The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-24

should like to see them all like -hese
gentlemen, but they are not. | do in
sist that for the best interests of Ju-
diasm and American citizenship every
Jew should be welcomed into this Or
IA. nization. Quality arst IL YOU can
get II, but quantity always for the
banding together. this thousands of
Jews who are annually coming to our
sf1oreE"~His REMARKS wsrs vigorously
aoplauded.
Or. CaIiseh Explains.
DR.. CaIisch said he had been mis-
understood as he meant to cast no
reflection upon any one and wanted all
loyat working and enthusiastic Jews
to come into the order and work for
It's betterment He repeated, however,
that care and discretion should be ex-
ercised in filing the ranks of BNai
Birth as many lodges had forfeited
their charters after a short time for
want OF interest and perhaps the UNI
enterprising calibre of the men, who
composed those lodges and his. he said.
was what he had in mind when he
urged discretion. DR., Calish said 1t
did the organization no good to have
so many charters forfeited,
Rabbi Meyerberg did not relinquish
his point. He insisted that every Jew
be taken into the order, and allowed
to drop out if they wished.
IF they drop out the organizers of
lodges will learn something about
who they should try to interest per-
manently and who they should not"
said the rabbi This ended the dis
cussion.
Delegate Peyser objected to the APP
preparation of money for the State
deputies and members of the general
committee for a campaign TO increase
mem bership, charging that they had
not and would not infuse spirit and
enthusiasm in prospective new MEM
bers and that the money would be
squandered"
Past President Joseph Salabes NOV
ed that the president disburse the
money and appoint the campaigners.
Several delegates objected to this, say
ing they had full confidence in the
deputies and the general committee
and the incoming president should not
honor had not been conferred on any
previous presiding officer.
Delegate Salabes' motion was lost.
Iert to Committee.
The convention then voted that the
general committee take charge of the
appropriation and propaganda work.
The circulation of literature in towns
and cities not now represented in the
district increase membership was
next approved. The holding of fancy
mutations, open and public meetings on
B'nai FIRTH Day. February p. was
endorsed, as we'll as the medal award
ing plan.
Makes Strong Protest.
When the committees recommends
ton that a crusade be made against
offensive caracatures, vaudeville acts
and newspaper and magazine stories.
Herman Bender. of Atlanta. made a
stirring speech in support of 1t ana
lamented the fact that majority of
the Jewish impersonators on the stage
are Jews He read a story in which a
theatrical manager Informed rabbi
that no more Jewish acts would be
booked on the stages of the majority
of vaudeville houses. He said greed
for gold had caused the Jewish actors
to sacrifice Judaism and ideals on the
altar of commercialism. Tho dele
gates appIauded him.
Delegate Salabes said the adoption
of the resolution would stamp the
delegates as narrow minded. He be-
lieved the Jewish people relished the
Jewish acts on the stage. and that
the members of the race shoulh laugh
at the Jokes and forget them. as Irish
men and Germans do. Herbert r.
Ezekiel agreed with Mr., Salabes, say
ing B'nai Birth should not boycott
"the two cent vaudevillian. but the
spirit which governs the theater own
ers We are not going to boycott
Shakespeare for his writings on Shy
lock- he added.
Mr.. hinder cited several instances
in which protests had been effective.
DIR. Cnlisch Emphatic.
Or. Calisch said as long as Jews
had any self respect they should pro-
test with dignity, propriety and en-
phasis. He said the reading of 1.-The
Merchant OF Venice" had been discon-
tnued in the schools of milwaukee,
and Cleveland because of protests
from Jews. DIR. Calisch said Shake
speare wrote in the spirit of 800 years
ago, but more crude than writer's OF
to-day.
The delegates then voted to make a
protest
The salary OF the secretary was in
creased to $500 a year. The treasurer
was voted a salary or ga year. The
dues for the Orphans Home were re-
duced from 81 to $t.56 a year. The
convention voted down a recommen-
tiation that contribution boxes be pfac-
ed in synagogues for the support of
the home, as this was believed to be
unnecessary.