Friday, March 7, 1947
THE JEWISH NEWS
Page Four
Interpeter of Liberalism
Looking the Other Way
As the Editor
VieWs the News...
Significant Expose
Jesse Zel Lurie, an experienced writer and
student of Jewish affairs, has rendered a very
great service to the cause of truth in his
article "Confusion Worse Confounded: An
EX pose of the Bergson Group," in the current
issue of Congress Weekly,
Listing 25 Haganah-guided boats that have
been intercepted by the British in territorial
waters, together with explanations of the
names and the number of refugees on each
boat, Mr: Lurie declares:
"Not a single one of these refugee ships that
have reached Palestine since the end of the
war had anything to do with the League for
a Free Palestine or its Reoatrian Board." The.
boats he listed, he points out, "are the ships
the British know about. And those they are
not aware of were also Haganah ships."
Declaring that ''the truth, the whole truth
and nothing but the truth is that not one
single immigrant has been brought to Pales-
tine by the League or through its funds,"
Mr. Lurie acids that "if Ben Hecht can prove
anything to the contrary he can sue for libel."
These assertions are of the utmost signifi-
cance in view of wild claims made by the
League for a Free Palestine during its fund-
raising efforts throughout the country, includ-
ing its collections recently in Detroit.
Invariably, the Peter Bergson-Ben Hecht
organization has been veiling in secrecy its
claims to shipment of refugees to Palestine.
The latest claim of the arrival of a boat
named "Ben Hecht - also has not been sub-
stantiated thus far.
Meanwhile, since the publication of Mr.
Lurie's article, two other boats, sponsored by
liaganah, have arrived in Palestine, and the
ninjor work Of bringing the Jews into Pales-
tine definitely is the result of activities by
recognized Jewish movement and not by the
discredited League for a Free Palestine.
These facts must be broadcast in the inter-
est of truth so that our people should not be
misled by disruptive groups.
•.• •
Madison Work Reviews
Progress of Americans'
Protests Against Iniquity
•
•
• -•
-
ea)
d itgain World News Sank=
There are increasing reports that anti-Semitic Fascist activities
backed by the Mosley gang are growing in Britain.
Core of Problem: Pledge-Breaking
We gladly accept the admonition of the New York Herald
Tribune that "berating Mr. Bevin will not advance a Pales=
tine solution." It is totally unnecessary to berate a man who
has berated himself. No person could have harmed himself
as seriously as the British Foreign Secretary had done.
President Truman's reply struck at the very root of the
entire issue. Mr. Bevin not only was tactless; as the White
House statement pointed out; the impression he gave was
"most unfortunate and misleading."
Mr. Bevin's tactlessness consisted not only of speaking
half-truths but also of creating a breach in diplomatic tradi-
tions by publicizing secret information and by making much
ado of private talks which preceded the publication of Presi-
dent Truman's Yom Kippur Eve call for prompt admission
of 100,000 Jews into Palestine.
The deplorable thing is that Mr. Bevin makes it necessary
for people to justify humanitarian efforts. The White House
statement bluntly asserted that our Government's position
was made clear long before the pre-election statements of
Oct. 4, 1946; that President Truman's appeals for justice to
surviving Jews in Europe originally were dated Aug. 31,
As chairman of the Commission on Justice the
1945, and Nov. 13, 1945. But Mr. Bevin, in an effort to besmirch
and Peace of the Central Conference of the best intentions of our President, made a political issue of
A Plea for Justice and Peace
American Rabbis, Rabbi Julius Mark has
issued a statement in which some basic prin-
ciples of elementary justice are outlined.
The statement declares that "to maintain
that God has .placed any race or class of men
in a state of permanent inferiority is to blas-
pheme 1Iis name. Such an idea, whether
based upon a misinterpretation of Scripture
Cr a inkreading of nature, is but the rationali-
zat ion of groundless bias and contemporary
prejudice."
Rabbi Marks declaration asserts that "our
prevailing attitudes toward colored peoples
will be repudiated as neither normal or moral,
and will have been outgrown by a humanity
become more humane."
"Every Jew who believes in Judaism," he
added, "every man who believes that God is
the Father of all, must take up the struggle
against discrimination. Man, we believe, is
created in the image of God. Therefore, no
man may say of another man, created in that
same image. that he should 'keep his place.' "
Serving a Southern congregation,—in Nash-
ville, Tenn.—Dr. Mark's statement assumes
added importance because of its fearlessness
humanitarian ideals!
