Evening star., 1911-06-05
Mr.. TAFT DIRECTS ACTION
Officer Charged With Insulting
Soldier of Jewish Parentage.
NATIONAL IDEALS VIOLATED
Adverse Endorsement on Private
Blooms Application Indicative
Of Race Prejudice.


acting under orders from President Taft,
for insulting young soldier of Jewish
parentage." The correspondence in the
case is as follows. beginning with the an
nouncement of the reprimand issued from
the White House today:
The President directs the Secretary Of
War to inform Col Garrard that his at
titude in this matter is strongly disap-
ciples of this country.
Col. Garrard has been told that he had
not the moral right to exert influence in
his official position to bar the advance
ment Of courageous and efficient young
man simply because that man was of
Jewish race; that such procedure midi
Gates not only prejudice that should not
be found in an officer of his position and
experience, but amounts to a failure to
Justly and fairly consider the merits and
claims Of the applicant as shown by his
efficient service and excellent standing In
the mental examinations.
Col. Garrard has been admonished to
avoid a repetition of the action taken in
this case"
Simon VOLTS Complaint.
ITO the President: I am well aware
that you are very busy man, and that
as a patriotic citizen and loyal friend l
ought not in any way annoy or worry
you. But circumstances over which 1
have no control compel me to bring to
your especial notice a matter that in
wolves the fundamental principles of our
institutions and the integrity of our gov
ernment.
Some years ago Chaplain Pierce, then
post chaplain at Fort Myer, asked me to
to West Point Of a young man by the
name of Frank Bloom President ROOse-
welt, unfortunately. could not grant his
request but told him to enlist, and like a
true American. fight his way up for pro-
motion from the ranks. The young man
took the advice and entered the army,
has an excellent record and recently was
examined for promotion. On the papers
the officer commanding Fort Myer, Col.
Garrard. made the following Endorsement:
The applicant is a son of Mr.. Joseph
A. Bloom, OF Jewish persuasion. who is
now. and has been for number Of
years. a tailor at this post His asso-
ciates, as far as / know, and those of
his family have been with enlisted men
and their families and have been respect
able. The young man is undoubtedly
honest and upright, ambitious and prob
ably deserving. but for the reasons stat
ed l would not desire him in my COM
mand as an officer and social and per-
sonal associate. The presence of the
applicants family at a military post
would be subservice Of discipline and
their probable treatment a source Of
modification to them and frequent cause
of trouble to commanding officers. From
an experience OF many years l have
found, except in few cases, few COM
munities where Jews are received as de-
sir able social associates which explains
itself.
1.-The Endorsement was brought to me
by the mother of the young soldier, who
is now doing his duty on the Mexican
frontier. He is a private in Battery F
Of the Sd Field Artillery.
Mother Asks Fair Treatment.
"Since Mrs. Bloom has called to see me-
asking my good Offices. l have received
the following letter from her:
"I called on you the other day (Wed-
nesday) in regard to an injustice to my
son. Private Frank Bloom. a citizen OF
American birth. who is a member OF
Battery F. Sd Field Artillery.
81 have acquainted you with the facts:
the fact of a recommendation being given
by an officer. in which, it seems that the
only objection which that officer holds
against my son being an officer is that he
is of Jewish parentage, and for that
reason Objectionable as a fellow officer
and associate.
In our conversation 1 told you the
injustice connected with the case: the
great wrong being done to the Jews, their
being Stunned. as 1t were. by their fel-
low human beings. But l did not tell
IL spent good. hard money to give my
boy an education to prepare him to make
his mark-in the world. We, his parents.
consented. advocated and indorsed his
entering the army; we wanted him to
serve his country In the capacity of an
officer.
"' My object is not one Of revenge: not
one of spite: to punish a man, who Is
guilty of a gross wrong done to his fell
low human beings, the Jews. No. want
to be given a chance to make his mark,
as others of his race have made before
him:
support to me as he was before he en-
tered the army, and 1t Is to him that /
look for comfort and happiness in my old
days.
"'To be brief. 1 will hastily go over my
September 1. We. his parents. are posi-
| tive that this Endorsement was the only
thing that prevented my son being eligi-
BILE to take the final examination. We
would like to have him get permission to
take the Anal examination. which he
surely deserves. in view of the fact that
the time for preparation is being short
ened day by day. He should be allowed
| to hve not to be dOwntrodden for the
simple fact that he is q Jew.
"'If IL cannot be that he may get his
| final examination in September then 1t Is
| my request that he be honorably dis
| charged from the army by favo-. so that
| he may pursue another course, so as to
prepare himself for hfe's work Either
| he shall be allowed to take the final ex-
animation this September. or that he be
discharged.
OF hope. honorable sir. that You will
understand my views entirely. so that you
can act accordingly In 80 serious a case
"'Any action that you may take in
this matter would not only be of great
service and OF great favor to me. but II
| would be Of service in stopping antag-
onistic action toward our race.
assuring you of my heartfelt ap-
probation and thanks for your noble in.
| terest In our trouble. and trusting that
/ we will obtain our aims. beg to remain
yours very respectfully,
| "'(Signed ELIZABETH BLOOM
(which also explains Itself
| Punishment Asked.
| 'It would certainly show gross IL.
norance on my part were for q mo-
ment to suppose that you would stant
for any such Endorsement or the conse
auences Of such indogsemsnt. Tor 4 goss