The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-28
JEWS MAKE COODCITIZENS
MAYOR BOOKwALTER PRAISES
THEIR CONDUCT IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Statements Credited to Count Cassini
Speed of Automobile.

Mayor Bookwalter has been asked by
Saraschon & Son. publishers of a Jewish
newspaper in New York, for an opinion on
the expression credited to Count Cassini.
the Russian ambassador at Washington, in
which he said the Russian Jews were
usurers and idlers. Saraschon & Son wrote
the mayor that they had asked the mayors
OF fifty leading cities for similar express
sions in order to refute the statements cred
tied to Count Cassini. In his reply the
mayor said:
I'm so far as the Jewish citizens of In
dianapolis are concerned, the statement at
tributed to Count Cassini is not true. The
Russian Jews OF this city are not money
lenders. nor are they idlers. They are a
thrifty, Woodworking people, and while
they are wholly unfamiliar with the theory
of American institutions when they first ar
rive, seem to readily develop into first-class
citizens Certainly they are not a charge
upon public charity and are not at any time
an annoyance to the police department.
Some of the finest business men of Indian
apolis are Jews, and many of them are
men with whom ii is pleasure to do bust
ness, their business methods being as free
from criticism as any gentle. l do not
feel that am authorized to speak in the
name of this entire community in answer TO
your last question as to whether sudden
and extraordinary immigration of Jews
would be regarded with disfavor, but wish
people are able to assimilate any and all
classes who come TO this country through
an honest desire to better their condition.
That this assimilation is rapidly progress
ing is evidenced by the fact that the chill
dren of the Polish Jews and Russian Jews,
who have come to Indianapolis, show
marked development from the moment they
enter the public schools.
II have no doubt but that the second
generation will even up and average UP
with other elements of our citizenship"
h. No. hnG oil bnnra tod Ixy
the Motor Age" of Chicago, for an ex-
preston as to whether speed of twelve
to fifteen miles an hour in cities is a safe
maximum for automobiles. In his reply
the Mayor said:
while l personally believe that a
twelve or fifteen mile an hour rate in the
congested portions of city the size of
Indianapolis would protect the lives of
pedestrians whenever motor cars or auto
mobiles are in the hands of competent
drivers, ii so frequently happens that
control of such machines, that 1t is in my
opinion absolutely necessary that less
rate of speed be prescribed. Personally, l
know from the little experience / have had
that an automobile can be handled to
better advantage than horse; that il can
be stopped quicker or swung out to the
right or left quicker than horse, thus
making a higher rate of speed practically
safe, but for the reason given above, L
believe 1t absolutely important that the
great majority of people who do not ride
greatest possible measure of protection
against reckless or incompetent drivers.
THE automobile has come to stay, and
like the bicycle, it must make its way
against the prejudices of the masses of the
people In time. when the majority become
familiar with the machines and accus-
toned 10 riding in them and driving them,
then restrictions may be removed to
speed limit, but for the present / do not
consider 1t possible TO change public senti-
ment radically. In this city automobiles
are limited to eight miles per hour within
the mile square or business limit and
twelve miles an hour outside of this mile
square, drivers being compelled to turn
corners to the right and come slowly"