A Labor member of Parliament, Benjamin Levy, put
it well when he charged Mr. Bevi-n with delivering the best
pro-Arab speech on record. Even on this score, we contend
that Mr. Bevin does immeasurable harm to the Palestinian
Arabs, whose best interests are linked with their Jewish
neighbors.
•
Perhaps the worst offense in Mr. Bevin's speech was his
as a nation," and
comment "are we in the UN as a religion or relegating
Jewry
his attempt to thwart the entire issue by
strictly to a religious postion, without recognizing the national
aspects of the Palestinian effort. The best politician in power
can not undo the work of 28 years of reconstructive effort
which was conducted under the banner of pledges for the
establishment of a "Jewish National Home." Fifty-one nations,
,
including the United States, endorsed such a nationalistic
program, which was the result of the idealism of the best
brains in Great Britain during World War I.
Mr. Bevin's sins are so numerous that he will find it
most difficult to account for all of them. His repeated slurring
references to the Jews of New York are in bad taste", un-
becoming the Foreign Secretary of a great world power;
and he embarrasses rather than compliments the Jews of
England by implying that they are the good Jews.
The latest tragic and deplorable events in Palestine,
Charles A. Madison, of the college editorial de-
partment of Henry Holt & Co., 257 Fourth Ave.,
New York 10, a former Detroiter who now makes
his home in Detroit long ago made his mark as a
defender of just causes and as an able interpreter
of libertarian ideals. A resident of Michigan from
1906 to 1921, he still calls
Detroit his "home,"—be-
cause many of his rela-
tives live here and be-
cause his daughter fol-
lowed in his footsteps and
is today a student at th
University of Michigan.
The oldest of fiv
children, he went to work
in an automobile factory
at the age of 15. That,
however, did not sto
him from pursuing a co
lege career. He made his
mark at the U. of M., won
the highest award ever
offered by the Menorah
Association, his essay be-
ing on the topic of Yid-
dish literature, and h
was graduated with cu
laude honors and wi
membership in Phi Beta
Kappa. He has been
book editor since 1922,
when he settled in Ne
York.
•
•
Charles A. Madison
•
This is by way of an introduction to his very
important book, "Critics and Crusaders: A Cen-
tury of American Protest," just published by
Henry Holt & Co. His background in a sense ex-
plains why he should have put so much heart in a
thick book of nearly 600 pages, in explanation of
the "protest" against iniquities and injustice by
great American liberals.
A note he wrote to this reviewer—a class-
mate at the U. of M.—is interesting. He writes:
"Although my book deals little with Jewish
life, its topic of freedom and social justice has
always been dear to Jews—from the Prophets
to the present-day Lilienthals!"
This very direct comment is modest. In reality,
Madison's book is a powerful plea for justice, for
the deep-rooted ideals of Americanism and the
ancient Prophets. He does not hesitate to speak
frankly of such unpopular subjects as anarchism
and socialism and he goes to the root of all issues
he approaches in his brilliant book.
•
•
•
There are six sections - in Madison's book. Deal-
ing with the Abolitionists and their background,
he analyzes very ably the entire history of the
battle against slavery in this country and he deals
specifically with three heroes of that period—
William Lloyd Garrison: "Apostolic Crusader?'
John Brown: "A Fanatic in Action," and Wendell
Phillips: "Agitator for the Common Good."
Twentieth century idealists will find strong en-
couragement in their efforts to assure liberty for
all. The Garrison sketch is a challenge to all free-
dom-loving people not to despair and to have faith
that even if it takes a generation or more to win a
battle. it can be won, provided the idealists are
unyielding and unafraid.
•
•
S
Margaret Fuller: "Transcendental Rebel," the
social dreamer Arthur Brisbane and the social
planner Edward Bellamy are the leaders of the
Utopians dealt with in the second pqrtion of the
book.
In "The Dissident Economists" Madison dis-
cusses Henry George: "Prophet of Human Right."
Brooks Adams: "Jeremiah Critic of Capitalism"
and Thorstein Veblen: "Iconoclastic Economist."
This reviewer especially recommends this section
as a valuable chapter in discussions of economic
problems.
John Peter Altgeld: "Pioneer Progressive," fear-
less American who helped to undo some of the
damage to the good name of America in the Hay-
market tragedy in Chicagct; Lincoln Steffens:
"Muckraker's Progress," and Randolph Bourne:
"The History of a Literary Radical," are the heroes
in the section dealing with `The Militant Liberals."
