The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-04-22
JEWS IN AMERICA
ARE IN EARNEST
WANT TREATY OF 1888 WITH
RUSSIA ADVOCATED BE-
CAUSE OF pIscRIM-
NATION.

The Jews of the United States, and
together i'm common effort TO have
the treaty between the United States
and Russia of 1888 abrogated. They
claim that Russia discrlminates
against Jews inasmuch as the kingdom
Of the czar refuses to, respect passports
issued by the United States when
these passports are borne by Jews.
The Jewish Independent of Cleveland
with an article stating that the fed
eral courts win be appealed to i'm the
case of the refusal of Russia to honor
a passport issued to Rabbi Jasin and
vised by the United States.
The article from the Jewish Inde-
pendent of Cleveland is as follows:
Formal demand was made on Pres
ident Taft today to have Russia stop
its discrimination against American
citizens of Jewish faith. He was noti-
fed that IL he and the State Depart
ment do not act at once to compile
Russia to recognize passports issued
to American citizens without regard
to their religious belief the federal
courts will be appealed to.
The demand was made by Attorney
Nicholas Klein of Cincinnati. In or
der to make a test case that would
be effective he has cited the refusal
of the Russian consul i'm this city to
wise the passport issued to Rabbi JOS
eph Jasin of Niagara Falls. The lat
ter who was former secretary of the
Federation OF American Zionists and
at present vice president of that body.
member of the executive committee of
the Sons of Zion, and a governor of
the American Civic Alliance, is to be
backed in his proceedings by every
Jewish organization i'm the United
States.
'In the formal letter sent to the
president II is stated that Rabbi Jas
was presented to the Russian consul
i'm New York yesterday and he re-
fused to recognize it for travel through
Russia because il had been issued to
a Jew, Klein then says:
1.-The policy adopted by the Russian
government toward jewish citizens of
this country. because of their religious
belief. is repugnant to our constitu-
tional duty, which affords them, In ev-
cry possible way, equal protection and
privileges. 1t is a national disgrace
that a foreign officer should be locat-
o1
ed States and there apply the religious
test to any of our citizens: this Is i'm
Itself an impairment of his rights as
an American citizen and a derogation
of the certificate of our government as
to the fact Of his citizenship. 1t is
not constitutionally within the power
of the United States to apply a relig-
ious test, lin qualification of the equal
rights of all citizens of the United
States. We are fully aware that the
enactments of a state toward its own
subjects are not generally regarded a
tit matter for the intervention of any
Independent power; but when such
enactments truly affect the liberty and
property of good citizens under the
supposed guarantee of treaties framed
for the purpose of the most liberal
ends, it is time for our executive to
act.
ct am fully convinced that IL is
your duty as the chief executive of this
nation to protect my client in the en-
joyment of his rights under the treaty
with Russia proclaimed May II, 1888;
and. proceeding upon this conviction,
am prepared to take every possible
step to hold the executive department
of the government to the full perform
ance of duty which is so obvious and
important
Declaring that Russia's refusal to
respect passports vised by the United
States when they are borne by Jews
constitutes a discrimination against re-