Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

The Remarkable Uriah Phillips .Levy

One of the most remarkable men in American Jewish history
has been brought to light again in a fictional biography written
-by a Detroit lawyer, Sol Blumrosen, who calls his novel "End of
the Rawhide." It is the story of Uriah Phillips Levy, Commodore of
the United States Navy, a. hero of the War - of 1812, a stormy petrel
in naval ranks, the man who
engineered the adoption by
Congress of the law banning
flogging in the U. S. Navy. This
achievement accounts for the
title of his novel, 'End of the
Rawhide."
Blumrosen does not begin to
scratch the surface in dealing
with the life of Commodore
Levy. His story, while it has
some faults, nevertheless serves
the important purpose of call-
ing public attention to the life
of a very distinguished Ameri-
can Jew. Perhaps it also will in-
spire the writing of a full-length
biography of Uriah P. Levy.

He was not yet 20 when he
had gone through every stage
of marine service, from cabin-
Uriah P. Levy
boy to captain. He had a most
remarkable career and, in spite of the prejudice he experienced
as a Jew, he rose to the highest rank in the U. S. Navy.

Born in Philadelphia in 1792, son of Michael and Rachel
(Phillips) Levy, he was the grandson of Jonas Phillips, a hero of
the Revolutionary war. (Blumrosen persists in referring to Uriah
as "Phillip"—quite evidently a misnomer traced to his middle
name "Phillips"). At the age of 10 Uriah sailed as a cabin-boy.
At the age of 14 he was apprenticed to a. shipowner for four years,
a,nd during that period studied navigation for nine months in a
Philadelphia naval school. He was 18 when he became a first
mate and in 1811, at 19, he became master of the scooner "George
Washington" in which he acquired a third-share ownership. His
crew mutinied, he was stranded on an island, was picked up by a
British ship on which he was compelled to serve, but he refused
to enlist in the British navynd managed to return to the United
States.
Volunteering for service in the War of 1812, he was named an
assistant sailing master on the "Argus." He ran the British block-
ade, was assigned the difficult task of bringing safely to his post
the American envoy to France, William Crawford, and was a lead-
er in the "Argus' " successful attack on 21 enemy ships. Uriah was
assigned the task of destroying the war prizes. But in an assault
on a large British warship he met defeat, was taken" prisoner and
was released 16 month's later when the war ended.

He was commissioned several times thereafter, remaining

in the U. S. Navy's service. He had many adventures. He put an

end to slave traffic in Honduras Bay. He stopped piracy in the
Mexican Gulf. And throughout his career he was compelled to
fight the anti-Semites who refused to tolerate a Jewish officer
in our Navy. He fought a duel with one of his adversaries and
killed him. He was subjected to several courts martial. He ex-
perienced numerous disappointments in order to attain high
rank and to remain in his country's service.

Although he was raised to the rank of Captain in 1844, his
enemies engineered his retirement for a period of. 10 years. It
became necessary to establish a legislative court of inquiry to act
on his appeal and in 1954 the verdict in his favor enabled him to
resume active command of a ship. He was represented at the inquiry
by Benjamin F. Butler, an eminent New York lawyer, who proved
that anti-Semitic prejudices were responsible for keeping him on
the retirement list,

Prior to his death in New York, in 1862, he had risen to the
highest rank in the Navy. He had the courage to assert before
the court of inquiry: "My parents were Israelites,. and I was
nurtured in the faith of my ancestors. In deciding to adhere to
it, I have exercised but a right guaranteed me by the Constitu-
tion of the United States."

