New-York tribune., 1911-11-19
IN HAMMOND'S DEFENCE
Secretary Tells How He Has Al
ways Befriended Jews.
scHlFF'S REMARKS UNFAIR
Senator o'Gorman Thinks Banker
Would Not Have Made His
Statements Lightly"

Jacob n sohin had no reply 70 make
vstterdsy 70 the statement Of John Hays
Hammond. in answer TO his charge that Mr..
Hammond had been employed by Russia 10
do certain work because Of the influence
he had on President Taft" but Mr.. Ham
r7ond's secretary. James Douglas Campbell,
came cIt with a further defence OF Mr..
Hammond.
with reference 20 the remarks made by
Mr. Jacob II. Schif." said Mr.. Campbell. ''in
20 far as they refer TO any prejudices which
Mr. Hammond may be supposed to have
against the Jewish race, they are most un-
fair and uncaled for. I wish TO state on
my own behalf and OF my own positive
knowledge that Mr.. Hammond has count
less friends the world over who are Jews.
he has never at any time evinced any
prejudice against the Jews on account OF
their race.
"On the other hand. Mr. Hammond has
always subscribed most willingly and most
literally 70 Jewish charities when requested
10 do so by his numerous Jewish friends.
Furthermore. when subscribing large sums
Of money TO various other charities in
which he is interested 1t has always been
with the idea that the benefit to be derived
from such subscriptions would be enjoyed
without racial distinction
81 MIR Schiff was not without his supporters
also. Edward Lauterbach. while saying
that he did not know a great deal about
the merits OF the controversy. continued:
'I believe whatever Mr. Schiff said. II
is well known that Mr.. Hammond has been
very intimate with the representatives OF
the Russian government. Mr.. Schiff is
very earnest in his endeavors to ameliorate
the conditions Of the unfortunate Jews.
both in Russia and after they come here.
As for Mr Schin's doing more than any
other man 10 accentuate the troubles of
the Jews. II doing everything ne can 10
help the Jews accentuates their troubles.
then the charge is true. but not otherwise
The Russian question has come up con-
stsntlv since 1881. and no one could be
blind enough not 10 know that it was and
Is vital question
Isaac y. Seligman VINO was present at
the meeting in Senator OGormans Office on
I'ridav when Mr. Schiff made his charges
against Mr. Hammond, deplored the con-
t~oversy The trouble between Mr.. Schiff
and Mr. Hammond is most unfortunate. "
hC said. particularly i'm a matter Of this
kind. prefer not 10 talk about it. I am
not veil enough Informed.
II met Mr.. Wilenken only once. and that
was four or five years ago" he continued.
Mr. Strsus. Mr Schiff and myself CON
fsrred with him at Portsmouth. At that
time nothing was mentioned except the
passport question The proposition of our
financing any business in Russia or Of es-
tsbHshing Russian interests in this coun-
Try did not come Up 7 was never ap-
preached nv Mr VHenken or any one else
on the subject Of investments in Russia,
and Mr.. Schiff never considered such a
subject seriously"
Senator O'Gorman laughed when he read
Nr Hammoud's statement. That's pretty
vigorous language" he said. but believe
that Mr. Schinr would not have made his
statement Of Yesterday lightly. He prob
ably has looked into the facts Of the case -
Discussing the resolution in Congress for
f-e abrosation Of the treaty OF 1892 with
Russia. Senator O'Gorman said: Il will
support the resolution now before the SEN
ate unless Russia takes immediate steps
10 rectifv or change conditions irrecon-
Cilahle with the rights Of American Citi-
zens The difficulty is that Russia refuses
20 wise passports for religious reasons, and
not on political grounds. Mr. schiffs con-
tentiou Is that the business interests In
Russia are partly % blame for the present
conditions"