Purely Commentary

By PHILIP SLOMOVITZ

Josiah Clement Wedgwood—'The Last of the Radicals'

Philo-Semites and Christian Zionists have formed a veritable
army of fighters for justice in the past half century. They have
given courage to Jewry's defenders. They have formed a van-
guard in the struggle for emancipation. These great men were
militant in. their efforts in behalf of Jewish national rebirth. But
in their militarism, they were humble. In
their humility they rose to great heights.
Jewish leaders whose friendship we cher-
ished and who possessed these qualities in-
cluded the late Nahum Sokolow and Dr.
Chaim Arlazaroff. There were many non-
Jews in this classification, among them
Charles Orde Wingate and Sir Wyndham
Deedes. And the one person who gained a
special place in Israel's heart was the late
Josiah Clement Wedgwood, M.P., who, a
few years before hiS death, was elevated to
a Peerage.
His niece, Miss C. V. Wedgwood, has
written a charming story of his life which
she has labelled "The Last of the Radicals."
It was published by Jonathan Cape (30
Bedford Sq., London, England) and we are
indebted to the importations department
Of the Macmillan Co. for its distribution
Wedgwood
in this country.
It is not only the story of Wedgwood's fight for Zionism that
make8 this biography great. Equally as fascinating is his niece's
description of his : protests against all forms of bigotry, his con-
demnation of a, `"gentleman's" agreement with Mussolini, his de-
mand that "we should not even tolerate error": "Toleration is
the vice of the old; but I hope to die still utterly intolerant, for I
am quite sure that the toleration preached today is cowardice." It
was his answer to those who pleaded that they wanted to be "tol-
erant" in the :dayS of the Nazi threats and the great parliamen-
tarian charged the/la with wanting to put "expediency before jus-
tice." How familiar it sounds, and how applicable it is today, in
the instances of the pacifiers of the neo-Nazis! Miss Wedgwood
quotes an appropriate unpublished letter her uncle had written
to express his feelings on tolerance:

"You are right in thinking me intolerant alid I shall re-
main intolerant—of- cruelty, injustice and :terror. Toleration in
the individual is apt to be another word for laziness and cow-
ardice."

Lord Wedgwood, who defended Jews and others who suffered
from oppression, not only in speeches in the House of Commons
and elsewhere and in letters to the press, but also by providing
refuge for the needy in this home, was, as described by his, niece:

"an individualist rather than a party man, he was consistent
even in his inconsistencies. His guiding principles never altered:
he - hated oppression and believed, with crusading fervour, that
only in an atmosphere of freedom can man develop as a respon-
sible political being."

Jews, more than all others, know the truth of this statement.'

He defied his own Labor Party (to which he switched from the

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Liberal ranks) on the question of
Zionism, and did not hesitate to
call names and defy bluffs when
that became necessary.
• We met him only briefly—in the
rather dingy and uninviting lobby
of the basement of the Emanuel
Synagogue here on Taylor and
Woodrow Wilson, some 25 years
ago, but our correspondence was
voluminous. In his speeches and
writings, he was frank in facing
issues, as indicated in two of his
letters reproduced on the left. We
had proposed the establishment of
a se Itlement in his name in Pales-
tine. He did not belieVe the Ad-
ministration would approve! He
was right, but history chose to
honor him in defiance of Admin-
istration and a settlement exists in
Israel in tribute to his great name.
His house, in which he gave
refuge to the needy, was appro-
priately called by everyone "The
Ark. In his every word and every
act, he displayed not only courage
—in fighting for the underdog—
but also wisdom in choosing his
causes. Those who remember his
only appearance in Detroit, at the
Bnai Brith-sponsored meeting at
the. Emanuel synagogue 25 years
ago, will recall the firm stand he
took on Zionism. A. C. Lappin pre-
sided at that gathering. It was in
the days when no one believed the
•S " -J et Jewish cause could win. But Wedg-
wood had faith. He was 'complete-
ly devoted to the Zionist movement
cQ02....44,- and wanted Palestine to be the
Seventh British Dominion. He
knew that Great Britain would
have been stronger if it included
a Jewish Dominion in its Empire.
Miss. Wedgwood's biography
serves to remind us that her uncle

%

fought a good fight and kept the

His life can serve as a les-
son
on to all libertarians. The story,
,
as told by Miss Wedgwood, must be
read in its entirety. A review mere-
ly scrapes the surface. Read "The Last of the Radicals." You'll
acquire a love for a great man and you'll regain faith in humanity
—because of the greatness of the leader who said that "if any-
ene wrote his life it should be called The Last of the Radicals
and should be 'a clarion call against the constructors of a safe
and unjust sbciety.' "

