Friday, February II, 1944

Civic-Protective Action
Taken by Welfare Funds

Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds Takes
lmporfant Step at Assembly to Co-ordinate Activities
in Fight Against Anti-Semitism

(By Jewish News Special Correspondent at Conference)

` PITTSBURGH, Pa.L–An important step in the direction
Of :Coordinating "civic-protective
.activities and formulating
•
lcy in the field of defense against 'anti-Semitic and un-
American movements. was taken by the Council of Jewish
Federations and Welfare Funds at the General Assembly
held here during the past week-end.

The resolution adopted by the
assembly came as a; result of two
days of debate which opened
with a challenging . statement
by ,David M. Watchmaker of Bos-
ton who demanded drastic action
to 'aVoid mistakes made by na-
tibrial organizatiOnS in. •B bSto n.
Providence and New York.
James I. Ellmann, president of
the Jewish Comrhimity Council of
Detroit; Isaac Franck, executive
director of the Council, and Rabbi
Leon Fram took an active part in
the discussions. .
An important paper read at the
session on civic-protective services
on Friday afternoon by. Mr. Ell-
mann was credited with having
helped to force the issue.
• The resolution framed by a
committee which includ e d Mr. Ell-
mann and Mr. Frank, follows:
"It is recommended that one lay
and the professional head of each
of the Civic Protective Agencies
represented in the Community Re-
lations Conference join with two
JAMES I. ELLMANN
Officers and three representatives
of each of the four national civic protective agencies in a National
Community Relations Advisory Council that shall have the func-
tion of formulating policy in civic protective work.
•• "The National Community Relations Advisory Council shall
have the power to co-opt additional members froth communities
other than the following included in the Community Relations
Conference: Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Pittsburgh,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Detroit, St. Louis, Minnesota,
Los. Angeles, San Francisco and MilWaukee.
"It shall be understood that the National Community Relations
Advisory Council shall have no authority over fund raising or
the organizational structure of the national agencies."
Participants in the discussion included Judge Joseph M.
Proskauer, president of the American Jewish Committee; Henry
Monsky, president of Bnai Brith; Richard Gutstadt, head of the
Anti-Defamation League; Morris Margulies, representing the
American Jewish Congress; Isaiah Minkoff, vice-chairman of the
Jewish Labor Committee, and other outstanding national Jewish
lead,ers.
. • • Ellmann's Address • Stimulates Action
The committee • which framed the 'resolution was • authorized
to continue to work with a committee from the National _Council
of Federations and Welfare Funds until the first meeting of the
National Community Relations Advisory CoUncil.
In his address which served to stimulate action on the resolu-
tion, Mr. Ellmanri stated: -
" Planning for united Management must be attended to - witholit
delay if cynicism, chaos, and demoralization are not to overtake
our community. Mutual charges, counter-charges and recriimina
tions cannot justify or explain lack of progress: What then is most
necessary when every institution doubts the other and when some
of_ us are getting to doubt all of them?
will "It is conceivable that the civic protective agencies, left alone,
some day work out a policy of collaboration and centralization.
They might eventually grasp the problem and inspire public con-
fidence in their own handling. But, time is of the essence. We
cannot wait. We are in greatest need now of the more immediate
results of consolidation, unification, and most of all, public clari-
fication. Without it, we are not only disturbing our own cohe-
Siveness and unity, but we are creating a tremendously impaired
status in our relations with others.
Let Agencies Select Representatives
"The one untried course is a publit- and private hearing before
an impartial tribunal especially set up for the purpose.
"Let the agencies select an equal number of representatives,
say three of them each. The two .groups so chosen could jointly
select three •umpires. These umpires would also constitute the
representatives of the public in some such manner as the per-
sonnel of the War Labor Board panels.
"The nine individuals so chosen would constitute the special
panel ,to listen to all the facts: to consider all of the fears, ideologi.
cal differences, sociological, economic and historic data—everything
which might shed some light on the issues and the needs of the
Jewish community.
Learn Special Needs and Problems of Agencies
"They would have 'the opportunity of learning the specific
requirements and problems of each agency, and could, es part
of their findings, counsel - - the course of action to be pursued; what
services shall be kept apart; what should be Consolidated; what
should be jointly supervised. Such findings would necessarilY -
involVe a determination of needs. not only of the agencies them-
selves, -but those of the whole community.
"The continuity and perSistence with which the hearings are
held will in greatest :measure determine the wisdom of the accom-
plishments. This should overcome present mutual suspicions and
provide the impartial judgment, which alone should decide the
questions. Weeks, therefore, if not months of continuods sittings
may be essential.
Asks Joint Discussion for Common Formula
. "Detroit, a medium-sized Jewish community, has established
the beginning of a plan for singlehess of action. One agency—
the Jewish Community Council of Detroit-,is serving as a clearing
house for every type of civic protection •and problems of internal
relations. Irritations, inside and outside of the community, gravi-
tate to the Council; a few are called to its attention by the national
agencies.
"In turn, the Council insists on obtaining the viewpoint of
the national civic protective agencies on any issue in which they
might have some accumulated experience, background or skill.
"On such issues the Council has called upon representatives
of the national agencieS for a joint discussion for a common
formula..In arriving at any decision, the Council has reserved the
right to consider immediate exigencies of our own 'community,
to pass judgment, and take action accordingly.
"Thus one overall agency, containing representatives and view-
points of every segment typical of a medium: sized community,
deals with problems involving the peace, security and,
of community life. Jurisdictional disputes are entirely avoided.
This is at least- an interesting pattern which is takirig form for

the -objectives of a Jewish community."

hilri,-.411,010t4101.11P±.100.?Arr aworAo, .

THE :JEJ WISH NEWS

Page Three

Weekly Review of - the News -of the World

(Compiled From Cables of

Independent Jewish Press Service)

AMERICA

Warning that "bigotry, like a cancer, is
spreading through our nation, and is retarding
victory and peace," Archbishop Francis J.
Spellman of New York, writing in the current
issue of American Magazine, declares that "it
is the personal and patriotic duty of every
American to co-operate in checking the spread
of this malignant disease." . Observing that
"in these days Catholics are frequently accused
of anti-Semitism, and doubtless some Catholics
are guilty of it," the Archbishop admonishes
that "anti-Semitism is wrong from a Catholic
and humanitarian standpoint as well as from
an American viewpoint' and quoteS froth the
late Pope Pius XI "in 1928, before Hitler came
to power . . . ordered anti-Semitism to be con-
demned clearly and officially," and on July 30,
1938, said that "it is not possible for Christians
to take part'in anti-Semitism."
Robert R. Reynolds, chairman of the- Senate
Military Affairs Committee, Who at one time

organized his own storm troopers to trap

"aliens entering this country," will be entered
in the Democratic primaries for Presidency in
Georgia, it is announced by Victor Riesel writ-
ing in the New York Post.
A convention of isolationist "mothers'
groups is being called for Chicago to demand
"an immediate armistice and a negotiated
peace" before the Allies invade Europe from
the West, it is reported by Victor Riesel in
the New York Post. The convention is being
called by We, the Mothers MObilize for Amer-
ica, an organization which has set up squads
to act as cliques and cheering .sections for
isolationists meetings .• . Th6 Peace Now
Movement, of 'which the chairman is George
Hartmann, professor of Psychology at Teachers
College, Columbia University, ex-candidate for
mayor of New York on -the Socialist Party
ticket, has been repudiated by the Socialist
Party. •
'(See Also Page 14)

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