Evening star., 1907-08-18

WHENE ENER the public mind OF New
in public meetings and passes OFF in eloquence
and resolutions, there is always to be observed
on the platform or IN the front row of the
audience large, keen eyed brown haired man.
Meyer Schoenfeld seldom joins in the dis
pensing of language, He listens with shrewdly
intent air, and now and then his face is illu-
minated by grin which superficial onlooker
might easily believe cynical.
Meyer Schoenfeld was largely responsible
for the election of District Attorney Jerome
against all the regular party tickets two wears
ago. He did not ask for any of the bouq dets of
praise and congratulations which Jerome's
friends were busy tossing at each other after
that phenomenon Nobody except Jerome
ever handed him anv. But at the beginning of
the campaign Schoenfeld, who had gained
tremendous experience an organizer of his
own people through his connection with the
clothing trades unions and later as manu-
faCturer, asked to be allowed to manage the
campaign among his coreligionists of the East
Side in his own way Jerome who knew him,
saw to it that the request allowed.
For months the East Side was flooded with
little cards, postcards, billboard posters, and
carried sandwich banners. They con-
tanned suggestive epigrams, questions, innuen-
does. There were no arguments advanced IN
these. They seemed slngularly lacking in the
conventional traits of campaign literature.
But they set the East Side buzzng with gossip
and argument. The inevitable conclusion
bosses were bad that Hearst was hypocrite,
that Jerome was hero, and that his election
would be good thing for the poor and the
East Side.
Soft spoken reform politicians with ideals
even higher than their browS and innocence
commensurate only with their confidence in
their political aStuteneSs, advocated a super
vision of Meyer Schoenfeld's efforts They
were softly but firmly overruled Meyer is
proud of his race. and sees his peoples psy-
oh and han # with an
tirely unbiased view. He explaining to
one of the dazed critics of his East Side cam
paign, after election.
You did not understand" he said, "be-
cause you know nothing of our people. The
election is over. Let me tell YOU of something
which has happened since. and has nothing to
do with politics. Five months ago my wife
she hires servant girl. The girl is greeny
She has only been in this country three weeks
already. All right. Ny wife pays her ten
dollars month. 1t is good deal, with board
and lodging maybe for greeny. But she is
of our faith. and we like to stand by our own
people and help them along. The girl is bright,
and she learns fast, and she is great help to my
wife. So in two months we raise her pay.
Understand, We give her eleven dollars a
month All right. In another month she
asks for twelve dollars a month. All right.
She is good girl She has been great help to
my wife. And the next month she asks for
thirteen dollars a month. All right 1t is a
good deal for a greeny; but she is good girl.
" But the next month she wanted fourteen
dollars. She didn't ask for It-oh, no, not on
your life. She was ashamed to ask again; SO
what does she do: She comes to my wife and
says she is going away.
40 But for what do you go away says my
wife.
"a lady up town says the girl, she will
give me fourteen dollars a month
My wife she comes to me and asks what
Shall we do; fourteen dollars it is too much