New-York tribune., 1909-06-12
KORh EOR ZION

! The annual meeting Of the Federation of
American Zionists Will begin In this city to-
day. and the delegates representing not far
from two hundred organizations IN all parts
of the country will discuss ways and means
looking toward the establishment Of a Jewish
state in Palestine. which shall be IAN asylum
for eX, q rated Jews and a place OF residence
for tlAa who are dissatisfied with their
"preseIs abOdes." \ state of their own has
been @ dream Of many Jews for years. The
rehabilitation of the ancient country whence
they came has been the theme Of many
gifted men, and societies have been formed
in all parts of the world for the purpose Of en-
listing sympathy and cooperation and receiving
pecuniary aid for the cause The movement
In its present form owes its being - the un-
tiring efforts of nr. Theodor HerI whose
enthusiasm sincerity Of purpose and magnet
ism gained many converts. The promotion Of
a scheme so gigantic as the founding Of new
state required something more tangible how
ever. than pious enthusiasm, and the followers
of Herzl recognizing this fact, contributed
money until the working fund reached a large
figure When the movement at its height
he who gave it its greatest impetus died, but
the work has continued and the vision Of
Jewish state in varying degrees Of distinctncSs,
has ever been in the eyes Of the ZiOnsts.
The leaders have not always been unit TO
q location, Tor, Wllle the original Dl1n looked
toward Palestine there arose in the ranks OF
IIerzTs followers men to whom 1t mattered not
where the state should be so long as it was n
Jewish state If the Turkish government made
Palestine impossible, a patch in Argentina or
in Africa would do Those who took this view
were known as Territorialists-a large party
under the leadership of Israel Zangwll as to
whose Zionsm it has been said that 1t is "busi-
ness" while that Of Herzl was poetry" Since
the Zionists last met in annual convention
great changes have taken place in Turkey and
the new government has been reported as being
favorable to harboring all the Jews who may
wish to emigrate to that country. This has i'm
pressed both parties-the TerritOrialiSts as
well as the Palestine party-With hope, and the
vision of the state under Turkish suzerainty
has been growing brighter under its influence.
The whole scheme Of Jewish nationalism
while 1t may find favor in Rumania and Russia,
appears to be dstasteful to the Jews of this
country, with the exception of the newer
immigrant element Mr.. Adoph Lewisohn
said about year ago, when similar conven-
ton was held at Atlantic City. that the scheme
to establish a Jewish state in the Holy Land
should not be looked upon seriously by American
Jews and that its promoters. honest and sin
cere as they might be, could not expect the
support of their brethren in this country More
recently Mr.. Jacob II. Schn said:
am in no sense a Jewish nationalist be-
ieVe, indeed that the continuance Of the en-
Geavor to re-establish Jewish nationality, or the
constant insinuation even that such is the pur-
pose of any large section of the Jewish people,
IS not unlikely TO work, sooner or later immense
harm to the Jews-in Palestine in particular
and seriously to impair the favored position the
Jews in Turkey now occupy.
The cause has, nevertheless large following
IN this country among the elements to which
we have referred, and the tenacity with which
the Zonists fight their battle in the face of
opposition on the part of those whose help
would seem to be essential TO success com
mands respect.