Purely
Commentary

Quotation of the W eel

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

IS IT HAPPENING HERE?

The Christian Register, Unitarian' pub-
lication appearing in Boston,. Mass., in its
leading editorial in the current issue,
under the heading "It Has Happened
Here," makes the following significant
statements:
"A few days ago we met in Washing-
ton with Attorney General Biddle. A
small group representing labor, church,
race and civil liberties sought Mr. Bid-
dle's vigorous investigation of the recent
brutal assaults on Jewish citizens in Bos-
ton, on Negroes in Detroit, on Mexican
Americans along the West Coast. The
discussion was off the record, but the
militant insistence of the delegation rep-
resenting thousands of Americans that
local, state and federal officials speed ar-
rests and prosecutions of "the enemy
within" was very much on the record.
"Next month The Christian Register
will carry a full report on Boston's re-
cent beatings of Jewish youth, stoning of
synagogue windows, desecration of Jew-
ish cemeteries. Dr. Frederick May Eliot,
Bishop Bromley Oxnam and Professor
Gordon Allport have published state-
ments to the effect that "the whole pat-
tern of recent attacks looks like incipi-
ent Fascism and gives evidence of sub-
versive elements in action." Those of
us who have seen Francis Moran's
"Christian Front" at work, who have
seen the handbills with their vicious
doggerel and the scrawling letters on the
walls, know that "incipient Fascism" has
already arrived in Boston.
"Governor Saltonstall has on • the
whole acted with forthrightness. The re-
port made to him by Commissioner
Stokes of the State Police holds some
promise of action to come. But Governor
Saltonstall, like Attorney General Bid-.
dle, must continue to hear from people
who know the peril that awaits us all if
violence remains unpunished. We are at
war both for survival and for human lib-
erty. Anti-Semitism and anti-Negro vio-
knee are not only sins against the hu-
man spirit; they are Axis two-edged
weapons of terrible effectiveness.
"Too many clergy, Protestant and
Catholic alike, have given circulation to
the ugly prejudices that make this racial
hate grow. Within the family circle
many a child first hears the words that
later leacrto violence. Each one of us can
help to stamp the poisons out. The care-
less slanders against the Irish, the Jews,
the Negroes, and the Japanese Ameri-
cans heard from the lips of parents can
lead to death itself, as refugees from
Europe will testify.
"Fascist agents may be working near
the boys who wear brass knuckles on
their hands, or they may be satisfied to
plant the propaganda at the factory
gates. In either case, the priest, the par-
ent and the teacher in the school can end
this epidemic if they will.
"The psychological warfare of racial
hatred, the yellow paint on Boston win-
Bows spelling Jew, the broken bones and
bleeding mouths in Dorchester are every
man's responsibility. We do expect action
from our men in public office. Sedition
is a federal offense. To find its source is
Mr. Biddle's work and that of his trained
investigators. • The war must be won at
home. The streets of Dorchester and
Lynn can shake with violence as well as
those of Buna or the gates of Rome. The
time to act against the tide of racial
hatred is now."

.

„

*
*
*
REAFFIRMATION OF TRAGEDY

While there is nothing new in the as-
sertions contained in this editorial, the
mere fact that it reaffirms the fears that
something ill-inspired has happened is
bad in itself.
(The regrettable thing is that Jewish
newspapers in and near Massachusetts
have not spoken as bluntly as this Uni-
tarian organ).
The Christian Register speaks of the
Boston events as if the Nazi way of life
has actually been put into action in that
great American community. However,
we prefer to have faith that it is only a
manifestation of the thinking of the
worst elements in our population and
that it can be defeated with proper cau-
tion.

*
*
*
ANOTHER VIEWPOINT

Friday, December 31, 1943

THE JEWISH NEWS

Page Two

In this connection, it is well to con-
skier another viewpoint. The New York
Times, commenting on the report of Dr.
Everett R. Clinchy for the National Con-
ference of Christians and Jews, stated
editorially under the heading "Setback
for Hitler":
"The National Conference of Chris-
tians and Jews is able to report a Nazi
setback in the United States during the

The ideals of the prophets of Israel have been hovering in the un-
attainable clouds of abstraction long enough. Long enough they have
been in heaven. They must be brought down to earth, out of the realm
of metaphysical and philosophical speculation. The Word must become
flesh. The ideals of the prophets must be translated into concrete rela-
tionships, into new national and international covenants, into freedom
for India, freedom for China, and freedom for Arabia, and into a Jewish
State in Palestine!

—PIERRE VAN PAASSEN in "The Forgotten Ally."

