New-York tribune., 1911-11-28
JEWISH FARMERS MEET
J. H. SChiff and |. Straus Urge a
Return to the Soil.
MAYOR SENDS A LETTER
East Side Folk Show Deep Inter
est in Movement to Solve
Congestion Problem.

The clarion call Of return 10 the land"
YES sounded last night at the public ses-
son of the Federation of Jewish Farmers
OF America, held in the auditorium Of the
Educational Alliance. at No 1877 East
Broadway. Jacob II. Schi1. Isdor Straus
and other speakers praised the growing
tendency among the Jews 10 become farm
cIs. and offered every possible encourage
m,nt 20 those who felt an inclination to
leave the city and 10 look 10 the soil for a
living.
The delegates 10 the convention were
drowned in the mass Of East Siders who
had come 20 hear about success in farm
ing. and heartily though they laughed over
tho anecdotc related by Samuel Helm, the
president Of the federation. that a Jewish
farmer expected crackers to grow from the
soil. there seemed 10 be some disappoint-
ment over the emphasis that was laid by
every speaker on the fact that success in
farming could be achieved by hard work
only.
Isidor Straus was chairman OF the meet
ing He said that the country needed n
large immigration, but that the problem
was 10 disperse properly the incoming
masses. II il were possible. he said. to
scatter the Immigrants through al those
sections Of the land where they were
needed. the CRY for a restriction Of immi-
grafton woIid cease.
Nothing can be more encouraging than
the steady progress agriculture is making
among the Jewish people Of the United
States SAID Jacob H. Schif who was
received with much applause. After al,
this means only a return TO their old oc-
,upauon The dispersion Of the Jewish
people among the nations Of the world,
the loss Of their homes and constant per
secuuor made it impossible for them to
pursue an occupation that depended upon
stability.
In this free land this condition is Of
i,red again The Jew is not 10y origin or
caoicc a trader. a money lender, or even
- merchant He is a tiller Of the soil.
And you are returning 10 the soil Every
praise and every encouragement is due
20 you."
Mayor Gaynor was unable TO attend. and
sent letter of regret. which was read by
1r. sraus. Mayor Gaynor wrote:
z regret that l am not able 10 be present
a. Eour meeting. Its object is 10 encourage
the Jews TO become farmers instead of
or0wding together in cities.
We have here in this city large number
Of Jews. zen thousand II may be- engaged
iu rcdEng. principally from puShcarts. II
UouIG be a great blessing to them II they
could he removed from the city 10 farms.
They certainly could not have harder
time TO make a. living as farmers than tney
iag. now on the contrary. they could
make good lviuge az farmers. There is no
reason why the Jews should not be farm
ers Originally. and for thousands Of yeays.
tr. jewish race was given almost eNclu-
s...Iy 10 agriculture.
everything should be done TO induce the
Jews rO return 10 agriculture. Inc reasons
why they ceased 20 be agriculturists in the
-hristiau world are very we'll known. [
reed not repeat them here. trust your
meeting viii be Of great beneht.
About two-thlrds Of the expected 80 dele
gates met In the Educational Alliance build
..c when the convention was called 10 order
,.s.erday morning by President samuel
If.iu. Of Nassau. y. Y Miss Henrietta
Nsruer of Piuebrook. y. j., real woman
farmer. was regularly accredited delegate
.-d two Other women are expected later
r-1m Rockville, Conn.
secretary T. W Pincus reported an in
crease " more than five hundred names
u the last year. making the total nearly
$40 one Of the matters TO be discussed
.- the means Of financing a cooperative
market in this CITY for garden and dairy
produce. Another is the establishment of a
mortuarv fund. The purchasing bureau
did 10000 business last year in ma
cbinerv. seed and fertilizer. saving the
members about 5000. they say.