New-York tribune., 1905-07-08

John G. Winston Company.
That the native American and the naturalized
immigrant from other lands should view with
slarm" the recent incursion Of a million and
more Russian, Polish and Rumanian Jews into
our country and its industries is but natural.
The problem OF the immediate disposition and
future assimilation OF these alien peoples is
perhaps the greatest that has been presented
10 for solution: for there is obviously such
drastic measure possible in their as
adopted in that Of the unwelcome Chnaman.
Our sympathy is equally excited with ap-
prehension. How far these feelings are justi-
fed is a question Of prime sociological impor-
tance. and the volume brought out under the
supervision of DR.. Bernheimer is valuable in
so far il furnishes the material for formulat-
ing answer.
The contents of the book is made up of
large number OF contributions from Jews and
Gentiles who have been studying the question
at first hand and in all its phases. Among
them may be noted Abraham Cahan. the novel
list and Editor of 'Torwarts": Henrietta Sold.
secretary OF the publication committee of the
Jewish Publication Society; Milton Reizenstein.
superintendent Of the Hebrew Educational So
ciety OF Brooklyn; Philip Davis resident of the
Civil Service House. Boston; Lee K Frankel,
manager Of the United Hebrew Charities, New
York; Louis E. Levy president of the Associa-
ton for the Protection of Jewish Immigrants,
sPhilsdelphia; Minnie F. Low, superintendent
OF the Bureau OF Personal Service, Chicago:
Isaac NJ. Rubinow. Of the Bureau OF Statistics
United States Department Of Agriculture: J. K
Paulding, New-York; Rabbi A r. Levy, secre-
tary Of the Jewish Agriculturists' Aid Society,
Chicago; I x Friedman, author and Journalist
Chicago; A H. Fromenson. of the Jewish Daily
News" New-York. and Mrs. Charlotte KimbaI
80 IL 49,
rhess observers and their fellow contributors
can only serve TO magnify our inclination to af-
sord harbor of refuge for these prosecuted for
eignerss If It can be done without epdangerins
our institutions or lowering our standards. and
20 niniu1izs our fear that such contingencies
may cause US 10 withdraw our welcome
The preponderance OF Jewish names in the
foregoing list may give rise 80 the suspicion that
this testimony has been given not without preju-
dice; but IL should be considered that the ma
3ority Of them stand for a class Of Jews TO whom
these later arrivals seemed an even greater men
ace than TO their Christian compatriots and on
whom the burden OF assisting and caring for
them has almost exclusively fallen. Besides,
the non-Jewish writers who have been brought
into close relations with these immigrants Join
sn paying tribute TO their good qualities In
fact. It is impossible to refuse TO the Russian
Polish or Rumanian Jew The credit OF being in
dustrious frugal, sober, ambitious. law-abiding,
oleanly and healthy list OF virtues that we
would be glad 10 recognize possessed IN the
same degree by the great mass Of those whom
proud TO claim as American citizens.
Perhaps not all Of these virtues are as apparent
10 the casual observer as they are TO the careful
Investigator; but they are amply demonstrated
in the pages of the present volume. That the
Jew from the Pale and the Ghetto is hard work
mental Improvement, viii be generally conceded
without referring for proof TO the book. That
he is also respecter Of the law may come as a
surprise TO many who have assumed to asso-
ciste the Jew with crime and litigation of GER
tain types. Here the cold facts of statistics
rather than mere warmth Of argument and bias
or opinion are relied on TO sustain his good
character. Without going into details. II may
be said that the ghetto Jews figure consider
ably better than the general average Of the
population in the police courts and prisons Of
the country. The oft repeated charge Of arson
against the Russian Jews finds no substantial
ton in the annals Of the criminal courts of New
York, Philadelphia and Chicago. In the years
from which the statistics are compiled, 1898 in
the case Of New-York and 1904 in the case of
the other two cities. there was not a single con-
viction for this crime against their record-in
Chicago not even an Indictment. Most Of the
7awsuits brought by them are such as arise
among people largely engaged in trade and a
great proportion OF these are settled out OF
court.
That the ghetto Jew is cleanly is another
claim for him that will be hard for many TO be-
Heve who form their opinions from passing
through the quarters where he lives. There is
tienty OF dirt In evidence, to be sure but this
zs largely such as is inseparabIe from the
crowded condition in which he is forced to live.
Compared with similar quarters inhabited by
Immigrants OF other nationalities, the health
departments OF our largest three cities find the
eo-cslled American ghettos far superior. Mar
row chested. ansenaic looking undersized as the
Russian Jews generally are. they have the
lowest death rate OF any segregable element of
the population. while their infant mortality is
only one-hslf that Of the country at large
Yet, with al these points in his favor. the Rus
sian Jew remains problem, social, economical
and political. He is clannish and by heredity
a city 6weller. He turns naturally to the great
centres of population and, finding there those
of his own race. there he stays. He may in
time assirnilate our American institutions-he
seems anxious TO do so-but it will be a long
time, If ever, before he is assimilated with the
race He may to a certain extent associate
with other Americans, but can hardly ex-
rect him 20 amalgarnate with them. He will
be with US, but not Of us. 1t is significant that
none OF the contributors TO DR.. Bernhemers
hook even alude TO this phase of the ques-
ton. The economic condition, however. that
the advent Of the Russian Jew has brought
about. in New-York especially, is ably dis
cussed by Mr. Rubinow. and in his view does
not present so hopeless an outlook as might at
first appear. BY nature and training trader.