The Jewish outlook., 1905-09-22
The Jews and the State Library

Have DR.. Dewey's Scalp" was at least pre-
mature, for he has not resigned nor has he
promised to resign, nor was the motion at
the June meeting urged by the Jewish re-
gent, Mr.. Lauterbach carried. If the lead
ing Jews are determined to have Dr.
Dewey's scalp they will have to take it, and
with the growing political power of the Jews
in this city and state, it is quite likely that
they can block legislative appropriations
for the State Library building, on which Dr.
Dewey has set his heart, and for state edu
cational work as will bring superintendent
Draper and the regents to their side. But
would it be wise in them to do so? I'VE have
got votes certainly; but is it not well
to remember so have other people?
New York City and the country at large
has kept the door wide open to the Jew
as wide open as to the Englshman, Scotch
man or German-but the savage persecu-
lions in Russia and Roumania and anti
SemitSm in Germany and France have made
the rush to this country aDnOrmally large
and the natural clannshness of the Jew has
prevented normal distribution throughout
the country. Naturally, but none the less I'M
fortunately, this congestion in New York
City has resulted in labor and business jeal-
OuSy and in increasing friction. The atmoS-
phere is gradually becoming surcharged
through this irritation. Incidents like this
Dewey affair may easily concentrate this
into thunderbo.>s. 1t is condition that
calls for mutual forbearance, patience and
cool Judgment. When powder is scattered
around freely must be careful how we
strike.
Now before the blood on either side gets
any hotter few facts should be clearly I'M
derstood. 1t is not true that DR.. Dewey is
hostile to the Jews. | know him well, and
assert without fear of just contradiction that
non-Jew in this state is more friendly to
this worthy than is he.
1t is not true that he, after the Febru-
airy meeting of the regents, resigned the
presidency at Lake Placid and put his wife
in that position. Mrs. Dewey was president
of the company at the time of the February
meeting, and this fact well known then
to the regents. Mrs. Dewey has invested
enterprise, being in her own name a wealthy
woman, and she is an exceptionally able
business woman.
1t is not true that DR.. Dewey issued
circular after the February meeting that had
in it's sentiments "decidedly more anti-Jew
ish than the sentiments originally charged
against DR.. Dewey" This circular is
sued by the Lake Placid Club, of which DR..
Dewey is not an officer nor even member,
and it was sent to the members of the club
and only incidentally to few others. have
read this circular through twice and am I'M
able to find in it single word that may
justly be called unfriendy to the Jews.
Dr. Dewey in his present position is &C.
cOmplishing a work of great value to the
state, the country and the world at large, and
his resignation removal at the present
time would be public misfortune.
Says Mr.. Herbert Putnam, the Librarian
of Congress- in letter dated February g.
1905:
There is no man living to-day to whom
more than to him CDR. Dewey is due the
prodigious activity of the past quarter of
century in the promotion of libraries and in
the diffusion of interest in them There is
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