•

Bnai Brith Re-Elects Klutznick for Second Term Between

00
WASHINGTON, (JTA)—The
•
• 1 Bnai Brith triennial • convention
re-elected Philip M. Klutznick
.
rt as president for a second three-
„

1

E.4

G."4

g.

PHILIP M. KLUTZNICK

year term and approved a pro-
posal that the•organization par-
ticipate on an "experimental
basis" in an international body
which would, for the present,
act "consultatively" on world

Jewish problems.
The proposal, made by Mr.
Klutznick, won the unanimous
endorsement of the delegates
representing the 400,000 mem-
bers of the organization. Mr.
Klutznick explained that the
success of the "experiment"
would depend on the participa-
tion of other major Jewish or-
ganizations throughout the
world. He. named the Alliance
Israelite Universelle and the
Comite Representatif des Juifs
de France, the Board of Depu-
ties of British Jews, the South
African Board of Jewish Depu-
ties, the World Jewish Congress
and the. Jewish Labor Commit-
tee as possible participants.
The proposed grouping of
Jewish organizations would,
if organized, operate on. an
"experimental" level for two
years, Mr. Klutznick said.
During that period it would
be nameless. Its objectives, he
stated, would be to: 1. Take
action whenever necessary
and co-ordinate action taken
by affiliated groups on world
Jewish problems; 2. Gather

information on Jewish affairs
and problems throughout the
world; 3. Provide facilities
for a regular exchange of
views on all common prob-
lems.
"During the experimental pe-
riod, the participating organ-
izations will deal only with
such questions on which all
agree that they 'be dealt
with," Mr. Klutznick said.
In a brief address follow-
ing his installation as pres-
ident, Mr. Klutznick inter-
preted the foreign policy
speech by Secretary of State
Dulles at the convention's
banquet as ,!`confirmation of
a new and a different atti-
tude on the part of the West-
ern Powers with respect to_
the problems of the Middle
East."
He added that "the safety and
security of Jews are our con-
cern. These require arms for
Israel. If our government, for
reasons which may be appro-
priate diplomacy, declines to
deliver arms physically but has
embarked on a program that

i

Purely Commentary

will induce and encourage oth-
ers to do it, I am not con-
cerned."
• Maurice Bisgyer, for 19 years
secretary of Bnai Brith, was
elected executive vice-president
of the internalii'.
tional organi-
zation.
In a report
on the civil
rights issue
presen t e d to
the conven-
tion, Bnai
Brith's_ A n t
Defam a tion .
League statedi
that many
Bisgyer
suspensions of
government employees under
the Federal security program
"were animated by elements of
anti-Semitism." Henry Edward
Schultz, ADL national chair-
man, said that an "overriding
concern" for national security
in the last three years has
posed "a strong challenge to
our most cherished institutions
and basic concepts of civil lib-
erties."

We Salute Two Eminent
Detroit Octogenarians —,
Judges Henry M. Butzel and
Charles C. Simons.