2

—

THE JEWISH NEWS

Friday, January 18, 1952

John Roy Carlson Oklahoma Publisher Challenges ADL
To Address Local
Statistics on Decline of Anti-Semitism
Zionists Jan. 30

(By the American Jewish Press)

Sharp warnings of increased to go to the farms and stop con-
anti-Semitism in America, one of centrating in the cities." Instead
•them taking strong exception of permitting refugees to settle
with a recent Anti-Defamation in cities, Levand suggested they
League claim that prejudice has be assisted in becoming farmers
nose-dived 40 per cent, were
businessmen in smaller coin-
sounded by Jewish Publisher munities throughout the U.S.
Louis Levand, of Wichita, Kan., Another warning that anti-
who reported that anti-Semitic Semitism might increase in 1952
feeling in the midwest area was came from radio commentator
Drew Pearson who predicted
"worse than ever."
Disputing the recent ADL sta- that this year's presidential
tistics on the decline of anti- ; campaign would bring out the
Semitism, Levand, publisher of i most virulent bigotry and anti-
the Wichita Beacon, told the Semitism in recent years.
Intermountain Jewish News in The attack on minorities, the
Denver that "people are writing columnist reported, will be tied
hate-filled letters complaining in with the various campaign*
of what they feel to be too much for office.
Jewish ownership, too many Meanwhile, in Washington.
Jews in politics, too many Jews high official in the "Eisenhower
mixed up in gambling, narcotics for President" movement told
il the American Jewish Press that
and whiskey."
Levand based his description i the nation's hate sheets had in-
of • increased anti-Semitism on ' creased their anti-Ike campaign,
JOHN ROY CARLSON
the number of letters to the edi- The anti - Jewish papers have
Basing his talk on his eye- for of his paper, the largest ; frequently charged in the past
witness accounts of Arab lead- daily newspaper in Kansas. ; that the general was "a tool of
He suggested that "Jews ought the international Zionists."
ers behind the Moslem Iron Cur-
tain from information reported
in his latest book, "Cairo to
Damascus," John Roy Carlson
will speak before members of
the Detroit Zionist District Jan.
30, at Cong. Sha.arey Zedek.
By BORIS SMOLAR
(Copyright, 1952, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Inc.)
Albert Elazar, chairman of the
program committee, will intro-
duce the speaker, who is cur- The Lighter Side
Prof. Albert Einstein was visited by a noted Israeli journalist,
rently on a speaking tour of the
who invited him to come to Israel ... -You are so admired by the
United States.
people in Israel," the venerable scientist was told by the journalist
The author of "Under Cover" . . . "I know it," Prof. Einstein said smilingly, "and this is perhaps
and "The Plotters," Carlson's
reason why I prefer not to show myself to them" . . . Which
latest book was - hailed by cri- the
recalls Dr. Chaim Weizmann's answer to an admirer who asked
tics as his best work to date. him in the pre-Israel days why he did not settle in Palestine . .
Carlson is the author who risked "You see," Dr. Weizmann replied, "every time I am about to make
his life crossing Arab and Is- a trip to Palestine, the newspapers in London report: 'Prof. Weiz-
raeli lines to get accurate re- mann is leaving for Palestine' . . . When I actually leave England,
ports from both camps during the Zionist press reports: 'Dr. 'Weizmann left for Palestine' .
the war of liberation in Pales- Thus I am no longer 'Professor Weizmann' but 'Dr. Weizmann'
tine.
. . • On the ship I hear two Jewish passengers on the deck talking
_about me: 'You know who he is? It's Weizmann! . . . So I am no
Sum Warship leers Hear longer even 'Dr. Weizmann,' but just `Weizmann' . . Upon reach-
ing the shores of Palestine, the Jewish stevedore who comes aboard
Israel Bond Call
the ship to carry down my luggage greets me very affectionately:
"Shalom, Chaim! . . . I am no longer 'Prof. Weizmann,' nor 'Dr.
NEW YpIRK, (AJP) — Chichi- Weizmann,' nor even `Weizmann' . . I am merely 'Chaim' "
castinanga!
The lack of respect for celebrities in Israel can also be seen from
It's a hard name to pronounce two jokes now making the rounds in Israel about Premier Ben-
but it is worth pronouncing. It •Gurion . . . One tells the story how Ben-Gurion, upon his'return
is the narrie of a , small Indian tctt Israel from his recent visit to the United States, brought sev-
Village in the mountainous eral yards of woolens to a tailor in Tel Aviv and ordered a suit .
ranges of Latin America which 1 "But there is not enough material here for a suit of your size,*
has earned a place in • Jewish the tailor told Ben-Gurion after taking his measure . . . "This is
history.
impossible," the Premier replied, "In. New York they sold it to
"Well," smiled the tailor, "you forget
The village, whose inhabitants me for a full-length suit"
are. all sun worshippers. has sub- that here in Tel Aviv, you are a bigger man than in New York" ...
