The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-18

From Abraham down the Jew has
venerated and obeyed his father. There
is a head to every Jewish family. and
among parents and children there is
more than the usual bond of affection
loyalty and helpfulness. You will find
few divorces among my people. There
are many more now than formerly, but
I am not describing the present genera
ton. The family of a Jew is the GEN.
ter of his love and interest. His bust
ness provides food, clothing and shell
ter for his wife and children. Can't
you see why he works and how closely
the affairs of his world out of doors
are knit into the affairs of his home
and heart? But he has a hard fight.
His manner and his appearance are
against him. He is not nearly so al
tractive personally as the rosy-faced,
blond haired Swede who may come in
the same ship.
Can't Work in the Street.
"He can't work in the streets ike
the Italian and negro because he is
physically inferior to both. Taught
self-reliance by persecution, he may
go into business for himself, if it be
Conditions and the Jewish law have
made him what he is. There have
been great Jewish musicians, but few
artists and no sculptors. Here, again,
we find the repression of the law,
which says: Thou shalt not make un-
to thee any craven image. or any like
ness of anything that is in heaven
above, Or that is in the earth beneath,
or that is in the water under the
earth.
How many Jews are emigrating to
New York annually?'
Ninety thousand; and we have con-
siderably more than seven hundred and
fifty thousand as it is The united
Hebrew charities collects $35O,OO0
year, and it gives the poor Jew a little
money until he can get employment
and become self-supporting. Unfortu-
nately, a good many of the immigrants
in the streets. Some are shoemakers,
tin smiths and butchers. Not a few
find work in sweatshops. The Rus
slams whose names are seen on the
signs in Broadway began in that man.
ner They lived on what Americans
would throw out. worked early and
late, and now they are Independent.
Go to the East Side and you will be
astonished at the progress which the
Jews are making. Their children are
in school and are refusing to speak
Yiddish at home or at play. AS a rule
they are an Industrious, frugal and
law abiding class of people. They own
things, or will, either merchandise or
property they will be conservative
citizens
who establish the banking house
of J. & w. Seligman?"
any father, whose name was 10
seph. He was born in Bavaria and
educated at the University Of Erlangen
When he was graduated ne wrote an
address to the faculty in Greek. In
deed, he could read or speak five Ian
guages He came to this country when
he was 10, landing in New York with
$3S. Shortly after his arrival he was
! introduced to Asa Packer of Phila-
delpilia, founder of Lehigh university
and protector of the Lehign Valley
| railroad Judge Packer gave him a
| place as cashier on some work OF
construction at $500 a year, half OF
which he sent to his parents in Ba-
yaria. When he was II ne went to
GreensborOugh, Ala, and started a
little dry goods store. He prospered
and began sending to Europe for his
seven brothers and three sisters. He
brought all of them to this country
and. also, his mother. On the death
of his father he returned to Bavaria
and paid the debts which had been in
Cured by failure in business.
Started as Pack PeddIers.
"The brothers did various things
Several of them were pack-peddlers.
Jesse and Henry onSdSeU Ill Tie uIy =
goods business at WatertOwn. N. Y,
where they remained for seven years,
and did well. My father and his seven
brothers finally Jumped their money to-
gether and opened an importing house
in this city. They continued to make
money. The civil war and the difficult
ty the government had in getting
funds drew my fathers attention to
financial matters. The importing
house was sold and the eight Selig-
mans, my father at the head, became
bankers. / suppose they had nearly a
million dollars among them.
Branches wer opened in this country
and Europe Joseph, James and Jesse
were resident partners in London.
William went to the Paris branch.
Henry and Abraham managed the
branch at F'rankfOrt-on-the-M Main.
Later banks were opened in San Fran
cisco and New Orleans. The credit
of this government was not good in
Europe during 1868, but my father
sold a good many war bonds in Ger
many. and was otherwise SO helpful