He was a remarkable man in many other_respects. He loved
and admired Thomas Jefferson, purchased the former President's
Monticello home which he included in his will, together with
nearly his entire estates, as a gift to the United States Govern-
ment. This Will, unfortunately, was invalidated in the case of
Levy vs. Levy 33 N.Y. 97. But he persisted in honoring Jefferson
and presented the. bronze Jefferson statue now to be seen• at
the Capitol in Washington as a gift to the U.S. He subscribed
to the war loan during the Civil War and his record is that of
a great patriot. His remains are in Cypress Hill Cemetery, N. Y.
This is the story of Uriah P. Levy. Many of the incidents
we have mentioned are incorporated in Blumrosen's book. Per-
haps he is justified in basing nearly the entire story on the pres-
sure of anti-Semitism which plagued the great naval officer, yet
it would have been more pleasant if he had incorporated in his
novel other outstanding incidents in his life. Blumrosen's "End
of the Rawhide" needs much polishing and regrettably has en-
tirely too many typographical errors. But it is clearly the result
of a serious effort, of deep study which took the Detroit author
to the Columbia University Avery Library, to the Library of Con:-
gress and to the New York Public Library. He emerges as an
authority on Commodore Levy. He has . rendered an .important
service by reviving interest in a great patriot who successfully
fought anti-Semitism and succeeded in putting an end to the dis-
graceful practice of flogging in the Navy. We can forgive Blum-
rosen the imperfections in his book in consideration of the con-
tribution he has made to a knowledge of history by inspiring in=
testin Levy with his novel.

C-WEEK Set by Allied Jewish
Campaign for Pledge Collections

In line with the United Jewish trade and professional workers
Appeal collection effort being from the 1951 drive to devote
made nationally to collect $35,- two hours of their time during
000,000 before the end of the C-WEEK to making assigned
year, the Detroit Service Group telephone calls at the Federa-
designated the week of Nov. 19 tion offices.
as C-WEEK. Extra telephones
Campaign workers may call
will be available during the week
Lerner, WO. 5-3939, to
at . the Jewish Welfare Federa- Mrs.
schedule when they can give
tion to facilitate a special tele- their
two hours. The telephone
phone campaign, HarVey H. campaign will be in full opera-
Goldman, Detroit Service Group tion next Monday, TUesday,
president; announced.
Wednesday and Friday, and vol-
Abe Kasle, 1951 Allied Jewish unteers may sign up for specific
Campaign chairman, asked all times on any of those days.

Representatives at Bond Conference Pledge
Sale of $1,600,000
More Bonds This Year
. _

Representatives of the leading
Jewish organizations in Detroit
who participated in the Bonds
for Israel Conference at the
Jewish Center last week-end re-
solved, after a number of dis-
cussion meetings, to join forces
to sell an additional $1,600,000
of Israel bonds before the end
of 1951, bringing the total
amount of bond sales in Detroit
to $4,500,000.

The conferees also decided
to set aside Sunday, Nov. 25,
as Israel Bond Day. Hundreds
of volunteers are expected to
visit members of their organ-
izations to enlist their cooper-
ation in the great investment
effort for Israel.

Highlighted by the appearance
at the sessions of a group of
noted lecturers and featured by
discussion meetings on Sunday
morning, the conference had as
its major objective mobilization
of all available forces for the
bond sales.
More than '700 people filled
the Center auditorium to over-
flowing on Saturday night to
hear addresses by John Roy
Carlson, author of "From Cairo
to Damascus," and Congress-
man Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.,
as well as an array of other
speakers. The meeting was con-
ducted under the chairmanship
of • Leon Kay who pointed out
that Detroit Je.wry is expected to
purchase $15,000,000 worth of
bonds in three years.
Harry Seeve, national cam-
paign director for the Israel
bond organization, stated that
Israel can't be built with char-
ity funds, that "there isn't that
much charity in the world," and
declared that the only alterna-
tive is through the sale of bonds
and through investments. He
stated that 4% of the Jews of
America already have purchased
$80,000,000 in bonds, and ex-
pressed confidence that the ef-
fort will be a great success.