The two other sections in "Critics and Cru-
saders" deal with "The Anarchists" and "The
Socialists." Those dealt with in the former are
Daniel De Leon, Eugene Victor Debs: "Evangelical
Socialist," and John Reed: "Rebel and Revolu-
and the forcefulness of its declarations in
the heavy loss of life, the regrettable terroristic acts, are
tionary."
defense not only of oppressed white minori-
directly ascribable to the incitement created by the in-
Madison shows that he has a thorough knowl-
ties but also of the colored peoples. It is a
sults hurled at Jewry by Mr. Sevin. The declaration of
edge of American history and of the radical move-
ments.
He does not use kid gloves in analyzing un-
statement worthy of universal endorsement.
martial law merely continues the "police state" conditions
popular causes. He is bare-fisted in presenting his
of tyranny imposed on Palestine's population. It is a
heroes for what they are worth.
Even in dealing with the anarchists, he is fair
condition that can not last and must end in a return to
and objective. The three personalities in this field
t
th
Jewish
e
led
ges
to
p
e
sanity,
in
complete
adherence
to
Member Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Independent Jewish
—Henry David Thoreau: "Transcendental Indi-
P. css Service. Seven Arts Feature Syndicate. Religioui
people, in an open door policy for Jewish immigrants and
vidualist," Benjamin R. Tucker: "Individualist
News Service, Palcor Agency. World News Services.
National
Home
Anarchist," and Emma Goldman: "Anarchist
the
eventual
establishment
of
the
Jewish
Member American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers and Micnigan Press Association.
Rebel"—are ably described by Madison.
in Eretz Israel.
Pubtisned every Friday by The Jewish News Publish-
Jewish readers will be particularly interested in
ing Co.. 2114 Penobscot Bldg.. Detroit 26. Mich.. RA. 1956
his ∎-b -scription of Emma Goldman, her early life,
Subscription. $3 a year: foreign, $4. Club subscription.
We return to our original contention that there is little her resentment against her quick-tempered ortho-
every fourth Friday of the month. to all subscribers to
Allied Jewish Campaign of Jewish Welfare Federation of
Jewish father, her rebellious life and her inde-
cause for fear in the outbursts of the British Labor leaders. dox
Detroit. 40 cents pc) year.
fatigable struggle for her ideals. The concluding
Mr. Bevin apparently fails to recognize that if, as he puts it, sentence
Entered as second-class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Of-
in this chapter is an excellent explanation
flee. Detroit. Mich.. under Act of March 3. 1879_
the White Paper of 1939 is unworkable, then his own restric- of this rebel:
much
"Emma's quotation from Ibsen, made while
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
tive measures of 1947 may tell become unworkable in a
waiting for deportation in 1919—`that it is the
Philip Slomovitz
Maurice Aronsson
shorter period—possibly even this year.
struggle for the ideal that counts, rather than
Isidore Sobeloff
Fred M. Butzel
Mr. Sevin and his associates will learn one day that they
the attainment of it' — may well be her epi-
Judge Theodore Levin Abraham Srere
Henry Wineman
taph."
Maurice II. Schwartz
can not destroy the historic aspirations of an entire people.
is,
op
s
and
That which has been created in Palestine with the sweat
PHILIP SI.01110VITZ. Editor
The chapter on socialism makes interesting refer-
blood of the Jewish pioneers is in Eretz Israel to stay. It will ences
to the early Jewish pioneers in American
MARCH 7, 1947
VOL. 10—NO. 25
'urvive all antagonisms. As long as Jewry's major security socialism.
of
"Critics and Crusaders" is a very good book. If
measures are strictly adhered to, by continued building
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
the land it will serve, in our own state, to cause Madison's
new
colonies,
by
bringing
more
immigrants
into
This Sabbath, the sixteenth clay of Adar, 5707.
friends to reminisce about a very able Michigander,
the following Scriptural selections will be read in and by establishing new industries, there is not an earthly
it will have served a good purpose through the
Israel
or
destroy
of
synagogues:
introduction and spread of a brilliant book.
oJr
force that can undo the creative genius
P. S.
Pentateuchal portion—EX. 30:11-34:35.
. .
Israel's hopes and asialrations.
1
THE JEWISH NEWS
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