Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1911-12-16
DENOUNCES MOVEMENT AGAINST
RUSSIA AS ILL.ADVISED.

A number of the most prominent
Jewish citizens of the country, backed
by several leading Jewish societies,
and supported, as we'll, by many not of
that faith, are making herculean eff
forts to force the abrogation of the
treaty with Russia unless that country
permits Jewish citizens of this coun-
try, armed with proper passports, to
enter and travel in Russia. The Rus
sian government has HERETOFORE declin-
ed to accede to this on the ground that
it excludes Jews from European cOun-
tries and cannot discriminate in favor
of the United States.
The question is apt to come up in
Congress soon, where there will be
some soul-stirring speeches on the
subject. Naturally it is not unmixed
with national politics at this time. The
Jewish vote can throw New York
state, and several other states, to one
party or the other, in the event that it
is consolidated on onel inc. AS a
consequence Republican and Demo
cratic orators will vie with each
other in denunciations of Russia on
the floors of the House and Senate and
clamor for the repeal of the treaty
of commerce unless Russia accedes 20
Uncle Sans demands
All is not concord in Jewish circles,
though. as to the wisdom of the pres
ent move. The Daily Jewish Courier,
of Chicago, for instance, one of the
leading Western journals Of the Jew
ISL people, denounces the movement
as untimeIy and ill-advised 1t closes
long article in opposition to the
movement as follows:
"The obstinate determination Of sew
eral of our leaders to abrogate the
treaty of 1892, regardless of the con-
sequences, and bringing to bear the
presence Of an inspired Jewish public
opinion. particularly at tbs time, the
eve VI d cam jdlSI, II ms W SCAA ' nv
the present administration that the
Jewish masses will take this into
at the next presidential
election; this is more than a crime.
The only consolation we can derive
from this is that the President is much
better acquainted with the wishes of
he masses than are those who claim
that they are the leaders of the peo-
pie. President Taft has shown in the
two and one-half years of his incum-
bency that he is too broad to be taken
in nand by any fraction of the people
to be used as a shuttlecOCk in their
particular game. He is the President,
elected by the people, for the people.
He represents the masses as they are,
not as some one might wish them to
be; and in this matter he knows also
that that portion of the people most
interested that is. the millions of
Russian Jews will be viii him, not to
abrogate the treaty of 1882, under
any circumstances.
The President knows the desire of
the American public to settle the
passport question in favor of the
United States. Mr.. Taft with his clear
understanding, his great diplomatic
ability, his keenness in reaching log
ical conclusions, will certainly sue
coed in having Russia recognize Am
erican passports, irrespective of re-
ligious or social distinction, but we
hope that under no circumstances
will he avail himself of the weapon OF
an ultimatum abrogating the treaty
with Russia. He will not involve the
negotiations in this question with
threat to recall the Ambassador. The
t~eaty with Russ must remain in
force. Should the treaty be broken
b, Russia, even to the extent of not
permitting any American Jews 20
enter Russia, it must still be held
inviolate on the part of the United
Staes, in order hat Russian Jews may
be permitted to enter the United
States. This point is most of
us, and we mus devote all our Ell
forts to prevent losing this advant-
age, and the more the Jewish public
consider the question from this point
of view the greater will be their graf
itude to President Taft for not per-
himself to be intimidated by
our leaders,