The high mark of Saturday
night's session was the ad-
dress of Mr. Carlson, who was
introduced by. Samuel W. Leib,
Bhat .Brith; -..bOnd chairman.
Mr. 'Carlson made a strong
plea for support- of the bend
drive in order to protect
Israel's position as "the only
democracy from Gibraltar
to the Pacific." He warned
against the dangers that lurk
everywhere in Arab lands and
described his recent tour of
Moslem countries as well as
Israel.

Pointing out that he traveled
under his right name of Arthur
Deronian, he told of having met
some of the worst gangsters in
the Middle East and of their
threats to annihilate the Jews.
He referred to the Moslem
Brotherhood as "the most blood-
thirsty gang of thugs" and
described the poverty, illiteracy
and degradation that dominates
that entire area. He stated that
"Communists are getting the
most benefit out of this degrada-
tion."
In contrast, he said that con-
ditions in Israel represent the
Golden Rule in practice." He
said he was impressed by the
selflessness of the Israelis and
their compassion for their fellow
human beings. In Israel, he said,
there are no beggars, the women
are the equals of men and high-
est standards of justice pre-
dominate.

Congressman Roosevelt, who
was introduced by Harry Schu-
mer, reporting on his recent
visit in Israel, his second in
three years, said he was
amazed to witness the _progress
attained in three years. De-
scribing Israel's danger be-
cause of the ferment in Middle
East politics, he urged, in
order to assure security for Is-
rael, that Jews in America
should redouble their efforts
in behalf of the bond drive.

Edward Singer, local manager
of the bond drive, reported that
until now Detroiters committed
themselves to the purchase of
$2,901,150 in bonds and that
$1,755,250 has been received in
cash from 2,784 bond purchasers.

Mrs. Joseph H. Ehrlich pre-
sided at the luncheon meeting

Sunday at which Lawrence
Crohn presented the resolution
setting Noy. 25 as Israel Bond
Day and reports on decisions at
the discussion sessions were
made by Mrs. L. Grahm, S. W.
Leib, William Hordes, Morris
Jacobs Phillip StoHman and
Louis Levine.
Addresses at the closing ses-
sion were delivered by Israel
Consul General Shmuel Bendor ,
who was introduced by A. C:
La.ppin, and Maurice Samuel,
who was introduced by Irving
Schlussel. The prayers were giv-
en by Dr. B. B. Glazer and Mr.
Schlussel.
Mr. Bendor told of the exten-
sive industrial enterprises estab-
lished in Israel, the building of
housing units and the tremen-
dous task of the bond drive to
bring the land in Israel under
cultivation. These undertakings,
he said, are the real cures for
the ills of today in the Jewish
state.
Asserting that the Israel
bonds represent the most revo-
lutionary experience in the his-
tory of Zionism, Mr. Samuel, ins.
the most brilliant address of the
entire conference, evaluated ex-
isting Jewish conditions and re-
futed numerous misrepresenta-
tions affecting the Jewish state.

Pointing to the need for the
restratification of our ideas,
Mr. Samuel stated that a suc-
cessful bond drive, represent
ing a great practical and nor-
mal effort in state building
means in essence acceptance
of Israel as a fact. He said
that he who withholds sup-
port of the bond drive is con-
tradicting in practice what he
accepts in principle.
"Support of the bond drive is
our endorsement of our recog-
nition. of the existence of the

Speakers at Saturday night's
session included Governor
Williams and Mayor Cobo who
were introduced by Max Os-
nos, Detroit's bond chairman,
who presented them with in-
scribed Bibles received from
Premier of Israel Ben-Gurion. state," he added.
On Saturday night, other pro-
It has been announced that
gram participants were Rabbis three report meetings will be
Jacob Segal and Joshua Sperka, held, to be addressed by the fol-
who gave the blessings, and lowing : Nov. 27, Ccingressman
Cantor H. J. Adler, who opened Emanuel •Celler; Dec. 13, Dr.

the session by leading in the Frank Kingdon; Dec. 27, Pierre
singing of the national anthems. VanPaassen.