By Philip

Slomovitz

-
human sympathy and understanding, an intimate - knowledge of
Justice Butzel, 85; Judge Simons, 80
the problems that beset business and industry . . . He has been
Michigan Jewry's two most distinguished citizens will ob- a great influence on that court ... in clearing the way to progress
serve important birthdays next week..
by departure from obsolete doctrine."
Former Michigan Supreme Court Justice Henry M. Butzel
An entire community is blessed by the things he has done,
will be 85 on May 24.
by his mature judgment, by his friendship and sincerity. His
U. S. Circuit Court Judge Charles C. Simons will mark 'his birthday is a blessed day for the entire state.
80th birthday on May 21.
We wish Justice Butzel many happy returns of the day.
They are most important dates for all of us to make note
* * *
of. In extending hearty birthday greetings to the two leaders,
Judge
Charles
C.
Simons
we are enabled to look back into the scores of years of our
Those of us who enjoyed the friendship of David W. Simons,
and state's history, into the annals of our Jewish com- one of Detroit's most distinguished Jewish leaders in the first
muniy, in all of which both men played important roles.
three decades of this century and a member of Detroit's first
Justice Butzel and Judge Simons represent a generation of Nine-Man
Council, and who are privileged to continue a similar
leaders who pioneered in community building, who set forth friendship with his eminent son, Charles C'. Simons, must take
principles and ideals that continue to serve as guides in humani- special pride in being able to congratulate him on his 80th
tarian services for all races and creeds. They are splendid men,
birthday.
and it is thrilling to be able to count octogenarians among our
Charles Simons was born in Detroit, May 21, 1876. He was
eminent contemporaries.
educated in Detroit schools and received his B. A. and LL. B.
* * *
degrees from the University of Michigan in 1898 and 1900. He
JuitiCe Henry M. Butzel
was one of the youngest men- to be elected — in 1903 — to
Justice Henry M. Butzel, the oldest of four sons of Detroit the Michigan State Senate and
pioneers, the Magnus Butzels, was born in our community on gained national fame for his
May 24, 1871. One of his brothers, Fred M. Butzel, became one sponsorship of the first Direct
of America's most distinguished Jewish leaders. Justice Butzel's State Primary Law, a step that
birthday is marred by a sad memory: it is the eighth anniversary was revolutionary at that time.
of the death of his brother Fred.
, He was Wayne,County Cir-
Referring to the family
cuit Commissioner froM 1905 to
background of the Butzels, in
1906. He was a member of the
an article he wrote for us 10
Michigan State Constitutional
years ago. Judge Simons re-
Convention in 1908. In 1916 he
called: "Justice Butzel's mother
was a Republican Presidential
was Henrietta Hess, known to
Elector-at-Large. He was a di-
her intimates as 'Tante Yeta.'
rector of the Detroit Board of
She was always looking for
Commerce in 1918.
maids, Until one morning she
President Warren G.
undertook to take a buxom lass
Harding appointed him to
home with her from Central
the U.S. District Court in
Market in her electric and was
1923, and in 1929 he was ele-
arrested as a White Slaver.
vated by President Herbert
The brothers never tire of that
Hoover to the U.S. Circuit
story."
Court of Appeals, the highest
Henry Butzel received his
court in the land next to the
Ph. B. and LL. B. degrees from
Judge Simons
U.S. Supreme Court.
the University of Michigan in
One of Michigan's most brilliant orators, Judge Simons
1891 and 1892. His brother
traces his speaking ability to his college days, having won the
Fred, who also was graduated
Northern Oratorical League contest as the U. of M. representative
from the U. of M., joined him
in 1899.
as a law partner in the firm of
Active in many causes, a leader in local, state and Federal
Butzel and Butzel in a modest
Bar
Associations, Judge Simons devoted himself, for a number
office in the Union Trust Build-
of years to congregational affairs, as a leader in Temple Beth
ing in 1897. That office grew
El, the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and Hebrew
Justice Butzel
into the distinguished law firm
of Butzel, Levin and Winston in 1915, and still functions under Union College. In 1941 he was president of the biennial council
of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
that name.
In 1946 he was as disturbed as most of us by the actions of
Henry encouraged Fred .in his social service efforts. He
assumed most of the burdens' of the law firm, and Fred acquired the anti-Zionist (now pro-Arab and anti-Israel) Council for
Judaism, and he made this statement to us:
much free time for his public services.
"I would have the Council for Judaism re-evaluate the
Henry Butzel was always the generous man, aiding many
logic and re-examine the effect of the impact of a purely
causes and encouraging humanitarian efforts. He was one of the
subjective concept upon a harrassed and homeless people
very early members of the American Jewish Committee in which
whose tragically realistic experiences deny it. If this be naivete,
he and Brother Fred were leaders for many years. He was
make the most of it."
president of Temple Beth El and the United Jewish Charities.
He wrote this in the days when there was no Israel but
He was chairman of a Legal Advisory Board in World War I.
He taught law at the University of Detroit and guided many merely a "harrassed and homeless people" whom a group of
distinguished lawyers in their paths toward leadership in their frightened Jews were harrassing further, perhaps even more
brutally, than the anti-Semites. Judge Simons expressed his
profession.
He was for many years among the most active figures in rebuke out of his sense of fair play and his contempt for
the Jewish Welfare Federation and the Allied Jewish Cam- injustice.
This is what has motivated his activities—in behalf of Allied
paigns.
Governor_ Fred Green appointed him an Associate Justice Jewish Campaigns, in support of religious concepts, as a leader
of the Michigan State Supreme Court on July 25, 1929. The in and worker for humanitarian causes.
The fact that the Michigan Patent Law Association, the
Governor praised him as a man with "the broad and understanding
outlook on life and the qualities of good citizenship which are State Bar of Michigan and the Detroit Bar Association are
combining to honor Judge Simons, with a birthday dinner, on
as necessary as profound legal knowledge to a correct solution
May 21, is an indication of the esteem in which he is held by
of the important problems that come before our highest court."
all.
Justice Butzel was re-elected in 1931, 1940 and 1950 to full
It is as an able jurist, as a just man, as a defender of .the
terms of office and retired from _the Supreme Court last year,
In his tribute to Justice Butzel, Judge Simons wrote: "He downtrodden, that we think of Judge Charles C. Simons whom
brought to the court a sound legal scholarship, a breadth of we greet on a great day in his life: his 80th birthday.