Heard in
The Lobbies

Strictly
Confidential

By ARNOLD LEVIN

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright, 1943, Seven Arts Feature
Syndicate)

(Copyright, 1943, Independent
Jewish Press Service)

THE LOW-DOWN

SUBVERSIVES ON THE RUN

It is not true that the Germans, in
their fear of imminent defeat, are re-
laxing in their program of extermination
of Europe's Jews . . . Information from
reliable sources states that the trains to
Poland are filled with Jewish deportees
from Holland, Belgium and France . . .
Though those Jews who can pay $6,000
per head are given the privilege of being
kept confined in concentration camps in
Germany . . . They are, however, sub-
jected to sterilization and all the rest of
the regular Gestapo treatment . . . The
news reports that anti-Jewish persecu-
tion has diminished are Nazi propa-
ganda designed to provide ammunition
for the American advocates of a ne-
gotiated peace.

Winchell calls it orchids. Well, what-
ever it is, orchids or a medal for meritor-
ious service should be given to the CIO
affiliates in Peoria, Illinois, for their fine
job in combatting anti-Semitism. These
boys acted promptly and decisively on
the CIO call to all its affiliated organiza-
tions to launch a campaign against anti-
Semitism and race-hate. The Rev. Gerald
P. Winrod, charged with being Julius
Streicher's pal and a notorious Jew-
baiter in his own right, came to Peoria
to unbosom himself of some of his
choice venom. Last time he was in that
town, 1,000 people had come to hear
him. Remember that Winrod parades as
a minister, and some were attracted by
that fact alone. His words have addi-
tional weight in the eyes of the ignorant
who view him as a man of God and
are not aware of his partiality toward
the most Godless gang on earth, the
Nazis. At any rate, the last time he
drew an audience of a thousand, this
time—only 35 stragglers. It wasn't an
accident that the other 965 had over-
night become aware that his teachings
were serving the enemies of democracy.
It was due to the intensive campaign
of the CIO unions in Peoria, which plas-
tered the town with literature telling
in the simplest language, comprehensible
to the most simple-minded, what Winrod
represented. We are waiting to see other
unions follow suit. Our congratulations
to the CIO boys of Peoria.

* * *

JEWISH NEWS

Behind the scenes there's quite a bit
of fussing going on concerning which
American Zionist leaders should go to
London for a Conference ... Those who
have been invited may not find it
possible to go, and those who want to
go have not been especially urged to
make the hop . . . Besides, with trans-
Atlantic flying priorities scarcer than
hen's teeth, the delegation cannot con-
sist of more than two or three persons
at the utmost—and we personally know
of six candidates.
Sig Kenen, originally of Cleveland,
has resigned from the Emergency Coun-
cil for Zionist affairs and is now handl-
ing public relations for the American
Jewish Conference . . . Just issued by
the Conference is a memo on the Em-
ergency Conference to Save European
Jews, and that memo doesn't mince
words . . . It calls the Emergency Con-
ference an irresponsible group.
The flu epideinic played havoc with
Jewish organization for a while . . .
The Jewish Agency for Palestine had to
shut its New York office for a week,
with Dr. Nahun Goldmann, Meyer W.
Weisgal and all the secretariat hors de
combat.
The Anti-Defamation League and the
American Jewish Committee will con-
tinue their joint fund-raising activities
in 1944.

CONVERSATION PIECE

New York Post saloon editor Earl
Wilson reports on his conversation with
a cab driver who drove the Duke and
Duchess of Windsor through town during
their visit to New York. He claims to
have overheard the Duke to this effect:
"Hitler is an educated man. Loves his
people. He's done a lot of good, but it
has gone to his head." Some are not at
all suprised by this comment from the
Duke. Remember his tour of Germany
and the ugly rumors then about his
sentiments. The rumors have been ugly,
but not untrue, some people think.

SIDELIGHT

A Broadway columnist reports that
Gov. Thomas E. Dewey was one of the
many (but the only non-Jew) who chas-
* * *
tised Judge Proskauer for withdrawing
the American Jewish Committee from CHIT-CHAT
the Conference.
Dr. Chaim Weizmann's autobiography
will be published in 1944 . . . Maurice
past twelve months. It is true that there Samuel's new book on Palestine will be
have been race riots in Detroit, Los An- out next month . . . Sholom Asch is re-
geles, Beaumont, Mobile and Newark. cuperating in California . . . Pierre Van
Religious prejudice has shown itself in Paassen may take a trip to South Africa
the cautious propaganda of anti-Semit- very soon.
A Jewish information quiz program
ism and in other forms. To this extent
Hitler can feel some satisfaction.
is being readied by a national radio ad-
"But, as Dr. Everett R. Clinchy, presi- vertiser.
Jacob Fishman of the Jewish Morning
dent of the National Conference, testi-
fies, 'against the sporadic outbreaks Journal is preparing a tome on his ad-
against the whisperings about Jews, the ventures as a foreign correspondent.
Ellin Mackay' (Mrs. Irving) Berlin has
murmurings about Catholics and the in-
nuendos about Protestants, there has authored a book on the refugee situation.
The new half-dollar edition of Albert
arisen a general conviction that we must
labor together if our national life is to E. Kahn's and Michael Sayers' "Sabot-
age" is selling at a faster pace than
be maintained.'
"Dr. Clinchy's organization, down to Wendell Willkie's "One World" did in its
Aug. 1, had held meetings in 221 camp heyday . . . 150,000 copies were sold
centers, with a total estimated atten- within three days . . One chapter of
dance of two and a quarter million. At this book was ready top late for inclus-
these meetings it was usual to have ion in the new edition.
speeches by a Catholic priest, a Jewish
rabbi and a Protestant clergyman. The good will movement in this country is
response was always good. Men who ex- proving an effective setback for Hitler,
pect to go into action cannot afford to or something evil is happening here.
judge their comrades by religion or race.
The National Conference of Christians
The test has to be whether a man will and Jews is doing an excellent job. But
do his duty and stand by his comrades its work has not averted the occurrences
in time of danger. The mettle of a sol- in Boston and elsewhere.
dier may shine brighter because of pride
Therefore it is safe to say, in answer to
and faith, but these qualities are not the New York Times editorial, that the
denominational.
Christian-Jewish brotherhood movement
"The lists of casualties and decorations is still in its theoretical stages. There is
tell the soldier's story every day. In this greater validity to the Christian Regis-
as in other ways Hitler is answered on ter's warnings than to the saccharine
the battlefield. He is answered, too, at thoughts of the New York Times. Let us
home by millions of citizens whose quiet strive to achieve what the latter takes
friendliness is too much taken for grant- for granted; but let us take seriously
ed to be mentioned in the day's news." what the former has to say in efforts to
Either our activity in behalf of the defend this country against Hitlerism.

