September 12, 1941

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and the Legal Chronicle

P urely Commentary

The Seven Dwarfs, a Jewish Arbitrator,
Jewish Lawyers—and an Anti-Semite

When Dr. John R. Steelman of Washington,
D. C., chief of the United States Conciliation
Service, sent A. C. Lappin, attorney, former
director of the Keren Hayesod in Detroit, to
Milwaukee, to hear the case of Curtis Olsen, dis-
charged A. F. of L. employee of the Allis-Chal-
mers Manufacturing Co., an interesting set of
circumstances revealed the existence of Jewish
factors in the case.
Olsen was charged with singing a song which
the C. I. 0. considered sufficiently derogatory
to warrant his discharge by the company on the
ground that it interfered with discipline. Lappin
ruled in favor of Olsen. Now, it is believed that
the C. I. 0. will carry the case higher up and
will appeal against Lappin's verdict.
Here are the factors in the case: Olsen was
discharged by the company in September, 1940,
when the C. I. 0. United Automobile Workers'
Union charged that the song of the accused
libeled the C. I. 0. in violation of an agreement
with the company. Olsen's counsel, David Pre-
viant, suggested arbitration. U. S. appointee, Ar-
bitrator Lappin, ruled that Olsen was a faithful
employee of the company and that there was
doubt whether his song was derogatory to the
C. I. 0. union.
What was the song? Olsen gave vent to his sen-
timents in music, to the tune of "Snow White
and the Seven Dwarfs," that he will not "pay
dues to the damned Jews".
And the "damned Jews"—his own attorney
and Arbitrator Lappin—saved his skin.
Now, the counsel for the C. I. 0. union, Wal-
demar O. Sonnemann, states that he will oppose
the arbitrator's findings. And the only German-
sounding name in the entire cast of characters in
the story we have related is that of the C. I. 0.
attorney who insists that the song about paying
"dues to the damned Jews" is derogatory to the
union.
(Has anyone raised the question whether it
is derogatory to Jews in the Allis-Chalmers plant
who are Americans and have a right to resent
insults?)
All of which goes to prove that America is
still a melting pot—in many ways. Sometimes a
Jew defends an anti-Semite; and often a German
objects to an anti-Semitic song.
Will wonders never cease?

•

Among the Liberals in Congress

You can always tell a liberal by the way he
treats the Jewish problem, by his approach to
the needs of the Negroes in this country, by his
attitude on labor, by his views on Nazism and
Fascism.
Congressman John D. Dingell of Detroit has
emerged as one of the proven liberals. Of Polish
extraction, he is thoroughly American in his
insistence on fair play. He is rabidly anti-Nazi,
strongly pro-labor, consciously opposed to anti-
Semitism, has consistently opposed Polish per-
secution of Jews, and is always prepared to de-
fend the Negro.
Since there are some reactionaries in Congress
from the Middle West--Michigan being no ex-
ception—it is interesting to note that Frank
Hook of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan is one
of the leading liberals in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Several years ago, when we discussed
the Palestinian problem with Rep. Hook, he told
us of an interesting incident. The issue was then
on the question of immigration. Hook had taken
the floor in opposition to one of the rabidly re-
actionary measures that were pending in Con-
gress. When he finished his address, he said
that a number of colleagues approached him,
threw their arms around him, said they agreed
with him, but deplored their inability to vote as
he will. "You know our constituents," they re-
marked.
Which explains the one-vote margin in favor
of the extension of the draft. Some Congress-
men have a peculiar idea of their constituents.
Instead of setting their people straight, they
permit the propaganda-motivated crowd to domi-
nate.
Congressman Dingell is among those who never
permitted anyone to intimidate him. There are
Jews and Poles and Negroes in his district. But
whatever stand he takes is based on principle.
He believes in a Jewish army, and he said so
when he addressed a Revisionist rally in New
York. He is for interning Japanese in this coun-
try if Japan will hold Americans as hostages, and
he says it. He is opposed to anti-Semitism, and
he was one of a handful who spoke up against
Dr. Jacob Thorkelson when the Montana Jew-
baiter was in Congress.
Dingell and Hook of Michigan are among the
outspoken liberals in Congress.
•

When Dehorning Becomes Necessary

1

The pacifists and the astigmatic who would
even now, in view of all that has happened over
a period of a tragic decade, give the benefit of
the doubt to the Germans, should be told the
story that was related by Senator George W.
Norris of Nebraska when he was interviewed
recently on his 80th birthday. Senator Norris
believes that Germany should be completely dis-
armed. and to illustrate his point he told the
following:
"When my children were little I had a Jersey
calf—a registered calf, and a beauty. She grew
up to be a cow, and everybody in the family
loved her. I used to milk her myself, and I had
a little milking stool built for my small daughter.
She would sit there brushing the flies off the
cow while I milked, and the cow would reach
her head around and 'snooze' the little gild.
"Well, sir, this cow had the prettiest pair of
horns you ever saw. They curved up over her
head in perfect half-circles. You could see she

WAS proud of them. But after a while she began

•

By Philip Slomovitz

5

Mrs. Osri to Address Bnai companied on the piano by Mrs.
Sylvia Barr.
Brith Auxiliary