•

•

Y ou and Me

By BORIS SMOLAR

(Copyright, 1956, J.T.A., Inc.)

Washington Developments
Bnai Brith members who op-
posed the idea of inviting Sec-
retary -of State John Foster
Dulles to address the dinner of
the triennial convention of the
organization in Washington
realize now that their opposi-
tion was not exactly justified.
. . It is true that Mr. Dulles'
speech did not add much to
what he had said previously
about Israel, but he did add
"something new". . . He made
two very important assertions
which will definitely not pass
unnoticed by the Arab rulers.
. . . He made it unmistakably
clear that the United States,
Britain and France are deter-
mined to maintain Israel's in-
dependence. . . This means
telling the Arabs in no uncer-
tain terms that they must get
used to the idea that Israel has
come to stay and that they
must give up their illusion
about "driving the Israelis into
the ocean." . . . Then he re-
vealed that although no arms
are being given to Israel by
the United States, the Ameri-
can Government realizes the
danger of a wide discrepancy
in armed strength between the
Arab countries and Israel. . . .
And this can, only mean that
the U. S. Government will
keep an eye on the balance of
power between the two fight-
ing camps, and - so will the
other Western powers which
are watching how Russia sup-
plies arms to the Arabs. . . .
Those who criticized the Bnai
Brith leadership for inviting
Secretary Dulles to speak at
the dinner were afraid that
Mr. Dulles—who is considered
to be more friendly to the
Arabs than to Israel — would
make pro-Arab statements. . . .
Such was the case two years
ago when a high State Depart-
Ment official made unfriendly
statements. about Israel in art
address to a Jewish confer-
ence in Washington. -

*

* *

Communal Affairs
The Israel bond campaign is
doing extremely well this year.
. , . Dr. Joseph Schwartz, who
is directing the campaign, will
have an optimistic report for
the board of governors when
it meets on May 20. . . . He
has just returned from Argen-
tina where he was successful
in arranging for the sale of Is-
rael bonds. . . . Argentine Jew-
ry has responded generously.
. . . There is also a very good
response in Mexico and other
countries on the American con-
tinent. . . . In the United
States, the bond drive will be
intensified during the next tip
months, after the United Jew-
ish Appeal drives are com-
pleted. in most of • the com-
munities. . . The perfect co-
operation in timing of cam-
paigns which now exists be-
tween the Israel Bond Organ-
ization and the UJA has proved
beneficial to both, and to the
Jewish communities.

*

*

*

Personality Profile

Jacob Meyerhoff, of Balti-
more, is now rounding out 20
years of unstinting devotion to
Jewish communal activities. . .
He is one of the busiest Jew-
ish leaders I know. . . . Warm-
hearted and generous, he is
chairman of the National Cam-
paign Cabinet of the United
Jewish Appeal; vice-chairman
of the Baltimore Combined
Jewish Campaign, of which he
was general chairman in 1951
and 1952; director of the
United Israel Appeal, Palestine
Economic Corporation and
other national organizations. .
He is a member of the na-
tional executive of the Israel
Bond Oragnization. . . . In Bal-
timore, he is the spark plug of

a dozen enterprises.

