The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1904-09-11
a SECOND GENERATION.
BY PHINEAs FLETCHER.

Actuated by what they believe to be an
intensely American spirit, many persons
are prone to decry immigration and de-
clare that the country is being ruined
by the inflow from oppressed sections
of Europe. No class OF emigrants have
been accorded a less hearty welcome
than the Russian Jew and this may also
include the Poland Jew, but despite the
unpromising appearance and unattractive
personality of these people, they are be-
coming an important factor in almost
every walk of life. Seeking as he did the
squalor and dirt of the lower east side
and bringing with him personal filth and
habits that did not appeal to the Ameri-
can sense in any respect he was nowhere
regarded with favor and he found no oc-
cupation open to him. except the sweat
! shop and the push cart. OF capital they
brought none and there was no encour-
agement in any line except In those re-
curing the humblest of labor and the
longest hours.
That many of them are inoculated with
tie virus of anarchy and radical social
ism is not to be questioned and the Sc
rious inquirer is prompted to ask wherein
could they possibly benefit a country or
be the ancestors of race of progressive
Americans. They certainly displayed no
qualifications for public life and they
could scarcely be said to have a home
life for long hours and wealth destroying
work did not tend TO develop home
makers. Wherein are they of any benefit
to the country? They were not. for no
representative of the first generations
of these Russian Jews has become great.
American history has not received sin
gle new page by the mere presence of this
first generation and this fact has not APP
peared to worry these people in the least.
They have lived their lives and many
have passed away, but the real worth of
the race is appearing in the second gener-
alton. in the children of these people who
were born In this land of freedom and
opportunity.
The younger generation of Russian Jews
is rapidly making itself felt in almost
every phase of our national life. The
very facial evidences of the race are
disappearing and new conditions and new
possibilities have developed a race that
is intensely American, and prepared to
become all that constitutes a true man
and citizen. The clean shaver face of
the second generation marks a concession
in the matter of religion though the son
may still visit the synagogue and at
Ycm Kippur close his place of business
some of the feast and fast days are drop
ped as matter of convenience or posi-
bly, business necessity. The anarchy Of
the father developed under the priva-
lions of life under the iron hand of the
Car has become a moderate belief in So
cialism. without any serious or radical
tendencies. The second generation has
plenty of business acumen. but all of the
tendencies of the generation are not d.
rected in the way of money-getting. SOLE
" for the sake of accumula ton. The sons
of sweat shop workers ae found in all
professions and arts. Take in hand list
of the lawyers at the New York bar and
observe the number o, names that indi-
cate beyond question their Russian or
igin Are they striped lawyers, shysters.
and hangers about police courts? No
they are Junior members of firms hand
ling the business of vast corporations in
volving the settlement of delicate points
of law and the calm Judgment OF n
healthy and analytic mind. Glance over
list of the graduates of the normal
and high schools of the city of NAw vo-s