As the Editor
Views the News ...
They Must Be Removed!
Madison Writes Great
Book on Workers' Cause
Liberty Bell Message
Replicas of the Liberty Bell, with the
slogan "Save for Your Independence," are
touring the land in behalf of the current
U. S. Savings Bonds Independence Drive.
The appeal to Americans
..kokla INS
to purchase U. S. Savings
<t•
,1/ 431s
Bonds is emphasized by
444 t
A the Biblical message on the
7 historic B e 1 I: "Proclaim
Liberty throughout the
4
land, unto all the inhabi-
IP
N GS
•
tants thereof."
The U. S. Savings Bonds drive is spear-
headed by practical phases. They represent
the best and safest investments with ex-
cellent returns. Their purchase marks faith
in our government and in our way of life.
By buying these bonds we make it possible
for our government to carry on its functions
with a greater sense of security.
Buy U. S. Savings Bonds and help pre-
serve the independence of our land and the
sacred American ideals which we cherish so
highly.
1
Renewed Nazi Terror
A series of threatening letters have been
received by. Jews in Vienna, by the Vienna
Jewish Community Council and other or-
ganizations, warning them: "Despite the
ban we are not dead—we shall fight on with-
out rest until every Jew hangs from a tree."
Carrying the signature of "S. S. Organiza-
tion, Vienna," these letters contain a photo-
graph showing the execution of Polish Jews,
with the caption "Judische Galgenvogel-
Jewish Gallowbirds."
This is only one of many exhibits that
are multiplying in the file of evidence that
Nazism is not dead, that it is gaining new
force and that its threat to Jewry is as seri-
ous today as it was in the days of Hitler. In
spite of the occupation of former Nazi terri-
tories by troops of the democracies, anti-
Semitism has raised its ugly head and
threatens the existence of the surviving
Jews.
Our own government and Great Britain
have been admonished not to permit the
Nazi-Fascist forces to flourish. They have
been called upon to put an end to their
machinations. But the terrorists are carry-
ing on their activities, they have attacked
Jews, their cohorts have defiled cemeteries
and synagogues.
If the renewed wave of Nazism is not
ended, all that the democratic nations have
fought for will have been lost. The sooner
a firm stand is taken against the Nazi terror,
the better for the peace and security of the
entire world.
American Labor Leaders
The Tragedy of Buttenwieser
Former Detroiter Charles A. Madison, now a
member of the editorial staff of the publishing
house of Henry Holt & Co., New York, has writ-
ten a most fascinating book on labor and its
leaders which Harper & Bros. have just published
under the title "American Labor Leaders: Per-
sonalities and Forces in the Labor Movement."
While the emphasis in the book is placed on
16 trade union, leaders, his
book is a veritable history
of the organized labor
forces in this country and
is a most important com-
mentary on ideologies and
trends which have moti-
vated the activities of the
leaders and the forces they
enrolled to assist them.
In the chapter "Joseph
Barondess to David Du-
binsky — From the Sweat-
shop to Industrial Leader-
ship" there are interest-
ing comments on the Jew-
ish elements in labor
rank s, the immigrant
groups that at first looked
Charles A. Madison askance at organized labor,
the activities of the labor leaders on the East
Side of New York. Although Mr. Madison deals
with this subject very briefly, his comments rep-
resent a valuable addition to American Jewish
history.
In addition to Barondess and Dubinsky, the
other 14 personalities dealt with in "American
Labor Leaders" are: William H. Sp/is (Ameri-
ca's first "labor's champion") , Uriah S. Stephens,
Terence V. Powderly, Samuel Gompers, William
Green, William L. Hutcheson, John Mitchell, John
L. Lewis, Alexander F. Whitney, William D. Hay-
wood, Philip Murray, Sidney Hillman, Walter
Reuther and Harry Bridges.
*
*
The rise of Jews to leadership in the labor
movement, the development of the International
Ladies Garment _Workers Union as one of the
most powerful unions in the world and the keen
sense of social justice which has distinguished
Jewish leadership, are interestingly reviewed in
Madison's excellent book.
