c.7

28,500 Federatio Memh" rs Called
Upon to Vote at Annual Election
Meeting; Crucial Issues on Agenda

/

1

Continued from Page 1

Dr. Shmarya Kleinman, presi-
dent of the Jewish Community
Council, on Monday announced
that, acting under the mandate
of the Jan. 31 delegates' assem-
bly, that "the Council has spe-
cifically endorsed the candidacy
of six persons" whose names
will be on the ballot for the nine
vacancies on the Federation
board of governors at next
Tuesday's annual meeting. Dr.
Kleinman also urged a "yes"
vote on the amendment to the
Federation by-laws, proposed by
the Council, to be voted on
Tuesday.
Under. election rules, the bal-
lot on Tuesday must be for nine
candidates, and ballots marked
for more or less candidates will
be declared invalid.
Candidates endorsed by the
Council are:
David J. Cohen and Hyman
Safran, who also have been
named by the nominating com-
mittee, and the following who
have been nominated by peti-
tions: William Cohen, Lawrence
W. Crohn, Morris Lieberman
and Irving W. Schlussel.
Dr. Kleinman emphasized that
the intent of the proposed
amendment, the text of which
appears elsewhere in this issue
—is not to divest the Federation
from its proper responsibility to
appropriate community . funds
for various communal functions.

