The Raymer enterprise., 1913-04-03

10 this country to report to the department OF
agriculture on the results OF experiments in the
development for industrial pusSoses Of tbs grow.
ing OF wild wheat which Is found In Ipiofusion
In the farming sections Of his native country
Since he has been here he has made an extended
trip through California, Arizona and Texas at the
request OF the agricultural department to intro.
duce and direct experiments with the wheat In
those states
II was directly through the discovery by DR..
Aaronsohn of wild wheat that the Jewish agri
cultural experiment station in Palestine was
founded He was born and brought up In that
country, the son OF native farmer and alter
receiving a medical education he came to this
country to see what reception he would have for
his theories that the cultivation and adoption OF
the wheat for commercial purposes would tend
to cheaper foodstuffs and render usable many
arid districts in the west where nothing could
grow before. He was fayorably received by the
federal agricultural authorities and on his trip
met the men who ultimately united to form the
station OF which he is now the head. julius
Rosenwald of Chicago Is president OF the board
OF directors OF the station and members OF 1t are
Oscar Straus Paul NJ. Warburg Isaac n. Selig.
man and Jacob II. Schif. The late Isidor Straus
was also affiliated with the organization, and SO
is Nathan Straus
With a plan for the industrial betterment Of
Palestine and its inhabitants under way natural
ly 1t became necessary to do something for the
physical alienation of the people themselves.
since 1t had been found that healthy men to do
the work were an indispensable requirement.
The rate OF mortality in the country was very
high and the general health OF so low standard
that It soon became evident that something must
be done to improve conditions II the agricultural
movement was to be a success.
At the time this need became most evident.
something more than year ago. Nathan Straus
was In Palestine on a pleasure trip. He was ap.
pealed to, but at first declined to do anything in
that country. as he thought his first duty. from
a humanitarian standpoint, was to the poor and
the suffering OF the United States. He consent.
ed, however. to investigate the situation person.
ally and soon became SO impressed with the con.
dtlons that he assured those who had made the
appeal that he would do all In his power to re.
lieve them and would also solicit the aid Of mis-
numerous friends. Since then his efforts have
been unremitting and such improvements have
been introduced that Palestine in general and
Jerusalem In particular have become modernized
from hygienic point Of view TO an extent that
was not dreamed Of few years ago.
It was not only because Of his personal expe.
rience that Mr.. Straus determined to lend his aid
In Palestine. He believes that all members Of
the Jewish race owe a peculiar duty and obliga.
ton to that country and that wherever feasible
no effort should be spared to clvze and bring
II to position where It will bear comparison
with any other community In the civilized world.
No sooner had Mr.. straus seen with his own
eyes the ptiful and squalid conditions In Pales.
tine that 80 sadly needed relief than he. with
the decision and generosity characteristic Of him.
took immediate steps to correct them With the