Page Two

THE JEWISH NEWS

Strictly
Confidential

Quotation of the Week

Recently I introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives,
House Joint Resolution 154, the object of which is to do, insofar as the
United States is concerned, what the Bermuda Conference failed to
accomplish, and to do it within the framework of our existing immi-
gration laws.

By PHINEAS J. BIRON

(Copyright. 1944, by Seven Arts
Feature Syndicate)

POLITICAL

Scoop! .
. Dr. Arieh Tartakover,
member of the Executive of the World
Jewish Congress, who left New York for
London last week, was offered a port-
folio in the Polish Government-in-exile
. . . But Dr. Tartakover declined the
offer . . . His position is that he cannot.
accept a seat in the cabinet unless the
Polish government gives more tangible
proof of its opposition to anti-Semitic
trends within its own ranks . . . Tartak-
over was offered the Ministry of Health.
The American Zionist delegation that
is proceeding to England to confer with
Weizmann and representatives from Pal-
estine will consist of five members .
They are Dr. Nahum Goldmann, Rabbi
Wolf Gold, Chaim Greenberg, Rabbi
Israel Goldstein and Mrs. Rose Halpern
. . .We predict that David Ben Gurion's
resignation, which will be a main topic
of discussion, will be accepted.
• Harry Hershfield has decided that the
ultimate fate of Hitler and Goering
should be to serve as a pair of bookends
for "Mein Kampf."

*

*

*

EPISODE

At the recent hearing before the House
Foreign Affairs Committee on the Reso-
lution to Rescue European Jews the fol-
lowing dialogue occurred between Rep-
resentative Karl Mundt and William B.
Ziff . . . The Congressman asked: "What
are the Jews—a religion, a race or a na-
tion?" . . . Ziff embarked on an involved
explanation, which, however, failed to
enlighten the Congressman . . . So the
latter interrupted to ask: "What kind of
a Jew would you call Congressman
Bloom, for instance?" .g .. Whereupon an
embarrassing pause fell over the hear-
ing . . . And somewhere in the room' a
newspaper reporter leaned over and
whispered to his neighbor: "That answer
wouldn't be fit to print."

*

*

*

JEWISH NEWS

It was pressure from its constituency
that compelled the Anti-Defamation Lea-
gue to make public its report on anti-
Semitic incidents in New York City . . .
Some of the A. D. L. leaders had tried to
keep this under cover.
The Rev. Richard Evans is creating a
sensation . . . His transcontinental tour
on behalf of the Zionist Organization is
making thousands of converts to the
cause, Jewish and non-Jewish.
By the time this gets into print you
will know that Henry Montor has re-
signed from the executive directorship
of the American Zionist Emergency
Council. . . He is returning to the
United Palestine Appeal .. . Rabbi Leon
I. Feuer, formerly of Ohio, will take
over temporarily.
The high altar in the. Chapel of the
Intercession, in New York's famed Trin-
ity Parish, is constructed of r•g00 stones
brought from Palestine . .
1Millions of
the city's subway riders learned this fact
from a display card last month, so we
thought we'd let you in on the secret.
Albert E. Kahn, co-author of the best-
seller "Sabotage," is regarded by subver-
sive America -Firster organizations as
their public enemy Number One . . .
Each day he receives at least one
anonymous warning to lay off, or else.

'Arrival &Departure'
A Stirring Novel

Arthur Koestler already is recognized
as one of the most brilliant writers of
our time. His latest book, "Arrival and
Departure," a Macmillan publication,
justifies all the honor being accorded
his name.
With Neutralia as the center of ac-
tion, this novel is an impressive demon-
stration of the conflicts of ideas which
have motivated the present world war.
Peter Slavek, the hero, relates the
tragedy of the "Mixed Transports" of
people who were either sent to slave
labor or were considered "Useless Jews"
by' the totalitarian element in the world.
It is a touching and stirring portion of
the book. Similarly, the battle of wits
with the man who "was attached in
some shadowy capacity to the enemy's
legation" is like an expose of Nazism.
Mr. Koestler, born in Budapest in
1905, has had a very interesting career,
has travelled throughout the world,
farmed in Palestine, sold lemonade in
Haifa, was an assistant to an Arab
architect and edited a weekly published
in German and Arabic. in Cairo.

Simultaneously with the American solution of the problem, by
way of a procedure initiated under our immigration laws, we should
strive in every possible way to accomplish the repeal of the nefarious
British White Paper. Britain is only the trustee of Palestine for hu-
manity. Britain is particularly charged by the mandate to facilitate
the establishment of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine.
We must attack the entire problem from two angles, the angle of
the prospective settlement of Palestine, as well as the angle of our
immigration laws.
Our immigration laws are sufficiently elastic, without any further
amendment, to rescue many Jews from destruction. I believe it is the
duty of everyone to communicate with his Congressman and ask him
to give me his support so that my resolution, House Joint Resolution
154, may be passed by Congress. Then our enforcing authorities must
do all they can to carry out both the letter and the spirit of the
resolution.

