The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-07-05
ROOSEVELT DISPUTES
 MIR. VOLTS STATEMENT.
Says American Jews are Treated by Russia the Same as Jews of
 Other Countries.

From Washington to The Brooklyn Eagle
 Tnere was brief but lively colloquy at the little White House today between the President Representative Frank E. Wilson of Brooklyn. Simon Wolf. secre- tary of the Jewish Society for Civil and Religious Liberty. and one of the leading Hebrews of the country, and Represen- Goldfogie of Manhattan.
 The delegation called to see the Presi- dent Tor the purpose of urging him to bring the attention of the Russian gov ernnlent to the discrimination that they claim Russia makes today against the American Jew.
 simon Wolf. as spokesman for the par ty, explained the situation in detail, and in the course of his remarks stated that under a treaty made between England and Russia during the administration of Lord Beaconsfield, English Jews of Rus san descent were permitted to visit Rus sia just the same as any other English citizens. He said that the Jews Of Amer lea felt that they ought to be accorded the same right and that the Russian gov ernment in discriminating against Amer ican citizens because they were Jews vio- lated treaty obligations.
 He urged the President to look into the matter, and if possible remedy 1t.
 The President, according to MT. Wolf disputed the accuracy ct his statements and told him in very emphatic language Jews were treated by Russia just as Jews of any other country, and that he must insist upon the absolute accuracy of any statements made to him on this subject.
 MT. Wolf, who is regarded as an au- thority on Jewish questions, insisted that he was right.
 Representative Wilson and Goldfogle followed Mrs Ryan and urged the Presi- dent to look into the matter. This he promised to do. stating that he would go over the question with Secretary Hay ;,t the earliest possible opportunity.
 After leaving the White House MT. Wolf and MT. Goldtogle discussed their recep- ton at the little White House and ex- pressed themselves as aggrisved at the Presidents manner of questioning the authenticity of Mir Wolfs statements. Representative Goldfogle said:
 The matter that we brought to the at- tention of the President involves the question as to what duty Russia owes to our country in the recognition of Ameri- can passports. and whether that country ought longer to be permitted to refuse admission to her territory to American citizens armed with American passports on the ground of their professed or sup posed religious faith. We hold that the citizens. when abroad and well behaved, should be accorded equal rights to travel freely without regard. to race or creed.
 'I think Mir. Wolf would make no state ment to the President that he was not able to back up by indisputable facts. I could mention hundreds of cases which illustrate Russia's intolerant restrictions against American Jews and her bigoted exclusion. save in special and exceptional cases, of American citizens from her country for no other cause than their re- ligious belief Our State Department knows of all these cases. and should cer- tainly take positive steps for the protec- ton of our citizens of Jewish faith"
 Representative Wilson said that the President now had the matter officially before him and that he and the other members of todays delegation would carefully watch future developments.