The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-16
SOFT ANSWER
FOR WRATH.
Secretary Hay Tells Of His
Horror at the Massacre.
(By Associated Press.)

WASHINGTON, June 15.-Through their
representative association, B'Nai BIRTH,
the Jews Of America to-day laid their
case before President Roosevelt and Sec
rotary Hay, and they are content to abide
by whatever the Executive decides Is best
for them. BY appointment. at half past
ten this morning the executive council of
this association called at the State De-
partmcnt. They were Leo N. Levi. prcsi-
dent, New York; Jacob F'urth vice-pres-
ident and treasurer, OF Cleveland; Solo
mon sultzbcrger. honorary secretary, New
York; Joseph D. Coons. Wilkesbarre. Pa;
Adolph Moses. Chicago. and Simon Wolff,
Of Washington. Secretary Hay received
the council in the diplomatic room and
spent thrce-quarters of an hour listening
to their representations and commenting
upon them. Then the Secretary escorted
his callers to the Whiee House, where
they were received by President Roose-
Welt and again set out their views and
listened to what he had to say In reply.
The interview with both the President
and Secretary Hay were extremely salts
factory to the council.
The massacre at Kishlnen was the prln-
cipal topic OF discussion. But the Jews
realized, after hearing what the President
and Secretary Hay had to say, that there
was nothing that this government could
done in Bessarabia. So, loking to the
future, the council besought the President
to use his good offices to secure the ear OF
the Car.
DEEP SYMPATHY.
The President and Secretary Hay listen
ed with the deepest interest and sympathy
to these representations and both replied
in terms that showed the depth OF their
feeling In the mater. It was promised
vx,1,t 11, ~ 1T>SnN tf,o
could properly do without violating the
principles of International comfy would
be done but neither President Roosevelt
nor Secretary Hay were able to make any
definite promise beyond this, which was
accepted as satisfactory.
In reply to the memorandum, Secretary
Hay said:
"Nobody can ever make the Americans
think i'll OF the Jews as class or as
race-we know them too we'll. In the
painful crisis through which we are now
passing the Jews OF the United States
have given evidence of the highest quail
ities-generosity, love of justice and
power of self-restraint.
1.-THE government OF the United States
must exhibit the same qualities. know
you do rot doubt the sentiments of the
President. No ono hates more energetl-
calIy than he does such acts of cruelty
anu lTJuSllct us lHOSt Wt ucpIOIe. but
he must carefully consider all the circum-
stances and then decide whether any off,
cial action can be taken In addition to
the impressive and most effective eX-
pressions of public opinion in this coun-
try during the last month. You will have
observed that no civilized government
in the world has yet taken official ac-
tion-this consideration alone would bid
us to proceed with care. The Emperor
af cio ic tp OH not
merely as the ruler of great and
friendly nation, but as man, whose per-
sonal character Is even more elevated
than his exalted station. We should not
be justified In assuming that this en-
lightened sovereign, who has given so
many proofs of his devotion to peace
and religious liberation, has not done
and is not doing all that lies in his power
to put stop to these atrocities. to pun
ish the guilty, whether they belong to the
ignorant populace or to high official
circles, and to prevent the recurrence Of
the outrages which have SO shocked
humanity. In fact, all we know of the
state of things in Russia tends to Justify
the hope that even out of the present
come; that He who watches over Israel
does not slumber, and that the wrath of
man, now, az so often In the past. shall
be made tn nraise him"
PRESIDENTS REPLY.
Tho call on the President at the White
House followed, and there President
Roosevelt, after the memorandum was
laid before him, said In part:
"AIr Chairman, need not dwell upon a
fact so patent as the widespread indg-
nation with which the American people
heard Of the dreadful outrages upon the
Jews In Kishineff. I have never In my
experience In this country known OF y
more immediate or deeper expression
of the sympathy for the Victims and OF
horror over the appalling calamity that
lad occurred"
BRAVE IN WAR.
President Roosevelt reviewed WILDLY
the part the lows have played In the de
velopment Of the United States. He said
they always We're foremost in upholdlnp
the honor and credit Of the country. He
alluded to their bravery in war and tc
their energy and industry in peace. He
fafarred 10 Incidents IN hiu ou,n oH3ot,l