,

Between
You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

"

(Copyright, 1943. J.T.A., Inc.)

WASHINGTON ECHOES

You may soon hear of a scheme under
which the U. S. Government will make
it possible to move thousands of Ru-
manian JeWs from devasted Transnistria.
Interested Jewish groups are very
anxious to secure the full text of the ex-
tended mandate of the Inter-govern-
mental Committee on Refugees . . '. This
is important because of the curious dis-
crepancies between the State Depart-
ment interpretation and the Intergovern-
mental Committee's interpretation of the
mandate . . . The State Department takes
the view that under the extended man-
date the Intergovernmental Committee is
empowered to undertake direct negotia-
tions with Germany for the emigration
of Jews from Nazi territory . . . The In-
tergovernmental Committee insists, how-
ever, that this is not the case . . . Each
side quotes those sections from the text
of the mandate which tend to support its
own views . . . As the full text of the
mandate has never been made public, it
is felt in Jewish circles that it is high
time that the disputed document was re-
leased.

*

*

*

PALESTINE PROSPECTS

With the return of President Roosevelt
from his conferences with Churchill,
there is much talk in Washington con-
cerning the possibility of an unexpected
solution of the Palestine problem . . .
And from London private reports are
reaching Zionist leaders here indicating
that the situation looks better for Jew-
ish interests in Palestine . . . The new
Palestine partition scheme seems to be
coming more and more to the forefront
both in London and in Washington offi-
cial circles.

*

*

OFF THE RECORD

Editors of Jewish newspapers in New
York are plotting a "revolution" against
the so-called "off-the-record" press con-
ferences which are so often given by
central Jewish organizations . . . They
claim that - these "off-the-record" gather-
ings are just a trap to prevent Jewish
journalists from telling their readers
what-is-what behind-the-scenes of Jew-
ish life in the United States . . The
truth is that most of the news given to
editors of the Jewish press "for their
own inforination" is nothing but items
which are already known but not yet
published . . . Some of - the editors feel
that there would have been no harm in
making the news public, had not inter-
ested Jewish leaders in the meantime
"confided" it as "highly confidential" .. .
The feeling among some editors is, there-
fore, not to attend any "off-the-record"
affairs, so as to have a free hand in pub-
lishing whatever news they feel justified
in making public.
The question of how to effectively
root out Nazism and anti-Semitism from
the minds of the German people after
the war has been entrusted by President
Roosevelt to Justice Samuel. I. Rosen-
man . . . Justice Rosenman, who is now
engaged in studying for the President
the problem of post-war re-education of
the Axis countries and countries liber-
ated from the Axis, has always been in-
terested in educational activities . . .
Among other things, he was until this
year the president of the Jewish- Educa-
tion Committee of New York which su-
pervises education of more than 60,000
children in various Jewish schools in the
metropolitan area.

'That' Congregation

By DR. MARTIN ROSENBLUTH

The Gentlemen of the Caucasian race
Are the latest trouble we have to face,
They believe in the Prophets, the
Biblical ethics,
But they fight Rabbinical dietetics.
All that you liked as a good Jewish dish:
Borsht, Sholent, Kreplach, Gefilte Fish—
Forget it my' friend—or else, remember,
You will never get voting rights as
a member.
If you want to get voting rights
with them
You'd better eat first a sandwich
with ham
And sign a solemn declaration
That you hate the idea of the Jews
as a nation.
And, boy, are they stubborn!
Not Jonah and Stephen
Nor the efforts of Gold—and of
Finkelstein even
Could change their minds, for
"a rule is a rule"—
And you cannot help it: a fool is a fool.

