The Washington herald., 1911-02-23

| the discrimination against the Hebrews
and called attention to the fact that re-
peated representations by this country to
have such state of affairs changed had
been met with indifference on the part of
Russia
| My resolution contains no Ifs and
ands, said Mr.. Parsons, "but says the
treaty with Russia should be ter
minated"
The New York representative intimated
strongly that since Russia, from 1867
down to the present day, had been given
every opportunity to set matters right,
1t was up to Congress to take the view
that the patience of this country was
exhausted
Campaign to Be Pushed.
1t grew apparent from the develop
ments in Congress yesterday that the
campaign leading up to calling Russia
to account which was recently started
by the several prominent Jewish or
ganizations OF this country, and which
was broached to President Taft in a
conference he held with leading He
brews last week, is to be pushed to the
limit in the closing days OF the session
Led by Representatives Goldfogle. Har-
rison. Parsons, and Sulzer, of New York,
delegation has undertaken to force
the issue Messrs. Harrison, Goldfogle,
and SulZer appeared before the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs at its meeting
yesterday and urged a favorable report
on the Parsons resolution. Representa-
tive Harrison, in citing the hatred of
the Jews in Russia and its effect on
American citizens of that religion who
desire to travel there, mentioned the
fact that former Ambassador Straus
obtained a passport to Russia not long
ago, and probably realizing Russias
dislike for his race, never availed him
self OF it.
Representative Goldfogle told the
committee that repeated attempts had
been made to obtain relaxation of
Russia's disbarment OF the Jews. but
nothing ever came of them He said
the time had now arrived for the
United States to act
Representative Sulzer paid a high COM
pliment to the Jewish citizens of the
United States and said that their honor
could not be impeached- He urged the
committee 10 give the House an oppOr-
tunity to express its views as to the
discrimination against them practiced by
Russia
Cites Diplomatic Correspondence.
In answer to several questions directed
by House members during general de-
bate as to whether the State Department
had ever been successful in any of its
negotiations with the Russian govern
ment as to the admission of American
Jews. Representative Parsons cited ex-
tracts of diplomatic correspondence car
ried on by various Secretaries of State
for the last forty-fve years.
I'VE have talked, We have passed reso-
lutions, we have had diplomatic cor
respondenCe,'' said Mr.. Parsons. Moth
ing has been accomplished. The Ameri-
can Jew desiring to enter Russia to-day
must apply to have his passport visaed
by the Russian consul or some repre-
sentative. Russia having authority in the
matter. One of the questions asked him
is, What is your religion? II he says
he IS a Jew, for one reason or another
which may be given, he does not get
his passport Visaed.''
Whether by termira ting this treaty
we will soon get a new treaty which will
in terms prevent Russia from so disCrim-
mating, l know not, but believe that we
owe it to this fundamental principle of
religious liberation, of the equality of all
American citizens before the law, with
out regard to their religious belief. to
terminate a treaty a part of which is used
as authority for discriminating against
religious belief.
Prejudice Against jews
I'VE have rid ourselves OF many forms
of persecution. We no longer burn
witches We no longer have slavery.
But we do have. as one of the foulest
blots upon our civilization, a prejudice
against the Jews, virulent in some Euro
pean countries at all times. and particu-
70,
has never expressed itself here in the
form of persecution. On the contrary.
whenever persecution has occurred in for
eign countries we have protested and eX
tended our SympathieS to the unfortunate
victims We have certain advantages.
This anti-Semetic feeling is sometimes
claimed to be based upon religion; but
here all religions are free. Sometimes it
is claimed to be based upon race; but
here We have people of many races
sometimes ii is claimed that it is jus
tifiable for economic reasons, but here
we still have a country of great posi-
blities. Sometimes in European Coun-
tries it is based upon the principle of
nationalism, on the claim that the Jews
do not assimilate with the other people
of the country. But here we have had
the Jews since 1865, when the first colony
settled in the city of New York, and no
people have more right to feel them
selves Americans, to feel what it means
to live in a land of liberty, than have
the descendants of those Portuguese
Jews who, exiled from Europe and South
America, even, landed in New York 246
years ago.
Become Patriotic Citizens.
And it is a well-known fact that Jews
on coming to America invariably become
patriotic citizens. Statistics show that
in every war that we have had the Jews
have done more than their share in fur
nishing soldiers for the war.
I'm every fight for good citizenship
they have done their full share. and in
the way of philanthropy they have done
their full share. Therefore, we, as the
Representatives of the great republic,
have the duty imposed upon US Of stand
ing up against the prejudices that exist
in other countries. and here is a case
where, because of discrimination that is
made against American citizens, as
should all the more insist upon the abro
CATION of the treaty, we should insist
that all American citizens are equal be-
fore the law. and place our stamp of
disapproval upon the anti-Semetic feeling
that exists in other countries"