The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-07-06
SPLIT In ZIONISM'S RANKS.
SECEDERS FROM FEDERATION
FORM AN INDEPENDENT BOBY.
They Didn't like Prof Richard GOttheU's
Methods ard He Dominates the Fctlera-
ton. They Say.Rabbi klcin Made
Honorary Head or the New Body.

ton. They Say..Nabbi klcin Made
Honorary Head or the New Body.
Delegates from number Of jewish So
cieties, many of whom We're secedcrs from
tho Federation of American Zionists, met
Yesterday in Odd Fellows Hail. Oh Forsyth
street and organized an independent move
ment for the spread of tho Zionist propa-
ganda in this country. The secedcrs dc
scribed the movement, which has been
under way for several weeks, as revolt
and protest against domination OF the
Federation by its president, Prof, Richard
Gottheil of Columbia University. with
whose policy and methods Of administra-
ton they do not agree.
All of the half-hundred or so societies
which took part in yesterdays ant-federa-
ton convention were identified either with
the United Zionists or the Federation Of
Zionistic Congregations, which have been
merged in the new Zionist central BODY.
Committees from the two societies got
together recently and after getting the
necessary permission, they say, from TIN"
international central committee Of Zion
lists to organize Zionist body in America
independent of the Federation. sent out IA
call for yesterday'- meeting.
Meantime Rabbi Philip Klein Of the
Hungarian synagogue in Norfolk street f,
the reputed leader Of the new movement
and president OF the Federation of Zion
istic Congregations, was made honorary
president of the United Xionsts. He
called the convention to orAar yesterday.
The delegates elected DR.. Joseph Blalsten,
who has also been active in he anti-admin-
istraton movement in the Federation,
permanent chairman, and decided 10 take
the field as the United Xionists Of Greater
New York and Vicinity. The elect vn OF
officers and the adoption Of a constitution
were left for a later meeting, when other
societies are expected to ba in the fold.
A platform was adopted affirming faith
In the ideas of Hionism as enunciated in
the Basic programme, expressing conf
dence in DR.. Theodore Herzl and his ad
visers, indorsing the Colonial Bank and
National Fund plans, pledging the move
ment to spread the principles of Iionism
among the orthodox rs well as among the
liberal classes of Jews and expressing horror
at the Kishinef outrages. The platform
also voiced it's disalproval of the movement
backed by the Bnai Birth ard other organi.
cations to change the present method Of
the United States immigration officials Of
recording Jewish immigrants as members
of a separate nationality. Everything
should he done, il was urged. to keep the
Hebrews az a race distinct. The principal
plank of the platform and that which con-
tanned the essence Of the cause Of the present
split in the ranks of Zion was this
We are against all undue Capitalization Of
be made by the United Zionists without con-
sultlng the constituent societies and obtain
Ing their consent.
That" said one of the leaders Of
the meeting. gives the reason for
our action in nutshell. There has
been too much one-man power in
the federation under Prof. Gottheil
The rank and file of the New York Zionists
want to have more to say and 10 do. Prof
Gottheil hasn't cared 10 have men of real
independent thinking ability around him,
but has surrounded himself by people who
would do his bidding. Under his admins
tration the federation has also neglected
the work of Zionistic propaganda in New
York. There are other reasons, but these
are the main ones
According 10 a prominent East Side
Hebrew who has taken no part in the con-
troversy among the local Zionists, the causes
which have led to the split are threefold.
He said:
The main reason is that the rank and
Ale Of the New York Zionists don't think
Prof. Gothic II has been conservative enough.
Second, Zionism In America il more or less
a close corporation. Prof. Gottheil, with
certain ends in view. has gone 10 a national
convention of tn" Iionists with a slate
prepared and has forced its acceptance
by delivering an ultimatum that if the
delegates didn't accept his plan he would
resign. He has always carried his point
for tho reason that the Iionists didn't
want 10 lose the prestige the body gains
by having him at its head A third reason
for the revolt is that manv Of the New York
Zionists suspect Prof. Gottheil of insn-
ceri,y. He ia also criticised on the ground
that he has never given a really clear ex-
PLANTATION Of what he means by Zionisln.
Moreover, II should not be forgotten that
jealf,usies undoubtedly play an important
part in this new movement Not few
of the leaders are anxious for power them
selves
While Prof Gotthei has stood for more
economic and racial Zionist movement,
it was said at the meeting, Rabbi Klein's
idea has been that il should be of a more
religious character.
While. according to the seceders, the
international committee Of Zionists has
already agreed to recognize the United
Zionists as an independent body, some of
the local Federation leaders deny this,
declaring that the international committee
would not grant such sanction, such recog
milton, without consulting it's American
members, which, they say, has not been
done.