— CONGRESSMAN SAMUEL DICKSTEIN.

Purely
Commentary .

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

LYNCHING AND THE FRANK CASE

Between
You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1944, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)

Friday, January 7, 1944

Heard in
The Lobbies

By ARNOLD LEVIN

(Copyright, 1944, Independent Jewish
Press Service, Inc.)

EMBARRASSING MOMENT

Were you in Dr. Louis Finkelstein's
place, you wouldn't feel too happy either.
Dr. Finkelstein is a professed Zionist,
but among the directors of the Jewish
Theological Seminary of which he is
president there are some who are affil-
iated with the American Council for
Judaism. This puts the good doctor in
the very awkward position of "you are
damned if you do, and you are damned
if you don't." He is further embarrassed
by the questions that are put to him so
frequently these days as to why he has
still remained on the executive commit-
tee of the American Jewish Committee,
after the Committee has withdrawn from
the American Jewish Conference. The
question has been put to him so often
and so persistently, that Dr. Finkelstein
has decided to circularize his views
among the members of the Rabbinical
Assembly who were most puzzled by his
attitude.
We quote parts from his letter, re-
cently sent to them: "I asked a group
of 12 men, including four of our alumni
and four members of - our faculty, vir-
tually everyone of whom is an ardent
Zionist . • , to meet with me to review
the matter. A meeting of this group was
held on Dec. 15. Only seven members
were present, but the others had indi-
c ated their views orally or by mail. 'the
g roup, like everyone else whom I have
c onsulted on the subject, urged me most
strongly to remain for the present on
the Executive Committee of the Ameri-
can Jewish Committee,. hoping that in
this way I may most effectively contrib-
ute, in consultation and through cooper-
ea ton with others, to bring about some
ffective collaboration between the group
j which is represented in the American
i ewish Committee and the rest of Amer-
can Jewry . . . " Dr. Finkelstein, never
disdainful of public opinion, felt im-
pelled to secure a "hechsher" for his re-
maining within the Committee. Not all
will agree with the absolution. Our own
a
.„ side to Dr. Finkelstein is: If you feel ,.
ou must remain within the Committee,
hen you must, but do not feel called
pon to remain there as an "unofficial
mbassador"
of American Jewry to the
-c
ourt of Joseph M. (Proskauer).

