The Savannah morning news., 1903-04-11
HELP FOR REFUGEES
APPEAL FOR AID FOR JEWS FROM
ROUMANIA.
HON. SIMON VOLTS PLEA
TO RELIEVE THE SITUATION IN
NEW YORK AT ALL COST.

Order of B'nai FIRTH Has Under
taken the Work of Helping the
UnfOrtunates But Needs Strong
and Faithful SuppOrt-If Neglected
the Congestion Mt SeapOrts May
Lead to Anti-Semite Feeling Here,
Which Would Prove a Calamity
Beyond Comprehension.
Before a large assemblage in Temple
Mickva Israel, Immediately after the
services last night, Hon. Simon Wolf
of Washington. D. c., made an earnest
and eloquent plea for help for the Jew
ish refugees from Roumania now in
New York and other large coast cities.
The appeal was strictly speaking a call
for more members of the order of
B'nai Birth, but it was explained that
the work now being done by that or
ganiZation is being largely directed to
relieve the suffering of the prosecuted
Jews, who had been driven from Rou-
mania and are in very bad circum-
stances, even after reaching this coun-
try, which they had been led to believe
would be a new Jerusalem to them.
Mr.. Wolf is a man of prominence, and
his address was listened to with the
closest attention.
Abiding briefly to the anti-Semitism
that is threatening so much of sor-
row and trouble in Europe, Mr.. Wolf
said that the prosecutions that have
recently existed in Russia and Rou-
mania have scarcely ever been equaled
in history. The people have come from
the land of oppression and reach New
York, not in hundreds, or thousands,
but in hundreds of thousands. After
reaching New York nine-tenths of
them are not able to get further, and
the congeSted condition is tending to
bring about a situation that is appall
ing. The B'nai Birth is making every
effort to relieve the conditions, and
bring a solution of the difficulty. 1t
was the duty of individuals now to join
in this work and aid in keeping away
even the shadow of anti-Semitism that
may arise in this country, unless some
thing is done quickly to better condi-
tons in New York.
1t would indeed be a dark hour in
Jewish history, said Mr.. Wolf, if an
anti-Semitic feeling should be allowed
The B'nai Birth started the work,
but depends upon individuals for sup
port and encouragement. No organi-
cation can live on the great deeds
of the past, no matter how much it
may have done.
I'VE have. taken care of the unfor-
tunate," said Mr.. Wolf, ''have built
libraries, and done other good work
But we are living in the present and
for the future, and the present con-
dition calls for strengthening the
ranks The order must have new mem
bers and thus be able to do more for
the unfortunate"
Mr.. Wolf said that the additional
work that the B'nai Birth has I'M
dertaken does not mean that anything
taken up before and being allowed to
suffer. He alluded in an interesting
way to the excellent work of the He
brew Orphan Home, and it's splendid
results. In speaking of the work of
the United States Commissioner of
immigration, he said that everything
consistent has been done by him and
it is now the place of the Jews to
take an active and interested part
in the relieVeing the condition of the
refugees in New York, giving them a
chance to go outside and become use
full and law abiding citizens of the
countrY
Mr.. Wolf spoke for about an hour
and held the close attention of
his audience. He announced at
the close that he would speak
before the congregation B'nai
Birth Jacob tomorrow after
noon, at 4 o'clock. He will also lee
ture at the Mordecai Sheftall Memorial
tomorrow night, and will speak be-.
fore the Polish Congregation in the
morning.