Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-28
TO SHOW GRATITUDE
Proposed Jewish Memorial in
Honor Of John Hay.
RACE APPRECI A TIV E
PERPETUAL REMINDER IN
EVERY SYNAGOGUE SUGGESTED.
No Similar Tribute Ever Paid to q
Human Being-Pending Re-
forms in Russia.
RACE APPRECIATIVE
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.
Written for the Star and the Chicago Record
Herald
On Thanksgiving day. which has not yet
been announced. but is usually the last
Thursday in November, the Jews Of the
United States will celebrate in every city
and village the two hundred and fiftieth an
niversary of the arrival of their race in this
land of freedom and equality. 1t Is pro-
posed to celebrate the occasion and to ex-
press the gratitude of the Jewish nation for
the privileges and blessings they have en-
joyed In America by erecting memorial In
honor of the late John Hay. who. as Secre-
tary of State. did so much toward the amel-
ioration of the condition of their co-religion-
lists in Russia, Roumania and other coun-
tries Of Europe Lest future generations
may forget. it is also proposed to place in
every synagogue in the United States per-
a stained glass window or a tablet of mar
BILE or bronze, suitably inscribed.
No similar tribute was ever paid to any
human being-not even to a conqueror nor
to a king. 1t has not yet been decided what
form the national tribute shall take. A
monument, a column or a statue, in Wash
ington or New York, has been suggested.
but 1t Is more probable that school Of po-
utical economy international law and d.
plomacy will be founded under John Hay s
name In connection with one of the Ameri-
can universities. Brown University. at
Providence. where Col Hay was graduated;
Western Reserve. at Cleveland. of which he
was an active trustee and in which he al
ways took a deep personal interest; Johns
Hopkins, Columbia University, New York
city; George Washington University In
Washington and other institutions have
been suggested. 1t is desired to place the
school where 1t can best serve its purpose.
and active influences are at work in behalf
Of the institutions named and others.
The committee In charge consists of Jacob
Schif of Kuhn, Loeb & Co., bankers, chair
man; DR.. Cyrus Adler of the Smithsonian
Institution. Prof. Jacob H. Hollander of
Johns Hopkins University. David Guggen-
helm. the smelter king; Oscar S. Straus, for
merly minister to Turkey; Mayer Sulszber-
ger or the beef trust, Samuel Greenba UNI.
Max j. Kohler. Edward Lauterbach, Adolph
Lewisohn. Louis Marshall, Rev. DIR. Pereira
Mendes, N. Taylor Phillips, Simon w. Ro-
scndale, William Solomon, Isaac N. Selig-
man, the banker. and Louis Stern of Stern
Brothers, the New York merchants. 1t will
be noticed that the committee mostly
New York men, which is natural, because
more than half the Jews in the United
States reside there, the first immigrants of
that race landed there. and 1t Is probable
that the larger part of the contributions for
the memorial will come from that city. But
it is considered desirable that every Jew in
the country, however poor, shall contribute
his mite, to emphasize the significance of
the movement. Committees will be appoint
ed in every city, town and village where
Jews are living to secure a unanimous and
perpetual token of gratitude and thanks
giving from the entire Jewish race to the
American republic.
Russian Reforms Pending.
Thus far there have been no tangible re-
suits of Col. Hays efforts in behalf of the
oppressed Jews In Russia, but there IS en-
enlargement for the belief that they have
not been without effect. Now pending be-
fore the Russian ministry are two PROPOSE
tions which. It is hoped, may receive the
sanction of the czar and be officially pro-
claimed before many months. That which
most interests the Jews of America Is
project for the revision of the passport laws
submitted to the minister of the interior
last May by commission authorized by the
car for the express purpose. That, at
least, is direct result of the influence
exercised by Col. Hay. The chairman of
the commission is Senator Durnovo. and
his plan Is believed to have been recon-
mended 10 the ear by the minister OF the
interior. 1t proposes the almost entire abo-
ution OF the passport system of Russia, and
makes a very radical innovation upon the
police system in the empire.
In Russia today every adult, man or wo-
man, Is required to have a passport,
whether subject or foreigner. 1t must be
produced as a matter of Identification when
ever required. No one can buy a railway
ticket; no one can pass, through the gates
of city without showing that certificate,
which. In effect, is an evidence of official
permission to exist. People found without
passports are promptly sent to prison as
suspicious characters and no peasant, me-
cnanlc or artisan can leave the town in
which he lives In search of employment, or
Tor any other reason. without the permits
sion of the police. 1t is easy to appreciate
now such regulations may be used for the
oppression OF the people and their abolish
ment would be the greatest relief that could
be given in any one respect to the inhabi-
tants of Russia.
Senator Durnovo's plan contemplates the
abolition of the entire system, except for
foreigners entering the country and per-
sons under the surveillance of the police
1t deprlves the police of the right to de-
port or even arrest persons who cannot es-
tablish their identity. 1t permits married
women to go and come as they like with
out the consent of their husbands 1t per-
mits peasants to have the same freedom
that Is enjoyed in other European countries
to travel where they please without ask
ing permission OF the police. This as !
nave intimated. Is especially important to
mechanics and other workingmen who wish
10 seek employment. Russian subjects in
tending to leave the country must show
passports at the frontier. which may be
obtained by making formal applica ton es-
tablishing their identity and paying a fee
OF five and half roubles about three dol
lsrs). Travellers passports are to be good
lot SIX months, but may be renewed at any
time by imperial consuls In foreign ports
VINO shall satisfy themselves that the ap-
pncant Is not a fugitive from justice or