Judge Arthur G. Powell's autobiogra-
phy "I Can Go Home Again," published STARTING THE NEW YEAR
by the University of North Carolina
The New Year started very quietly so
Press (Chapel Hill, N. C.), has attracted far as Jewish activities are concerned
nationwide attention by virtue of his . . . Unless one considers the statement of
reference to the Leo Frank Case, to the American Jewish Conference attack-
whiCh he devotes only five of the 300 ing the Emergency Committee to Save
pages in the book.
the Jews of Europe as "something new"
The entire volume deserves more than . . . But this statement has long been
passing attention. It is a splendid com- awaited and its contents had been known
mentary on the South and its people. in advance to many.
It is replete with humor and is a thor-
Eyes are now turned to the forthcom-
oughly human document.
ing General Assembly of the Jewish
Naturally, the Frank Case is a mat Federations and Welfare Funds which is
ter of utmost importance to Jews. Bu t to take place in Pittsburgh . . . This will
it ought to be of even greater important e be one of the most important Jewish
to all who are concerned about th e gatherings of the year.
lynching problem.
Jewish communities thought the coun-
Judge Powell maintains that when ac - try have received instructions as -to the
cusations in the South involve assault s best methods of neutralizing Fascist-
.on females, the dangers of lynching ar e inspired anti-Semitism in advance . . .
as great for the white man as for the These include maintaining watchfulness
Negro. He stated that the Frank Case over subversive groups; plans for deal-
did not start as an anti-Jewish affai ✓ ing with those using anti-Semitism as a
but developed into anti-Semitism as a business racket; exposing the technique
result of the stir that was created over and past records of local anti-Semites,
it throughout the country. Therefore, and exposing anti-Semites working un-
* * *
the case, as analyzed by Judge Powell, der the umbrella of patriotism • . . The T
HE
ADMIRAL
SAYS
becomes a matter for sociological study. Jewish communities are also urged to
You should hear Rear-Admiral Ste-
obtain due recognition of the achieve-
THE JEWISH ISSUE
enson these days. He is a medical of-
Here is what Judge Powell has to say ments of Jews as Americans by assem-
about the Jewish angle in the Frank bling biographies of local Jewish public 11 cer with the United States Navy. On
ervice in the Middle East, he was sud-
benefactors and publicizing facts favor-
Case:
enly stricken and was flown to the
"At the time of the murder there was able to Jews, military, cultural, charit-
adassah Hospital in Jerusalem. Well,
little or no prejudices against the Jews able . . . Keeping complete war records
e now testifies everywhere that the
in Atlanta, and the aroused feeling of local Jewry is also recommended . . .
against Frank was not originally because At the same time Jewish communities Hadassah Hospital staff saved his life,
of his race, but because he was an em- are advised not to indulge in a "hush- and that few hospitals anywhere in the
ployer and the murdered girl was an ! hush" policy with regard to local anti- world can match its equipment, its per-
employee. No girl ever leaves home to Semitic developments, but to take a sonnel, its standards.
go to work in a factory but that her frank and dignified attitude.
parents feel an inward fear that one of CHANGING NAMES
her bosses will take advantage of his
Believe it or not, but in one year more
position to mistreat her, especially if she than 600 Brooklyn residents with Jew-
repels his advances. This fear is readily ish-sounding names received judicial
converted into a passion when a fac- permission to assume other names . .
By BEN SAMUEL
tory manager is accused of having killed The records show that Cohen has turned (This column is based on information supplied
by
the
National
Jewish Welfare Board.)
a factory girl. The thing that did arouse into Caine, Carver, Cord, Crafton, Cor-
In his training days, Marine Sgt. Maier
a most phenomenal racial prejudice win, Conn, Carlton, Carin, Cowl, Cole,
against not only Frank but all Jews was Collan, Corey, Carter, Craig . . You J. Rothschild failed to qualify as a
that just about the time the trial was have Levy turned into Lyons, Katz into marksman, with either rifle or bayonet.
to occur, various writers, speakers, civil IKates, Shapiro into Chapereau . . But Today Sgt. Rothschild wears the Navy
rights societies, and Jewish organizations one person changed his name from Ed- Cross, for expert use of rifle, bayonet
began to protest that Frank was being wards to Ullman . . . "I wish to cast my and machine gun at New Georgia in the
persecuted because he was a Jew. This lot with the people of my mother's Solomons, resulting in the death of 96
whipped into flames the passion and, faith," he said, "I want to live, unequi- Japs.
Sgt. Rothschild and another Marine,
prejudice which had been dying down vocally and without reservation of any
and converted them from a mere feel- kind, as a member of the Jewish faith" Pvt. John Wantuck, volunteered to man
ing of resentment against a factory boss . . . Quite a rare man in the days of our machine guns which they used to re-
into a spreading racial and religious years . . . Damon Runyon, noted column- pulse an enemy attempt to recapture the
hatred."
ist, believes that it is quite sensible to American beachhead at Zenana beach on
(Judge Powell's revelation in his in- change a name that one feels is difficult New Georgia. Both men were anti-air-
teresting book is that he and Governor to pronounce and remember, or that craft gunners. At the time of the attack,
Slaton, the heroic executive who dared brings embarrassment to the owner • . . a moonlit night in July, they were man-
to commute Frank's sentence from the At the same time, however. he tells the ning two light machine guns. Together
death penalty to life imprisonment, were story about the fellow' named Joe Stink- they turned back four separate enemy
convinced of Frank's innocence. Yet, an eroo who went into court one day and columns, killing 96' of some 150 Japs.
innocent man died because people re- asked for legal change of name . . ." Joe The two Marines let one wave of the
sented protests against prejudice. And Stinkeroo, eh?" said the judge. "Well, enemy approach within five yards of
a personal pledge of honor prevents my friend, I think you have a point. their guns before opening fire.
Pvt. Wantuck was killed during that
Judge Powell from making the facts What name do you wish to change to?"
known even now.)
. . . "Herbert Stinkeroo," replied the ap- engagement. Sgt. Rothschild was woun-
AN OLD, OLD ARGUMENT
plicant. "You see, I am tired of having ded when he engaged in hand to hand
It is the old, old argument. In Ger- guys come up to me and say• 'Hello, Joe, combat with one Jap, after Rothschild's
machine gun 'jammed. Rothschild killed
many, too, the Nazis claimed that if what do you know?' "
the enemy with his bayonet.
Jews in _America had not started the
For valor, he received the Navy Cross;
boycott movement, -. Jews in Germany have been saved were it not for the pro-
for wounds received, the Purple Heart.
would have fared better. Jews believed tests of the New York Jews.
Marine Sergeant Maier Rothschild was
them. Rabbi Lazaron was among those
Thus it has ever been—and thus it
who sought an end to the boycott move- will no doubt remain: those who believe saluted as the Hero of the Week on Bob
ment because they thought that hush- in hush-hush (also • spelled sha-sha), will Hawk's "Thanks to the Yanks" program
hush attitudes would save our people blame the protesting elements; but those over CBS on Christmas Day. Moreover,
under the Nazis.
who are deeply aroused against prejudice the makers of Camels, who sponsor the
How deluded people can be—and Judge and intolerance will shout their heads series, are sending 300,000 Camel cigar-
Powell, fair as he is, is also deluding off every time they see evidence of ettes to Marines in the Pacific—in honor
of Sgt. Rothschild.
himself into believing that Frank would injustice.

When the Hero's
Chips Were Down

Copyright, 1943. Jewish Telegraphic Agency, LK.