of all to support the Allied Jew-
ish Campaign "does not negate
the duty of every subscriber to
interest himself in the advance-
ment of the community."
He proceeds to dispute "the
advanced argument" that those
who oppose the slate nominated
by Federation are "seeking to
make trouble" and states that
the "indiscriminate" use of this
charge shows a lack of faith in
the democratic processes.
Naimark states . that "the
makeup of the Federation board
does not represent a cross-sec-
tion the* Jewish community"
and that "steps in the direction
"recognizing that the Jewish Community Council is a central of lessening this unbalance will
coordinating body of the organized Jewish Community in fields
tend to make Federation more
of its operation as defined in its Constitution, total annual
sensitive to the feelings of the
appropriations to the Jewish Community Cotincil shall be
community." Declaring that "it
determined on the basis of the Community Council's estimated
is obvious that big contributors
needs for all its activities. A lump sum aripual appropriation
in the campaign have to be
to the Jewish Community Council shall be granted upon the catered to," he ihsists that their
examination of budget estimates submitted by the Council. representation on the board
Any recommendations affecting the fields of activities of the "should not be overemphasized"
Council shall be considered by 4>
and that many smaller contrib-
the Council, and the Council
shall make the final decision ocracy in our Federation, and is utors "would do as good a job."
on such recommendations. Not- putting up a slate of candidates "Certainly," he writes, "a more
equitable representation is de-
withstanding the provisions con- to be elected against the ones sirable and would not harm the
tained in preceding sub-section that are recommended by the
interests of any groups or per-
(a), the Council may apportion nominating committee.
"The latter committee in- sons."
the lump sum appropriate to
Writing as a Zionist who feels
it to the various items contain- cludes such persons as Judge
ed in its budget. There shall be William Friedman, with a rec- that the most urgent need is
established a standing commit- ord of life-time community for funds for Israel, Naimark
tee for the purpose of meeting leadership; Mrs. Joseph Ehrlich, asserts that he recognizes the
"However," Dr. Kleinman
as Often as necessary with a unquestionably an outstanding need for local funds but does state d, "the overwhelming
similar Council committee of individual and community lead- not consider them "as urgent as
concensus of the delegates is
equal size in- order to effect er; Sidney Shevitz, vice-presi- Israel's needs in its historic role." that once the total funds are
Quoting
the
figures
given
by
dent
of
the
Council;
George
M
closer cooperation between and
appropriated, their application
Make recommendations to these Stutz, president of Hebrew Free The • Jewish- News editorially to and transfer between the
three
weeks
agO,
'he
shows
the
two central community bodies." Loan; and Rabbi JoShua Sperka,
reduction in allocations to the specific Council functions
Opponents of this amendment of Cong. Bnai David.
United.
Palestine Appeal to indi- . must be within the considered
—adoption of which will require
"It seems that the issue that
a two-thirds vote of those pres- the Community Council is un- cate that it does not adequate-
ent at Tuesday's meeting—point happy about, is that they are ly represent Israel's share. De-
out that it would tend to disrupt not getting enough funds, which claring that his opinions will
the entire community structure is general among all agencies not reflect his feeling in giving
as it functions today. It is claim- in the community. But the main to and working for the Allied
ed that all member agencies of point that is being stressed in Jewish Campaign and reiterat-
the Federation must have their this coming election is that they ing that he is "interested in im-
budgets approved on a line-by- want their candidates elected proving my Jewish community
Campaign heads for the trades
line basis, else it would be im- Merely to request a sum , ' i of as well as the general commun- and
professions were announced
possible to control community money and spend it as they see ity," Naimark makes this addi- by Abe Kasle, chairman of the
tional
comment:
functions on a basis of advance fit, without a line-by-line budg-
"Unilateral action by the Fed- Allied Jewish plus Campaign.
planning and fund-raising.
et on a special privilege ar-
-Gus D. Newman and George
eration budgeting committee in
In the event the above rangement.
Stutz, last year's associate
amendment is adopted, its op- "As I see it, I feel I must com- specifically instructing the Com- M.
chairmen of trades and profes-
ponents assert, there is grave pare our community agencies to munity Council to stop sending sions,
will be counsellors for the
danger that other agencies a large family of a dozen or policemen to Fisk University for
men
workers.
Louis C. Blumberg
will refuse to submit to the more. Picture yourself as a child, a course in race relations, an
and John Isaacs, vice-chairmen
act
which
cost
$250
and
which
established custom of line-by-
dependent entirely upon the
line study, threatening the support of one's parents. When has brought favorable response of pre-campaign in 1951, will be
chairmen of trades and profes-
established policies of advance that child asks his parents for a from within and without our sions.
community
(see
.
N.
Y.
Times,
planning, and may lead to the lump sum of money and the
At the helm in the .mercantile
disintegration of the commun- parents ask, 'what are you go- Nov. 4. , 1951) and to curtail
ity's structure as it functions ing to spend it on,' the child other Council activities, is un- division will be James Wineman.
and ill-considered. It is not In the services division another
under the guidance of the
answers, 'It's none of your bust- fair
a proper function for a budget- veteran is back — Samuel J.
Federation.
ness."
ary body which can not be as Greenberg. Joseph Gendelman,
Council leaders deny this con-
"If. every child in that family well informed • on all agency who led the mechanical trades
tention on the ground that the
Council is composed of repre- asked for a similar amount and activities as their individual lay division past the million-dollar
sentatives of 250 organizations; got it, what will or strength or committees. It is not a case of mark in 1951, will be chairman
that it is an autonomous body; morals would be left in the par- questioning Federation's right of the same group this year.
that it must have freedom in ents to work and support that to decrease, increase or other-
The real estate and building
arriving at decisions involving family? Eventually the family wise allocate funds. The issue is division has two chairmen shar-
would
become
insolvent
because
their right to dictate in a de- ing the important campaign re-
its community relations and civic
the drawing of the children's tailed manner the activities of sponsibility — Daniel A. Laven,
protective programs.
Meanwhile protests are spending would be greater than recipients of Allied Jewish Cam- repeating his 1951 assignment,
mounting against the presen- the family budget could stand. paign funds. It is more mean- and Benjamin Wilk, an associate
"Our people in the community ingful when you realize that Division chairman last year.
tation of a slate of candidates
backed by Community Council. have worked long and hard to this practice is rarely used with George D. Keil' again will lead
Typical of the verbal and writ- build and maintain the institu- other agencies. I have no doubt food division workers. The pro-
ten opinions expressed to The tions that we presently have and that the real motivation for this fessional division has two new
Jewish News on this subject is others that are being contem- is the growth of the Council, faces in the division chairman-
the following letter received plated in the future. It is, thus making it a competinc, or-
therefore, important to all in- ganization with Federation.
from Abe Kasle, chairman of
terested, comm - Mity minded They need not be in competi-
the Allied Jewish Campaign.
Mr. Kasle's letter, written from people to pull together with all tion but I . am afraid that some
Miami Beach where he attend- our strength and resources and members of Federation con-
ed the national conference of thereby not only maintain our sider this the case and conse-
the United Jewish Appeal, present status but improve our quently use these unwarranted
future.
means to control this exception.
reads as follows: .
"Only by being realistic and Unquestionably, the representa-
:"I would like to give you my
Opinion regarding the annual democratiC, and at the same tive nature of • the Council as
by coming to the election contrasted with other recipient s
Federation election coming up time
on Tuesday, March 4. My opin- on March 4 and voting for the of community funds warrants a
ion is not based on the fact that nominees recommended by the different relationship between
I am chairman of the 'Allied nominating c o in ni it t e e and Federation and Council. 'Appar-
Jewish Campaign or vice-presi- against any amendment grant- ently it will take an amend-
Newman
dent of the Jewish Welfare Fed- ing special privileges to one ment to Federation by-laws to
bring this about. Therefore, I
eration. I am merely stating my agency, can we achieve this."
Naimark
Backs
Candidates
shall vote for such amendment."
views and the thinking I have
By Petition and Amendment
Approximately 28,500 con-
had for years as a community
The Council defenders' posi- tributors to the Allied Jewish.
citizen who has worked. and is
tion is summarized in the fol- Campaign are considered
working for the benefit of our lowing:
.
members of the Jewish Wet-
community.
Norman Naimark, 20203 Little- fare Federation and will be
"As a result of what I have
field,
in
a
long
communication.
entitled to vote at Tuesday's
read in your good paper and in
private • reports, and from con- to The Jewish News, states `..).e election. Only those who have
versations with different people, is "disturbed so little has been. made p a y meats on their
I note that one of our local written" about the Council- pledges will be able to vote,
agencies is making an issue Federation issue. Stating that but. the number of people who
about the alleged lack of dem- he is "actively supporting some have pledged and not paid is
of the persons nominated. - by negligible. Invitations to the
- petition. and the proposed eligible voters have already
Z4—THE JEWISH NEWS
amendment •to the Federation been issued by the Federa7
Friday, February
by-laws,",. be • adds .that the. duty tiom. . .
Stet

