Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-21
SIMON N0LF's REPORT
TO CONVENTION OF B'NAI BIRTH
AT NEW ORLEANS.
Tells of Imnigration of Jews to This
Country and the Outcome
Yiddish Press.

! At the meeting of the Constitutional
Grand LODGE Convention of the Order of
B'Nai Birth In New Orleans. Mr.. Simon
Wolf. president of-phe executive council,
made his report. He called attention to
the fact that during the past five years
over 100000 persons have immigrated into
the United States. Of this number, he
said. at least one-tenth have been Jews,
and of this Jewish immigration eighty per
cent has remained in the city of New York.
In considering the situation we must not
forget that, according to the Jewish year
book, compiled by the Jewish Publication
Society of the United States, there are at
present 1850 600 Jews in the United States,
and that therefore in the last Ave years
one-fourth of that entire population has
come to our shores, while three-fourths
came in practically one hundred years and
more Mr.. Wolf said: How to control this
tide of immigration is one of the. great
problems of the age. 1t cannot be solved
in day, nor can 1t be successfully dealt
with by the people of the United States
alone.
Concert of Action.
"There must be concert of action on the
part of the civilized governments of the
world to bring about such reform in Rus
STA, Roumania and Austria as will prevent
immigration, other than that which comes
naturally. Scanning the list Of immigrants.
we find that immigration from Germany,
France and England is very light indeed
proving conclusvely that it is persecution
and terrorism and desire to escape con-
scrptlon in consequence of the war in the
east, that brings to our hospitable shores
this tremendous outpouring of Europe; but
since cannot stay these conditions and
as there is no desire on the part of the peo-
pie of the United States to be unfaithful
to their traditions, we must, of course, care
for and see to the distribution of those
VINO flock into the city of New York, and
whose condition is of such a character that
IL appeals to each and every one.
Some Complaint Made.
Complaint has been made by many per-
sons who are in hearty accord and full SYM
pathy with the removal work that the per-
sons distributed are mostly traders-con-
sumers and not producers. The report Of
the industrial committee, of which Mr.. Cy-
rus Sulzberger is chairman, proves conclu-
sively that In almost every instance mechan-
les, artisans and laborers have been sent,
instead OF the class to which such serious
objection is made.
1T is most gratifying that the order has
been thus helpful and has evidenced by its
zeal and disinterested work that it grasped
the situation and was ready to aid in solv-
ing this very important problem. The re-
suit of the distribution is most gratifying.
Reports from each city and town where i'm
migrants have been distributed show that
the character of the Immigrants is healthy,
and that by their probity, integrity and
economy they are adding to the wealth of
the nation and to the glory of our people.
The Yiddish Press.
"a great factor for the Americanization
of the adult Immigrant is the Yiddish press.
There are six daily papers, each standing
for a different idea and shade of opinion.
The aggregate circulation of the six papers
amounts to about $4,000. 1t is remarkable
to note that The only trust formed by the
people of the lower East Side is that of the
Society fer the, Publication of Hebrew and
Yiddish Books, and, to a certain degree
also, the Yiddfsh press.
Although the Immigrants from eastern
Europe haye. not. lived long enough in the
country to- become fplty identified with
American interests. YET a great spirit of
patriotism WAS dispiayed by them during
the SPANS H5Ameffcan war In the summer
of 1898, at the conScription station at the
Educational Allauce In New York city, 622
Jewish young men. Russians and Rouman-
ians,,' nearly all Of whom had migrated to
America because they refused to serve in
willingly entered as volunteers for the honor
and the glory Of the country of their adop
ton. ~
1.-The recent presidential. election has
Shown what an active part the people take
in politics and how; intelligently- and how
independently they vote