The San Francisco call., 1909-10-17
Doctor Wise Also Pays His Re-
spects to Ruef and Civic
Peace Party
Sermon Describes .he Work OF
Heney in Oregon as Freeing
State From LOOters
By c. c. CARLTON
[Special Dispatch 10 The Call


Tammany grafters. and incidentally
paid his respects to Abe Ruef and the
san Francisco grafters. has been
widely circulated here. and is likely to
have tremendous political effect, es-
pecially among the Hebrew voters of
this city.
Doctor Wise comes OF a distinguished
Jewish family. His father was rabbi
also. and the son. on graduating from
Columbia college was called to the
head Of the Madison avenue syna gogue
in New York. where he remained until
1900. when he was chosen rabbi Of the
Temple Beth Israel in Portland. Ore.
While there Doctor Wise was infiuen-
tial in drafting and having placed on
The statute books a law against child
labor. and was one of the founders of
the state board Of charities. In 1905
he preached several sermons in the
Temple Emmanuel. Ehe richest and
most powerful synagogue in New York
city. A tentative offer was made to
Doctor Wise that he become rabbi OF
the congregation. but he would not ac-
cept unless promised 'an unmuzzled
pulpit" free from interference or die
tatiOn by the trustees. He drew around
him a handful Of friends. who agreed
lie should have pulpit free from DOM
ination. so the Free syna gogue of New
York was founded. and Doctor Wise
resigned as rabbi OF the Portland syna
gogue.
HONORED IN OREGON
on leaving Portland Doctor Wise was
given g farewell banquet which was
attended by the governor OF Oregon.
tic mayor. United States senators and
other distinguished persons, who urged
him 20 remain in Portland. but he was
not 10 be swerved from his purpose.
The Free synagogue was founded in
New York and he became its rabbi in
1907. IN this synagogue there are no
pen-s, no dues and an absolutely free
pulpit.
Doctor Wise being able to express
his ideas freely. has been widely quot
Cd. He is powerful speaker, and his
sermons attract large congregations of
not only Jewish, but of gentle people.
Doctor Wise's chief supporters in the
esta blishment Of the Free syna gegue
were Jacob H Schif. Adolph Lewisohn
Isaac Seligman and others equally rich
and influential, but il is the pardonable
boast Of Doctor Wise that the Free
syna Eogue embraces in its congrega-
tion many OF the poorer class of Jews.
some Of whom contribute little or moth
ing to its support. ard vet al stand
on an equal footing. Doctor Wise is
especially popular with the Jewish
mssses for this reason. and this is why
his sermons are feared by evil and de-
signing politicians.
WOULD PUNISH GRAFTERS
saw Doctor Wise at his residence.
&c East Sixtv-eighth street. today, and
he again paid his respects TO the graft
ers on the other side of the continent
He Is quite familiar with the situation
in san Francisco. and talked as fol-
lows
1T is saddening to think that the
spirit Of compromise in san Francisco
should threaten TO stay the arm OF just
punishment. because men of power and
privilege have been found to be in
vOlved What shall the country think
of the administra ton of justice which
would punish the little beggarly bribe
takers. but leave unwhipt of justice the
powerful law breakers who are the
head and front Of the offending?
-As an American citizen jealous of
his country's honor and rejoicing in
the impartial administration of the
law. 7 would have the graft prosecutors
go still higher or dig still deeper. un-
til they reach the Offices in Wall street,
upon which il Is entirely just to fix the
ultimate responsibility for the nefari-
Gus and corrupting practices of their
1T IS in truth. the spirit of cowardly
compromise which empties stores of
wrath upon the heads Of the muck
rakers. and views with compassion and
benignity muck makers. 1t is not
my business TO defend the measures
and methods of Henev. which. his foes
concede. have not been lacking in
vigor.
HENEY-S WORK IN OREGON
L lived in Oregon when Heney came
TO that state, commissioned by Roose-
welt and Hitchcock to exterminate the
land thieves AS in California there
was wailing and gnashing of teeth over
the shame OF having charges of GRIM
inality fastened upon men of high po-
litical place. In Oregon, too. we had
our civic peace advocates, who sought
TO thwart Heney at every turn. But
some of US were resolved that Il were
best for Oregon to go through the
crisis without hinching and that we
would not make ourselves the partners
OF the shame OF a few by lifting a
finger TO impede the course Of Justice.
Heney did his work and the state we
loved ceased to be the looters' paradise.
until today the integrity of the conduct
of oregon and Portland's political af-
fairs matches the rare political intelIi-
gence OF its citizenship.
ASKS JUSTICE WITHOUT FAVOR
The Jew in America. patriotic. law
abiding. liberty loving. asks not for
fsvors nor privileges nor immunities
He asks and viii have justice-nor
more, nor less II a Jew commit the
crimes with which Ruef is charged
his fellow Jews ask not for him favor.
nor protection. nor pardon. but sorrow
fully ask that justice be done-nor
more. nor less.
San Francisco today faces a terrible
temptation-the. temptation to set the
preservation Of the commercial finan-
cial and industrial supremacy OF San
Francisco on the Pacific coast above
the precious boon of civic honor. AS
one who has lived in the far west. who
has shared its hopes. who has dreamed
its dreams, I have faith that San Fran
cisco viii nobiy meet the searching
test is faces today and will spurn the
spirit Of compromise. which would
cripple the arm Of justice and purchase
civic peace at any price"
GOTHAM's PoRToLA FEAST
The committee having in charge the
arrangements for the Portola BANQUET
10 be held az the Waldorf-Astoria hotel
on the evening of October 1s promises
that il will be one of the best attended
OF all the dinners the Californians here
have held from time to time. There is
every reason TO believe there will be a
distinguished company of guests ofber