scribed for a bond for Israel. The other joke deals with a Jerusalem teacher who asked his pu-
This is believed to be the first pils what they knew about the Israeli Premier . . . "I know!" one
time that any sun worshinners boy exclaimed, "the Premier is 5 feet high" . • "How do you
have subscribed for a Jewish know that?" the puzzled • teacher asked . . . "Well," replied the
cause. . .
boy, "my father is 5 feet 5 inches high and he keeps on saying:
The purchase . came. about as `I have Ben-Gurion up to my throat.' "
the result of. the visit of Miron
*
J. Sheskin, Ls tin- American rep- Domestic Development
resentative of the $500,000.000
While the Zionist groups in America have now liquidated their
Israel bond 'campaign. to see the agricultural training farms on which they train Chalutzim for
local Jewish merchant of Chi- emigration to Israel, the Jewish Agricultural College in Pennsyl-
& castinanga.
vania is reporting constant progress . . There are today more
Sheskin' attended one of the than 200 students attending the College, with 85 per cent of them
sun worshipping services and coming from urban areas . . . A new dormitory to house 48 ad-
was introduced to the mayor of ditional students was opened last year . . Because of the non-
the village, who asked many sectarian character of the College, about 35 per. cent of the stu-
questions about Sheskin and his dent body is non Jewish
Most of the students come from
mission.
Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey . . . The College was
The folloWing day, the mayor founded in 1896 by Rabbi Krauskopf to train city 'boys who wished
returned and told Sheskin that to. become farmers . . . It was accredited as • a Junior College- in
the village council appreciated 1946 and as a Senior College two years later.. . . Its program is
the struggle of any *people for adapted to the needs of city boys who have no prior agricultural
independence : and desiring to experience and the curriculum is organized on a work-study basis.
help Israel had decided to buy
. . It receives support from Jewish welfare funds and a grant
a bond.
from the State of Pennsylvania . . But more than a half of itt
$300,000 yearly - budget is covered by student fees .. Its farm op-
erations brings in a net income of about $25,000 a year . . . Tui-
tion fees and board charges for the school year amount to about
$1,000, but fees are reduced in cases of need . . Approximately
80 per cent of non-veteran students receive some scholarship aid
. . The College maintains fairly large farm operations on its 1,200
NEW YORK, (JTA)—In an ef- acres,
and its facilities include a dairy farm, in addition to six
fort to check "charity racket- other farms
operated by the College , . . It has two dormitory
eers" soliciting money in the buildings, a science
building, a horticultural building, a chemistry
name of religious organizations laboratory, two hothouses,
building, a student building,
—and posing as rabbis or nuns— a farm machinery building, a a faculty
gymnasium, a chapel and a library .
the Welfare Council of New
. It is one of the American Jewish institutions that seek no pub-
York City will recommend to
the city a law which would re- licity, and performs a fine job in a quiet but serious way.
quire all promoters and solici-
tors, including those for incor- Musical Moments
The American music-loving publie has discovered a new
porated religious groups, to be
licensed, if they operate on a young Jewish vurtuoso . . . He is Osias Wilensky, a boy from Ar-
gentina who gave his first piano concert in the United States at
percentage basis.
An announcement to this ef- the Kaufmann Auditorium in New York . . . Only 18 years old,
fect was made by Raymond he has created a reputation in the musical world not only as an
Hilliard, executive director of outstanding pianist, but also as a fine composer . .. Those who .
the Welfare Council. He explain- were present at his first American concert were captivated by
ed that solicitors for incorpor- his wonderful technique and great mastery of the piano ...
ated religious organizations are known musicians in the audience acknowledged him as "the
not required to be licensed by Menuhin of the piano" . . . Which means that it will not be long
the Department of Welfare as before his name becomes as popular in the United States as it l
are all other solicitors. "It costs in Argentina . Modest and unassuming, young Wilensky is bash-
He
only $40," he said, "for several ful when told by music experts that he has great talent .
persons to get together and in- has loved the piano since childhood and music is to him what
corporate as a religious organi- fresh air is to other human beings
At his concert in New York
zation and thereby evade the he played Beethoven, Schumann, Chopin, Debussy, Raehmanjnott
licensing provisions of the law." and Liszt with equal ease.

Between You and Me

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Check Ra.cl‘etPers
Posing as Rabbis

