Jewish News (Denver), August 21, 1924.
Readers of letters, especially family letters, occasionally have an opportunity for a good laugh. In the days when the public school system had not yet produced the average grade of intelligence which is no common now, the average family member was not able to compose a letter on his own accord. An enterprising publisher saw an opportunity to accommodate this public need and issued a Briefensteller (book of form letters). Since that day most of the family letters usually began with "I wish to let you know we are all, thank God, well, and everything is alright. Second, it grieves me to tell you that I do not feel very well and things have not been going at all well with us. . . ."
One is almost tempted to begin a New York Letter reporting the activities of the Jewish family in these hot and dull days [of summer] in a similar fashion. It seems, first, that we are, thank God, well; and second, that we are grieved to note that we are not so well, and this and that, of a not too cheerful nature, is happening.
* * *
Harold Bolster, a promoter of an exclusive Country Club in Tarrytown, N.Y. which was to occupy a part of the estate of the late William Rockefeller, brings suit against Frank H. Hitchcock, former Postmaster General and now in charge of that exclusive club.
There is something wrong somewhere, and a difference of opinion is brought to court. But one of the reasons which caused the difference of opinion is a fact of interest to us. Frank H. Hitchcock refused to issue life membership in that fashionable country club to several members "because the Board of Governors will not tolerate in its club anyone of Jewish extraction as a member of Rockwood Hall." It is revealed that those persons who were refused life membership in that club were the very ones who took a financial interest in the enterprise and contributed largely towards the club. Among the members of the Board of Governors of the Club are Vincent Astor, Robert W. Chambers, Bainbridge Colby, Edward L. Doheny, T. Coleman du Pont, Charles Dana Gibson, Frank A, Munsey and Melville E. Stone. Who were the ones to whom membership was refused, we are not in a position to say. However, Supreme Court Justice McGoldrick sees no reason to appoint a receiver as the plaintiff demands, probably following what is called the "logical line of thought" that any group of members who form a fashionable country club have the right to decide whom they want to have as life members, and whom they wish not to have as such.
Are we not, first, thank God, well; and second, not so well?
* * *
The Ku Klux Klan has "modified" its policy with regard to the Jew. This was made known by none other than the Grand Kleagle of the Ku Klux Klan in Atlanta, and the news was given to none other than Mr. E. Milton Altfeld, Assistant State's Attorney of Baltimore, author of "The Jew's Struggle for Religious and Civil Liberty in Maryland." The new literature of the Klan, mailed hurriedly to Mr Altfeld, if party literature means anything, marks a sudden turn in the Klan's tactics. It announces that Jews who served in the army during the war could be accepted as members of the KKK and that the chief platform of this organization will from now on be the fight "against the reign of Catholicism in America."
I do not know what other 100% Americans may think or do, but Mr. Altfeld proudly refused this invitation.
Is not this another sign that we are well, and perhaps not so well?
* * *
"The entire refugee problem, besides being a specifically Jewish one, is what may be termed an American issue as well, and must be solved by American Jewry, since the relatives of these emigrants are in this country. Here is the situation. The relatives of these emigrants live in America. These relatives sent to the prospective emigrants money, the necessary papers, the native government's issued passports, and the American Consuls visaged these passports, and the Steamship tickets for the United States had been purchased and the people were all in readiness to come to this country. If the Consuls had not issued the visas, the problem of these stranded emigrants might not have arisen. It is a Jewish problem from the point of view of relief, because these emigrants are Jewish. Politically and diplomatically, it is an issue which has to be taken up with the American government."
This is in substance the conclusion which was reached by the delegation of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society upon its return from investigating the situation of the Jews stranded in various parts of Europe. It is reported that not less than 8,000 refugees find themselves in this position. More than 50 percent of them are women and children. It is certainly a Jewish and an American question. Not long ago an important conference took place, called by Louis Marshal and Dr. Stephen S. Wise, at which representatives of many Jewish organizations participated. It will be recalled the conference decided to create an American Emergency Committee on Jewish Refugees. Owing to the unpreparedness of the leaders, the conference was not in a position to elect its executive body and left it to the originators to form the committee "within ten days." Ten days and more have elapsed. No one was ever informed that this committee was formed, or is ever going to be formed. It is true the heat drives everyone out [of the city] for a vacation, but does it also remove the emergency of the situation for which the American Emergency Committee for Jewish Refugees was to be created?
We are well. We are having a deserved rest. Are we really so well?
No comments:
Post a Comment