The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-05
WAVE OF ANTI
SEMITISM.
Seems to Be Sweeping Over New
York City.
Jews Treated Outrageously by
the Lower Glasses.
Boards ARE PLUCKED
By Roughs of the Streetears
and Street Vendors
Robbed and Their Carts Upset
Some Are Beaten.
Letter of Protest Written to
President Mckinley.
Boards ARE PLUCKED
By Roughs of the Streetears
and Street Vendors
Robbed and Their Carts Upset
Some Are Beaten.
Letter of Protest Written to
President Mckinley.

New York, Jan. 5.-The alleged anti
semitic prejudice existing in this coun-
try and displayed in steadily increas-
ing acts of violence towards the Jews
in the poorer quarters Of Manhattan
and Brooklyn was made the subject OF
a lengthy letter sent on New Years day
to President Mckinley by Leopold
Cohn, OF Brooklyn The writer was
once Jewish rabbi. but was converted
to the Christian belief several years
ago and joined the Baptist church He
is now conducting missionary work
among the people of his race and has
charge of the interests Of three mis-
si0ns.
Mr.. Cohu in his communication to the
president, states that in the prosecution
of his missionary work he has had con-
tinI1aIly thrust upon his notice the ever
increasing hatred displayed in this city
toward the Jew, until he has found 1t
his Imperative duty TO sound a note OF
warning. The letter continues:
Peaceful Jews walking the streets
of this city are habitually called by
opprobrious epithets, or are loudly
hooted and insulted. as though they
were mountebanks or criminals, and
when the threatening shout will not at
tract response. then the throwing OF
mud and stones is resorted to. and re
peat, not in an isolated instance out
constantly as the weeks pass. and as q
result of which many have been injured
some times seriously
When a street car passes through
the Jewish quarter. hooting, kissing and
calling of names from its platforms are
customary Incidents and within these
public cars 1 have seen Jews pulled by
the beard and pushed from one man to
another and back again like 4 football.
and in which horse play the conductors
themselves have participated and in
some cases which I am ready to prove,
1Ea54 hair Tf+T inns for q
Jew with a push cart is everywhere
esteemed as a. legitimate object to be
mobbed and robbed
''On one occasion I saw a Jewish
peddIer with horse and wagon. set upon
by mob Of large boys with stones,
the man trying to protect hInSeh by
drawing his coat over his head On
running to his defense was rnySeE
attacked: on appealing to a group OF
citizens and admitting, upon their ques-
tiOning. that the victim was q Jew. they
laughed boisterously, adding with evil
dent sneer. that I was myself OF the
same despised race; and upon then ap-
pealiug to q policeman he COOlly re-
Piled, after great elaboration, that the
affair was not on his beat In the
meantime, with his head bleeding, the
peddIer was driven from his wagon and
the wagon looted and overturned
Another case, similar except that
the wares were scattered about the
street, though not stolen, occurred in
front of the Boys High school, where
young gentlemen are prepared for col
Iege at the public expense, largely paid
from Jewish taxes The aggressors
were the students. and the teachers
viewed the scene from the windows.
These fncidents-a few selected from
many coming unsought under my per-
sonaI observation-must not be esteem
ed merely as occasional disorders liable
to occur under the best pFocuraDle con-
dition, but rather as manifestations Of
a prevalent, widespread, deepening and
sentiment frauE1L
with the gravest consequences to the
well being of the nation"
Copies of the letter to the president
were sent to the board Of education
and to Mayor Van Wyck by Mr.. Cohn,
with the suggestion that the growing
faint Of antf-semitiSm be made the sub
ject of a series OF lectures in the schools.
Mr.. Cohn stated that he did not ex-
pect replies to each Of the letters, but
that he intends to address commune
cations from time to time to the lead
ing men of the city. state and nation,
calling attention to the threatening
growth Of anti-sernitism-