free - hand in planninc, its budget and of endorsing a slate
of candidates for the Federation board of governors. Coun-
cil spokesmen maintained, however, at the Delegates' As-
sembly on Jan. 31 and afterwards, that the Council derives
its income from the community and that Federation is
merely the fund-disbursing agency. This, clearly, is the
major bone of contention over which the conflict will be
debated at Tuesday's meeting. The proposed amendment,
which will be the basis for discussion, objects to the line-by-
line study of the Council's budget by the. Federation, there-
by enabling the Federation's executive committee to reject
certain items. The suggested amendment to Article VIII,
Section 3, of the Federation by-laws—providing that pres-
ent Section 3 is to be subsection (a) under Section 3,
subsection (b) to be • added to Section 3—proposes that,

VIIMEON,

Council Endorses Six Candidates-
4 by Petition, 2 Committee Nominees,
And Urges 'Yes' Vote on _Amendment

judgment of the Council- lay

committees. The present at-
tempt by a fund-collecting or-
ganization to set Council pol-
icy and program through its
assumed prerogative of with-
holding funds for specific ac-
tivities, is an attempt to
supercede the judgment of
the appropriate Council com-
mittees whose lay membership
is intimately acquainted with
the activities concerned and
constitutes an expression of
`non-confidence' in these lay-
men.
"The healthy and democratic
Jewish community, apprecia-
tive of all values in Jewish
life, is bound to produce new
contingents of participants in
all phases of communal en-
deavor, and is certain to in-
duce enhanced contributions
to all worthy causes," Dr:,
Kleinman continued, "and in
our opinion the adoption of the
proposed amendment and the
election of the endorsed can-
didates would represent a for-
ward step toward this objec-
tive desired by the whole com-
munity. While the American
Jewish community is watching
with keen interest the Detroit
developments, Jews and Jew-
ish causes in Israel, overseas
and in the United States are
bound to gain from the in-
creased interest,' participation
and responsibility which are
being demonstrated here."

Biographical sketches of all
the candidates for the Federa-
tion board of governors will be
found in another article in this
issue covering the Federation's
annual meeting.

Allied Campaign Heads Named
For Trades and Professions

ship, although Dr. Martin Nai-
mark and Arthur S. Purdy have
carried important responsibili-
ties in past years—Dr. Naimark
as 1951 advisor of the Dentists'
group and Purdy as last year's
chairman of the accountants.
In the services division, the
chairman will be Nathan Bala-
ban, in 1951 chairman of the
Paper Products and Office Sup-
pliers' Section.