Everyone is welcome to this

Membership Buffet Luncheon to meeting, and members are urged
to invite their friends.
Be Held Wednesday
to get cross. She got meaner every time I went
Open Membership Drive
to milk her. I had to stop taking the little girl

with me. At last it got so that I was afraid to
go in myself. So I went to a neighbor who had
a dehorning machine and asked him to come
down to my place and dehorn that cow. He
couldn't believe it — such beautiful horns. I
told him it had to be done.
"Dehorning hurts like the devil. The cow was
pretty sick for a couple of days. Then she began
to get better. She became the same sweet, gentle
cow the family had loved. She had lost her
armament. She didn't want to fight any more.
It's the same way with nations. When they are
disarmed and get used to it, they are only too
glad to go back to their peaceful way of living."
This is the most descriptive story we have
ever heard applied to the German people. Re-
member, Senator Norris was one of a handful of
men in the United States Senate who, 24 years
ago, fought against our entry in the war against
Germany. He was called "traitor" then. Today,
he asks that Germany be "dehorned".
The Norris experience is good in relation to
individuals; it is splendid in application to na-
tions; it fits Germany perfectly. It should be cir-
culated widely—as a defense against the most
brutal animal instinct in brutal men.

•

Mrs. Aaron Osri, Bnai Brith
On Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 1
leader, will be the 1,-1est speaker P. M., in the Variety Room of
at the first open meeting of the the Book Cadillac Hotel, the Bnai
Women's Auxiliary No. 122 of Brith Women's Auxiliary will
Bnai Brith on Monday, Sept. 15, give a membership buffet lunch-
at 8:30 P. M., in the Brown eon as the first effort in the mem-
Memorial Chapel of Temple Beth bership drive. Mrs. Samuel Aaron
El. Mrs. Osri, past president of is membership chairman.
District Grand Lodge No. 6, has
Barney Greene, ace piano per-
visited the Detroit Auxiliary on
former at the London Chophouse,
previous occasions.
will play. An invitation to attend
In addition to Mrs. Osri's ad- this buffet luncheon is extended
dress, Miss Lillian Wittenberg, to all women interested in join-
vocalist, will sing and will be ac- ing the Auxiliary.

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A Charming Bialik Letter

About 13 years ago, a Detroit Zionist, Robert
Marwil, while on a visit to Palestine, asked the
late Chaim Nachman Bialik for a message to his
friends in America. The great poet replied in
characteristic fashion in a brief letter which
appears as Letter 1002 in "Bialik's Letters,
Volume IV, 1928-1929," which were published in
Tel Aviv in 1938 by the Dvir Publishing Co. In
free translation, Bialik's letter follows:
"Why do you ask? Have not your own eyes
seen what is going on in the Land? Only the
blind do not see all the miracles that have been
wrought in this little land of ours, nor do they
perceive the great future that posterity holds
for us. It is sufficient that you relate in truth
and faithfully what your own eyes have seen,
and if our people have heart to understand and
ears to listen, they will understand and they
will know."
It is rough and free translation of something
that is exceedingly beautiful in the original He-
brew. Even today, in time of war and anxiety,
it seems to remind us that there have not been
enough messengers of good tidings from Zion.
Not enough parents had sent their children to
study in Palestine and to bring back the spirit
of the pioneers to the Diaspora. Too few com-
munities have sent representatives to gather in-
spiration from the redeemed Land of Israel.
When the war is over, there should be correction
of this error. Zion has gained from America;
American Jews should begin to derive benefit
from the fruits of Palestine.

HARRY BOESKY

12TH and HAZELWOOD

PHONE TRINITY 2-9366

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•

An Award-Deserving Editorial

For brevity and wit, we recommend the fol-
lowing editorial which appeared, without head-
ing, in a recent issue of the Christian Science
Monitor:

"The German propaganda machine is
promising 'victory in 1942'; which is re-
mindful of the old German couplet:
"Morgen, morgen nur nicht heute,"
Sagen alle faulen Leute.
Which is always equivalent to the Spanish,
'Manana.' "

There ought to be an award for such keen
writing.
•

Aid for Children—An Anti-Nazi Weapon

Everything that helps keep up the morale of
civilians is ultimately a weapon against Hitlerism.
The Jewish Section for Aid to the Democracies
is one of the tools used in the fight against the
Nazi menace. It began by providing mobile
kitchens for England. Now it is furnishing the
necessary funds for nursing homes for British
children.
Three such nursing homes have already been
established. A fourth was to be presented in honor
of Sara Delano Roosevelt, mother of the Presi-
dent, this month. Each nursing unit costs $25,-
000.
Dr. Israel Goldstein, noted Zionist leader and
president of the Jewish National Fund of Ameri-
ca, as chairman of the Jewish Section of the
Interfaith Committee for Aid to the Democracies,
is doing a splendid job in providing the means
for restoring British children who have suffered
from the war and the Nazi bombings to cheer
and to normal health. He and his committee
should be given wide support in their work. Dr.
Goldstein has made an interesting statement in
connection with the work of his committee. He
states:

"Thousands of hospital beds and equip-
ment, tens of thousands of wearing apparel,
tens of thousands of bottles of vitamin
concentrates, hundreds of mobile kitchens
and ambulances, and more recently, a num-
ber of children's homes, have bee n provided
by the gifts of American Jews. The aim and
program of the Jewish Section in the British
war relief effort have been warmly endorsed
and supported by all elements of Jewish
public opinion, religious and secular, ortho-
d o x and reform, Zionist and non-Zionist. It
is sponsored by more than 20 national or-
ganizations, including Bnai Brith, American
Jewish Congress, Synagogue Council of
America, Union of Orthodox Jewish Congre-
gations, Union of American Hebrew Congre-
gations, United Synagogues of America,
Zionist Organization of America and Hadas-

(Continued on Page 12)

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