An interesting sidelight on the "outside" East
Side New York shops, which preceded the sweat
shops, throw light. on the activities of the Jewish
immigrants to this country in the latter part of
the last century. Before 1880, garments were
manufactured in "inside shops" connecting with
selling departments of firms. Later, Jewish im-
migrants began to establish small "outside"
shops. There was fierce haggling; "the workers
were made to provide their own tools and
thread": cheap labor was the order of the day.
Mr. Madison points out that when the sweat-
shop was being condemned there was resistance
to organized effort against them. He writes:
"Most of the cloakmakers were pious Jews
who had never even heard of trade unionism
and who were too confused and intimidated by
their new environment to regard their exploita-
tion as alterable by their own endeavors.
Many of them, moreover, hugged the hope
that their purgatory was temporary and would
soon lead them to the paradise of a business
of their own."
There were all sorts of conflicts. Friction be-
tween several unions caused trouble. Morris Hill-
quit is Quoted as stating that the unions were
associated by Jewish workers with strikes, that:
took 20 years of patient and persistent work
to educate the Jewish workers to a realization
of the value of trade unions in peace as well as
In war, and it was not until about 1910 that the
Jewish labor movement was organized on a solid
and stable basis."
Abraham Cahan's villification of Barondess
for the latter's leanings towards anarchism, the
development of a Jewish socialist movement,
the revolt against intolerable working conditions
are fully reviewed by the able author. •
The country at large continues to debate the issue that
was created when the Anti-Defamation League of Bnai Brith
decided to cancel the scheduled address of Benjamin J. But-
tenwieser at its banquet session of the recent Chicago con-
vention.
Mr, Buttenwieser's address now is a matter of public
record—and so are the details of negotiations which pre-
ceded the incident.
The ADL reveals the following facts :
1. It had not asked the Assistant U. S. Commissioner
for Germany to participate in the program but was ap-
proaced by Mrs. Buttenwieser with the request that her hus-
band should be given an opportunity to address the con-
vention.
2. Mr. Buttenwieser was advised in advance by ADL
"of our deep concern with the resurgence of Nazism and
the nature and the leanings of his prospective audience."
3. Mr. Buttenwieser, while ignoring the admonitions of
the ADL leaders, nevertheless sent them an advance text
of his address with a comment in his accompanying letter:
"I hope my discussion will be along the lines you en-
visaged. .
4. Denial of the platform to Mr. Buttenwieser followed
a study of the text of his address in which he "labeled those
who favored a strong policy of denazification as extremists
and implied that continued efforts along these lines were
motivated by a spirit of vengefulness."
ADL, denying that the cancellation of his address in-
volved the question of freedom of speech, "since our com-
missioners were fully aware that Mr. Buttenwieser could
deliver his address at any time, over a radio hookup or be-
fore any number of other platforms," explains its stand
as follows: "Our officers wanted the Jewish community of
America to know that ADL had withdrawn its platform since
it did not wish any possible implication to prevail that the
presentation of such an address at our meeting might imply
any endorsement of these views."
ADL's position is understandable. Perhaps, as we indi-
Ten thousand Jewish families will be
settled in the United States in 1950 and 1951, cated last week, it would have been better to let him speak
with the aid of United Service for New and to expose him on the spot, since it was apparent that
Americans, as part of the liberalized pro- he would be heard. In the long run, however, it will be the
gram for the resettlement of displaced task of Mr. Buttenwieser and the U. S. State Department
officials whose mind he speaks to justify their intoler-
persons.
The rehabilitation of these people, who able position. In spite of the renewal of anti-Semitism in
will number more than 20,000 souls, presents Germany, of the large number of desecrations of cemeteries,
serious problems involving housing and job of attacks on Jews, Mr. Buttenwieser saw fit to emphasize
in his address that "Nazism in Germany has been destroyed,
finding.
