New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-05-23
THE EAST SIDE PRESS.
An IMPORTANT FACTOR IN THE PRES
ENT LABOR DIFFICULTIES.

PAPERS PUBLISHED IN YIDDIsH THAT ARo
EAGERLY READ BY THE RUSSIAN AND POLISH
JEws-A MoNGREL GERMAN PRINTED IN
HEBREW CHARACTERS
The sociallstic press is an important factor IN
the present fight between the East Side tailors
and their employers. The two Hebrew papers
which espouse the OF Socialism are eagerly
scanned by the idle tailors and the plans sug-
gested by them form the topic OF conversation In
the cofee-houses and other meeting places. Tho
strikers are, with few exceptions, Russians. Poles
Rumanians and Gacians, and although hundreds
OF them cannot write, they all read tho
papers In which n mongrel German Is expressed
Theoretically with Hebrew characters
The East Side population has grown to such an
extent that four newspapers printed in this COM
posi,e language well supported and have large
calculations. One OF the for this Is the
TACT that there Is positive ili,cracy among the
poor Jews. No matter how ignorant the people
may be as TO other matters they can read their
Hebrew prayers and fathers OF families would DO
looked down upon by their friends and neighbors
II their sons were unable read from the holy
scroll on their thirteenth birthday. when they are
admitted to the community. The Yiddish news.
papers are printed with the same characters -
are used In the book Of prayers. and tina, makes
reading easy matter.
THE 'TAGEBLATT' AND THE "HEROLD."
OF the four papers the "Tageblat," and the
"Herold' are devoted to the news OF the day, with
liberal sprlnklng OF East Side gossip and fraternal
society and synagogue happenings. The "Tageblatt"
Is the organ Of the ultra orthodox Jews and devotss
much space to rabbin!cal matters. and the Her.
old" leans toward sensationaiism. With View to
making the papers attractive TO the women and
the younger people short and continued stories
are published, and during political campaigns the
questions a; issue are discussed at length.
The "Arbeiter Zeitung' and "Vorwarts" are also
printed In Hebrew Besides giving the news OF
the day, they print translations from popular
magazines and periodicals. and devote their edi.
torial columns 10 the advancement OF the Social
istc cause "VorwHrts' has been in existence
only short time. It's managers and writer's &c.
coded from the older Journal. because they were
dissatisfied with its management. The editor
Abraham Cahan, said that "Vorwarts" was owned
by no corporation nor company. but by a number
OF associations. who controlled 1. by board OF
representatives. and that the manner OF conduct
Ing tho paper was an exempficaticn OF practical
Socialism. In It's editorial OF last Thursday this
paper advocated full and perfect union. Nothing
can be gained by periodical strikes bu: the labor
Ing men must aspire TO solid and permanent
organization. When universal Socialism has tr!-
umphed there Will be no moro need for strikes
Strikes the forerunners OF greater strike
OF the united working people. one that will show
itself at the ballot-box. That strike Will be sue.
cessful It Will obliterate classes and make all tho
people members or q cooperative community
common wealth"
THE sOCIALISTIC ORGAN.
Tho "Arbeiter Zeitung" although 4, insists on
being called the regular Socalist.c organ agrees
with It's offshoot and competitor on the point Of
organization and Its editor, Philip Kranz wrote
/ much the same as Cahan. Now. while the men
out" he eaid. ''s the time for a strong and
far-reaching union When that has been effected
strikes will be unnecessary. II the men who
| tLnlr ,v1af %,a
bosses give them additional 20 per cent for
their labor. it would be victory unless steps
| had been taken TO avoid future trouble. II the
employer gives in to-day he will begin In a few
| weeks to reduce prices. and will continue TO do 50
until they have been cut down once more to tho
lowest possible point and another strike will follow
But II the organization is perfect the very first At
| tempt to reduce wages will be resented. and the
| employer will be poweress to reinstate tho con-
dtion which a united uprising had overthrown
Only in perfect and strong union is tho remedy"
Tho "Arbeiter Zeltuns'' is tho active advocate Of
ofiical organs OF the Socialist Labor party. has
been estima'ed that betty between 500 and COG" resi-.
Yddsh papers for their meTs tb and although the
ana nd0 Is e rsaer hey Came from
countries where few newspapers are published,
soSa no eS fd o k
printed. The people came here and found small SINAI!
city. In New-York there were three OF these unit!
about three years ago when enough readers had
| become educated 10 the desire for reading daily
| news to make daily Issues pay.
| INFLUENCE OF THE YIDDISH PRESS
II has been urged by some people that these pub.
| locations retard tho process OF American!zation.
but those who have studied the question In all It's
bearings take the opposite side. and say that tho
! PAPERS do much good Mr.. Kranz said: The
I Russians begin to read the news In our papers.
| Until they make that start they never know what
| Il Is to read a paper. They become fascinated
| and read as ndustriously as though they arc
| maid for doing It. Their knowledge OF the world
and Of affairs generally becomes greater they see
things in a broader light they get all sides OF al
| questions and learn more about American aHa'rs
! than they could in any other way. But JUST a.
soon as they make little progress In English they
| sion reading the Hebrew papers and read those
which give them fuller and better and more news.
| We think that papers are great educators.
| No other class Of tho uneducated community could
| ba benefited In the same way. because ours Is the
only part that can read H. ..., ,ssuo. 9th.
| One OF these papers said In recent issue: no
| raSormed Jews have done away Win inc hebrew,
| anS almost none OF the rising generation can
| rand even the prayers in the original Language.
~ ther Ideas had prevailed In the countries Loll
| ,ybirh the poor Jews who live on tne East sue
! same the Hebrew newspapers would pc us.iess.
and one means OF education would nave peeh 'SAso
| from them.