.
For many it is almost the
only joy In a life of dark de-
pression. Apart from this, our
physical culture must help to
make Jewish physique strong

and enduring. It must harden

(1.1.RAMN

=RN

TO

XXX? TAM

July 2, 1937

PURELY COMMENTARY

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Schmelings Boycott or Defeat?

Joe Louis' victory in the heavyweight title bout
at once created a possibility of a fight in Detroit
between the new champion and the favorite of
the Nazis, Max Schmeling. Immediately sports
writers raised the question of the possibility of
a boycott on the part of the anti-Nazis. These
writers take it for granted that such a bout
would certinly be boycotted in New York
City, primarily, we take it, because Schmeling's
income would be used for Nazi activi-
ties in Germany. These writers fail to take into
consideration another sentiment that will surely
play a part. It is the desire of anti-Nazis to see
the No. 1 Nazi boxer receive a decisive licking at
the hands of the Detroit Negro. From an anti-
Nazi point of view a defeat for Schmeling may be
a much greater moral victory than the boycott
of such a fight, which must also involve a boycott
of the Detroit champion—in the event that Louis
decides to fight Schmeling.

•
Goettingen—and the American Mind

A cable to the New York Times describing the
Goettingen celebration states: "Two Americans
will be among the 16 foreigners receiving honor-
ary degrees. Goettingen also originally intended
to give a degree to Prof. Schumway of the Uni-
versity of Pennsylvania. He was to have come as
that university's delegate, before it changed its
mind." To the changed American mind will go
a more noble degree—the honor of having re-
buked tyranny and having remained on the side
of humanity and decency. Those who have changed
their minds are in the majority, so against those
who yield to the temptation of empty pomp and
false glory.
•

Bias in Employment

Prejudice In employment Is not limited to Jews
alone. The Catholics also suffer from bias, and
there is reason to believe that some Jews and
Catholics discriminate against Protestants. It is
an established fact that many Jews refuse to ern-
ploy Jews and thereby make the lot of Jewish
applicants for jobs more difficult
Of course, Jews occupy the highest rung on the
ladder of suffering. Catholics rank second among
those who suffer from prejudice in employment
If the two groups could only unite to fight the
peril of discrimination, we could hope to elimin-
ate much of it.
A step in the right direction was taken by the
annual convention of the Knights of Columbus of
New York State, held recently in Geneva, N. Y.
The convention adopted a resolution declaring
that "any discrimination of employers against
employes because of race or creed should be con-
sidered un-American and un-Christian." The next
step should be to enroll American employers, with-
out distinction as to race or creed, under the single
banner of labeling such bias un-American at all
times and under all circumstances.
•

A Humiliating Example

Humiliating proof of the extent of racial and
religious bias in employment is to be found in the
report of the New York State Department of
Labor for the month of April. This report de-
clared that racial and religious preferences of em-
ployers "not always related to the actual require-
ments of the job" made it impossible to fill some
positions. As a result the public employment serv-
ice was unable to fill 900 jobs. What a sad com-
mentary on our democracy!
•

Other Fronts Call for Unity

There are other fronts on which unity is essen-
tial on the part of Jews and Christians. The boy-
cott of German-made goods offers the best ex-
ample of negligence on the part of the Christian
churches. While individual Christian leaders have
joined with Jews in sponsoring the boycott, the
churches and Christian religious groups, have ab-
stained from participation in the movement.
In this instance, too, it is a Catholic church
that is taking the lead to enroll officially in the
anti-Nazi boycott. The first Catholic church in
this country to enlist in the boycott movement is
the St. Nicholas Catholic Church of New York.
The persecution of Catholics by the Nazi regime
has inspired this church to mobilize its 6,000 mem-
bers for the anti-Nazi economic boycott This is
an excellent beginning. May the movement grow
among the churches, until we see the end of Hitler-
ism and the dawn of a new era of peace for Ger-
many and for the worldl

American Churches and Fascism

By DR. CORNELIUS KRUSE
Dept. of Philosophy, Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.

In the current issue of the
Whatever form an American
well-known quarterly, Religion fascism may assume, I have no
and Life, I discuss the question, doubt it would ,share the follow-
"What Strategy Should t h e ing features with European fas-
Church Adopt with Reference to cism:
Fascism?" This question is so
1. A low estimate of in-
important for American churches dividual penonality and • com-
today that recapitulation of this plete
I of the Christian
discussion here might prove valu- doctrine that Kant exp
d in
able.
philosophical terms in his fa-
I have in mind particularly the mous maxim of treating per-
attitude of American churches to sonality
as a means only
a possible American brand of but also as an end.
fascism. We can assume that the
2. Consequent upon a low
American churches are firmsly view of human personality,
determined to combat fascism. fascism has only contempt for
But will that be enough? Ob- the liberty of press, of speech,
viously not, for will they be able of assembly.
to recognize fascism when they
3. An atavistic glorification
see it?
It will not be easy. If fascism of war "as that which alone
comes to our country, it will not ennobles," to use Mussolini's
come conveniently tagned and own term.. Hitler holds the
convictions "In eternal
labelled. What will be most con- same
fusing to the churches Is that it warfare mankind ha. become
great—in
peace man-
will not only come clothed in kind would eternal
perish."
respectable political garments but
4. A shameless avowal that
that, if one is to judge by its
European forms, it will appear, the end justifies not only the
at least at first, as a defender of means, but any means what-
the faith and co-worker with the ever.
churches.
5. A brutal declaration that
Fascism and Christianity
in all circumstances might is
What I think will make detec- right
tion all the more difficult is that
a A contemptuous rejection
fascism and Christianity actually of the ethic of love and • ear.
have some things in common. Fas- row restriction of the brother-
cism, like Christianity, extols the hood of man to the nation,
life of unselfish and heroic self- state or
sacrifice for the good of others. belong to. race 000 happens to
Christiana would agree that the
A Christianity become vital has
welfare of the group takes prece-
dence over the welfare of the in- the tremendous advantage over
dividual. Both Christianity and fascism that in its transeeding
fascism reject a materialistic in- nobility it remains constantly bet-
terpretation of the universe. ter than its adherents whereas
Similarly, obedience to law and the tragedy of fascism is that it
order are held in esteem by both is often served by a youthful
c hurch and state.
idealism that morally transcends
Gentile, official fascist philoso- it
I might ask a final question:
pher declares boldly, "Fascism
• • . is a religion," while Rosen- Should the church itself enter the
berg, official spokesman for the pelitical arena? It might be one
Nazis, extols in terms of religion way of attracting youth but it
the new "Mythus" and sacrament would not be the right way. But
of blood. What may deceive the neither can the church remain
undiseerning, however, becomes indifferent to the type of gov-
a positive sign of recognn to ernment it lives under nor to the
those forewarned. Fascism in be- degree of social. racial and eco-
coming too religious discloses its nomic justice which prevails in
most profound antithesis to the society it seeks to minister to.
Christianity. Sharp discernment
Should fascism ever establish
will be required to detect that itself in our midst, 1 think the
religion may be prized by las- strategy of the church would be
ciman—even sincerely—but as a to escalate the heroic courage of