The Resettlement Bureau in Detroit and never to rise again." Meanwhile the lives of the remaining,
the national USNA organization have issued Jews are in peril, and a "fellow-Jew" has emerged as a de-
urgent appeals to employers to help provide . fender of the Nazis. This is the tragedy in the Buttenwieser
means for a livelihood for these people and issue. It is in reference to the Buttenwiesers that the Prophet
to landlords to help secure homes for them. Isaiah bewailed:
"Children I hate reared, and brought up,
Without jobs and homes, the task of the
And they have rebelled against Me."
USNA will be a most difficult one. The DP
*
*
*
law specifically provides that refugees must
The Jewish socialists, Ab Cahan, and the For-
be assured of employment and housing be-
ward "recoiled from the Leninist program" when
fore they can be brought to this country.
the Bolesheviki desposed the moderate govern-
This places a responsibility upon the entire
This country's inherent principles of making it possible ment in Russia and "began actively to combat
Jewish community to provide means of re- for all creeds to worship freely, without handicap or inter- it." We are told Dubinsky and his fellow leaders
settlement for the DPs if they are to be given ference, again are being emphasized in our own state, as a are responsible for the split of the progressive
secure refuge in this land.
result of the action of our State Legislature to permit those forces in the U.S. and the Jewish leader's anti-
We are . thus faced with important obli- who may be prevented from casting their ballots at the polls Communist zeal "exceeds even such labor red-
gations—to help find homes and jobs in the for religious reasons to make use of the privilege of absentee baiters as Matthew Woll and William Green."
Sidney Hillman is described as the "enlight•
coming months for the newcomers to our ballots.
ened leader of the Amalgamated." Mr. Madison
shores.
The Bill, which was introduced by State Senator Charles pays great tribute to Hillman as "the ablest
Blondy of Detroit, and which was signed last Thursday by labor leader this country has yet produced."
Governor Williams solves a problem created by the occur-
Walter Reuther comes in for a lot of criti-
rence of Election Day this year on the first day of Rosh
cism. Madison charges that "Reuther is toe
Member: American Association of English-Jewish News-
papers. Michigan Press Association.
Hashanah—on Tuesday, Sept. 12. Governor Williams at the
ambitious and too vain not to be affected
Published every Friday by The Jewish News Publishing
adversely by the power he now wields."
outset favored the adoption of legislation to make it pssible
Co. 708-10 David Stott Bldg., Detroit 26, Mich., WO. 6-1165.
Subscription $3 a year: foreign $4.
for
Jewish
voters
to
use
absentee
ballots.
The story of Samuel Gompers is one of the
Entered as second class matter Aug. 6, 1942 at Post Office,
Now, the Jewish voters are challenged to show that most fascinating in the entire book.
Detroit. Mich., under Act of Marc.b 3, 1879.
they intend fully to utilize this privilege and that they will
Although critical of many of the labor leaders,
PHILIP SLOMOV lTZ. Editor
SIDNEY SHMARAK Advertising Manager
not fail to ask for absentee ballots long enough in advance Madison holds the view that despite them
RUTH L. CASSEL. City Editor
of Rosh Hashanah in order not to lose their opportunities "sympathetic leadership" will develop soon, and
he predicts that "workers will gradually obtain
Vol. XVII—No. 12
Page 4
June 2, 1950 to vote under the special ruling set for them.
security, the dignity, and the approbation
While the election is still nearly four months off, it is the
they seek gropingly yet hopefully."
Sabbath Scriptural Selections
not too early to start reminding our people that they owe
book is not only an excellent work
This Sabbath, the eighteenth day of Sivan,
a duty to themselves, to their state, to the nation, to cast :of Madison's
scholarship. It is a courageous effort to con-
5710, the following Scriptural selections will be
their ballots in September and to plan to apply for the absen- demn witch hunts, to make a passionate appeal
read in our synagogues:
tee ballots in due time. If that privilege is not fully utilized, for justice for the worker, to seek the truth.
Pentateuchal portion—Nunn. 8:1-12:16.
we shall stand disgraced in the eyes of our fellow citizens He succeeds in his humanitarian approach. His
Prophetical portion—Zech. 2:14-4:7.
of other faiths.
book should make the best seller list.
Jobs for Newcomers
Absentee Balloting in September
THE JEWISH NEWS