Between You and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

The American Scene

The agreement between the Jewish Agency and the World
The Middle East, he stated, is Jewish Congress, which expires at the end of this year, will not
the "area of black supremacy," be renewed . . . Under the agreement the World Jewish Congress
of deep hatred for Europeans. received a part of its budget from the Jewish Agency . . . Rabbi
Irving Miller will not run again for the presidency of the Ameri-
can Jewish Congress at the convention opening tomorrow . . . He
Organizations Asked
made known his intention of not running at a meeting of one
of the governing bodies of the Congress . . . The next president
To Select Delegates
probably will be Dr. Israel Goldstein ... The American and World
To JNIF Nov. 29 Rally Jewish Congresses are continuing to conduct a joint campaign
directed at the welfare funds ... They have agreed to share the
A call has gone forth to all income obtained from Jewish welfare funds—including income
local organizations and congre- from the New York United Jewish Appeal—in a proportion of 75
gations to name delegates to the percent to the AJC and 25 percent to the WJC . . . Their income
Jewish National Fund public last year was about a million dollars, of which 90 percent came
meeting at the Shaarey Zedek from welfare funds and New York UJA . . . The Council of Jewish
on Thursday evening, Nov. 29.
Federations and Welfare Funds complains that while the Ameri-
The event will mark the anni- can Jewish Congress submits audits, the World Jewish Congress
versary of the UN Partition De- has submitted no audits since 1946 . . . However, it stated that the
cision as well as the 50th anni- WJC had submitted unaudited financial statements.
versary of the JNF.
Mrs. Archibald Silverman will Israel Affairs
be guest speaker. An address
Jewish leaders in America who have been under the impres-
will be delivered by Rabbi Morris sion that the United Jewish Appeal was nearing its last year
Adler.
are now changing their minds . . After getting an intimate pie-
The program
ture of the economic outlook in Israel, they now realize that UJA
must go on for at least another 10 years ... Leaders of the Jewish
will include mu-
Agency are making no secret of the fact - that Israel's economic
sical selections
situation may become considerably worse ... They stress, in pri-
by Cantor J. H.
vate talks, the fact that Israel's only hope is aid from the United
Sonenklar a n d
States—both from the U. S. Government and from U. S. Jewry
While up to now Israel could manage to meet its financial dif-
the Choir of
ficulties by getting loans from abroad, the time has come when
Congreg atio n
payments on these loans must be started .. . Thus, one loan of
Shaarey Zadek.
$17,000,000 had to be met in this country . .. Heavy repayments
The choir will
must be made to the U. S. Export-Import Banks on account of
be directed by
the loans received ... Israel has practically exhausted its accounts
Dan Frohman.
in Britain and has even converted into cash securities of British
The rally is Sonenklar
open to the public and all are companies owned by Israeli residents . . • This means that Israel's
need in American dollars is greater than ever, especially in gift
invited.
dollars, $100,000,000 of which are annually collected by the UJA
. ..Of great help to Israel would be the payment of its claims
Apprehend 50 Infiltrees
.TEL AVIV, (JTA)—A total of on Germany for $1,500,000,000 in reparations ... Even if this sum
5.0 infiltrees were apprehended is paid by Germany over a period of 10 years, it would still in-_
in Israel by Israeli border pat- crease Israel's income by 150 million dollars annually .. . This is
rols. In a number of clashes one of the reasons why the Israel government is so insistent upon
between the Arabs and Israeli its claims against. Germany . . . And indications are that the
police units, 15 of the infiltrees West German Government is ready to talk "business" with Israel,
providing the Jewish State agrees to accept its reparations in
were killed or wounded.
goods rather than cash . . . This would help German industry AO
get a foothold in the. Middle East, where Britain is loSing its
2 — THE JEWISH NEWS
market, and would also provide work for thousands of unemployed

Friday, November 16, 1951

Germans.