New-York tribune., 1907-12-15
AS TO JEWS.
A Letter.

Sir: "A copy or The 1sraelitc' Of November 9
sent to me by mail, apparently from your ONCE,
has been received. and in it have read your edi-
torial remarks relative to and to an alleged
hostility on my part. said to have been expressed
by me. toward Jews.
You say that you remember some exceedingly
unkind things said by The New York Trilmue's
dramatic editor about the Jews and about Jewish
theatrical managers in particular" You also refer
to bitter attacks on the Jews which. you de-
clare, have been made by that dramatic editor.
and. in alluson to persons who have been repre-
hensible IN their management of the theatre Won
say: I'VE can recall where such men
have been referred to by The Tribunes' man as
Methodists, Roman Catholics. Presbyterians or
Baptists-''
L have held the positions Of dramatic editor and
dramatic critic of The New York Tribune sine,
July. 1865. and hold those positions now am,
therefore. the person against whom your censurs
is directed.
You pretend to possess some knowledge of nv
writings. I declare you statements to be false: r
request you to specify when and where have said
'unkind things" about Jews Jecs or rnads
''bitter attacks" Jews. Jeus
That have denounced, as an injurious influences
upon the stage and upon society. monopoly COM
monty called 1.-The Theatrical Syndicate" which
happens to consist OF Jews. is but have
denounced it, not because its members Jews.
but because it's methods unjust and because
its dominance Is destructive Of fair competition
in theatrical business. and is the cause of much
hardship and suffering TO persons
That position has been AIKEN by many news
papers besides Tbs New-Yerk Tribune, all over
country. and the reasons that warrant that
position have been stated by those newspapers,
and over again.
1 have never in all my life said or printed a.
single word against members OF the Jewish race
faith. because they Of that race or faith.
and neither you. nor any one else, can produce a
single sentence to the contrary.
Any attempt to represent iuimcaI to any
in It's absurdity. I not member OF any Church.
I do not believe in any creed. look with detesta-
ton upon every form of bigotry. I sympathizs
with the religious aspirations OF all human beings.
The mere thought OF presunning TO censJIre other
persons because they do not think or feel as do.
with reference 10 religion. is abhorrent 70 me.
I observe your designation Of "the old
man. and 'the Tribunes man., and likewise your
insinuation that 'the business department of ths
Tribune has made suggestions TO the old man.
with view 70 influence his critical writing Dis
courtesy, naturally, goes hand in hand with IN
justice.
1t may be your custom TO accept instruction from
the business department. to editorial or criti-
cal opinion and duty: it is not mine On the day
when "the business department" OF The Tribune
or that OF any other publication with which am
connected-attempts 10 place gag on ME there
will be place vacant for another writer 70 ILL.,
I have had and I still have. friendly acquain-
tances among the Jews. Several Of the managers
to whom your editorial refers known and es-
teemed by me. Others-particularly those who con-
stitute the Theatrical Syndicate-are personally
strangers to me-and could not be anything else.
Those managers however. have never. by me. been
censured on the ground OF their or their re-
ugfon.
At the time OF their quarrel with Life" those
managers assumed the same disingenuous and base
less position that you have chosen 20 advocate
alleging racial and sectarian hostility the notvs
of adverse criticism; whereupon your esteemed
contemporary The New York Hebrew News"
disposed OF the subject in the following remarks.
which 1 recommend for your eulishtennlent-
1T went do this excuse (of being prosecuted as
Jews-w. WI This sudden rush 10 the shelter
Of the protecting folds Of Judeas standard
more insulting to the Jews than ant-semitic arti-
cIes such Mr. NetcaIfe is charged with writing.
Even II II established beyond contra
dicton that Mr.. Metcalfe attacked the FrOhmans
and the others solely because they are Jews. their
indignation would be laughed by the Jewish
community. and their attempt 20 shelter them
selves beneath the folds of Judea'S standard would
be resented by the Jewish community. For they
are not known Jews. and some Of them have
not. till now. shown any desire to be identified as
Jews. We doubt whether certain of them would
come under the category even OF kaddish Jews-so
far away they from all things Jewish. Ir
has perhaps. been noticed that men who ars
worthy to represent rarely attacked. either
Jews otherwise II is only those who havs
dissociated themselves from US who are the sub
jects of attacks-generally merited =.
You intimate that Christians who manage
theatres unworthiIy have escaped nv censJre-
That opinion is not shared by them. After life
time Of labor. in the service Of all that is best
the stage. I believe that ! have been finally re-
warded with the hostility OF almost every manages
connected with IL The only man. among theat-
rcal managers. who Is. believe, friend OF mine,
is. as il happens Jew.
The Hebrew cutcle. in our country. seems to-
have become super-sensitive- Not the most
distant alIusion, if II be satircal spOrtve can
be made 20 the Jews without causing an ebultion
Of resentment from such publicat ations The
Chicago Isrseite.' Yer Jews IN way moro
free from faults and imperfcctions than beings ot
other races-as indeed is stated with considerable
force. in the old Jewish Scriptures. What is ths
of all this hysterical resentment Here
New York. the Jews have inherited the earth and
the fulness thereof What more do they want2
Your circulation is. chiefly, in Chicago. and
among Jews / do not to be miSrepresentetI
to those Jews. 1 request the publication OF this
letter. exactly written. IS of justice. II
you will not do that Justice. please return tbs
letter in stamped. addressed envelope herewith
nclosed. Yours truly, WILLIAM WINTER.
New York. Nov. - 1901