East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1908-07-10
PLAN CONQUEST
Of HOLY LAND
HEBREWS GRADUALLY
COME BACK TO THEIR OWN
Representatives of Two Million Jews
In This Country Meeting I'm Atlan-
tic City-Paylng Much Attention to
Practical Colonization Of Palestine

| Atlantic city, N. D., uly lO.-Io loI
mulate plans for a peaceful conquest
of the Holy Land and the restoration
of the chosen people to the country
now held by the 'usurping hosts OF
Mohammed, is the object of the elev-
enth annual convention of the Fed
Grafton of American Zlonists, open
ed today for a session OF six days.
Some of the most prominent He
brew scholars and men Of affairs In
America are here and will address the
delegates, who represent about 4OO
societies in different cities Of the
United States and Canada.
Aside from considerations Of the
future, when the dream OF the restor-
alton. of Palestine to the Jewish peo-
pie shall come true, the convention
will pay much attention to the prac-
teal work of Jewish colonization In
Palestine which Is now being carried
on. The political phase OF the inter-
national movement, In its relation to
negotiations with the Turkish govern
ment, will also be fully discussed.
Officers for the coming year will be
elected.
Two Million Jews Here.
It Is estimated that the number OF
Jews in the United States is about
500, 900. and the total for the world
about 10000 or all the nations
of the earth, Russia leads in Jewish
population with about 100000 and
1t is in the land of the car that the
Zionist movement has gained Its
greatest strength. Centuries OF per-
secution have caused the Russion Jew
to look upon Palestine with a depth
of longing unknown in other lands,
and, despite extreme poverty, to con-
tribute literally to the Zionist fund.
Measures for the relief of their
brethren in Russia will be considered
at the present convention and those
who have attained wealth in this
country will be asked to contribute
literally to the colonization fund.
In regard to the purposes Of the
convention, President Harry Frieden-
wald. of New York, said:
"This convention can and should be
made one of great Importance. The
Zionist movement has entered upon
the first stages of practical activity in
Palestine. and the reports of this ac-
tivity and as to the conditions In Pal
estine in general are such as to en-
courage every lover of his people.
The land OF our fathers is undergo
ing a period OF real prosperity and
happiness. We can see there the first
fruits of Zionist endeavor. This sue
cessfu labor in Palestine should be
for us an indication of what may be
accomplished there II those of us out
side Of Palestine appreciate our duty.
By the Strengthening of the Zionist
movement in this country. by making
it possible for the Zionists to do large
things in and on behalf of Palestine,
we would be happy to realize the
great ideal for which our movement
stands, The revival of the Jewish peo-
pie upon It's own soil.'
Not Organized.
THAT we have not as yet been able
to organize the Jews in America so
effectively as to obtain large meas
ure of their financial and moral sup
port is due only to our own negli-
gence. We have not taken advantage
of the many opportunities for organ
izing the Jews and for strengthening
Judaism that have presented them
selves to us. We find sympathy for
Iionism expressed on every side, but
up to the present we have not shown
organizing powers strong enough to
develop the sentiment into actual
Zionist achievement It must be the
duty Of the eleventh convention to dis
cuss the situation of the Jews of the
United States so carefully that, at
the end of our deliberations, we shall
be able to present definite plans OF
work to our societies for the conquest
Of the American Jew for Zionism.
The American Jew can be won for
Zionsm, for he is learning the lesson
OF freedom And what is Zionsm
but the freeing Of the Jewish people |
and the spirit of this people from the
shackles that 1000 years OF slavery
has irnnosed unon them ."