Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-04-11

TO this country to report to the department OF
agriculture the results of experiments in the
development for Industrial purposes OF the grow
Ing of-"wild wheat" which Is found In prof1sion
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
It was directly through the discovery by DIR.
Aaronsohn of Wild wheat that the Jewish agri.
cultural experiment station In Palestine
founded. He born and brought up In that
country, the of a native farmer, and after
receiving medical education he came to this
country to what reception he would have for
his theories that the cultivation and adoption of
the wheat for commercial purposes would tend
to cheaper foodstaffs and render disable many
arid districts in the west where nothing could
grow before. He fayorabiy received by the
federal agricultural authorities and his trip
met the men who ultimately united to form the
station of which he is now the head. Julius
RosenWaid OF Chicago is president of the board
of directors of the station and members of 1t are
Oscar Straus, Paul M. Warburg. Isaac N. Selig-
man and Jacob H. SchR The late Iador Stratus
was also affiliated with the organization, and
is Nathan Straus.
With plan for the Industrial betterment of
Palestine and Its inhabitants under way. natural
iy 1t became necessary to do something for the
physical alienation of the people themselves
since It had been found that healthy men To do
the work were an indispensable requirement.
The rate of mortality In the country very
high and the general health of SO low standard
that 1t soon became evident that something must
be done to improve conditions II the agricultural
| movement to be success.
At the time this need became most evident
something more than year ago. Nathan Stratus
was In Palestine on a pleasure trip. He ap
pealed to- but at first declined to do anything In
that country as he thought his first duty. from
a humanitarian standpoint. TO the poor and
the suffering of the United States He consent
ed however, to Investigate the situation person
ally and soon became impressed with the con.
ditfons that he assured those who had made the
appeal that he would do all in his power to
! lieye them and would also solicit the aid Of his
numerous friends. Since then his efforts have
been unremitting and such improvements have
been introduced that Palestine In general and
! Jerusalem i'm particular have become modernized
i from a hygienic point of view to extent that
was not dreamed OF few years ago.
1t vas not only because of his personal espe-
rienee that Mr. Ssraus determined 10 lend his aid
in Palestine He believes that all members of
the Jewish race a peculiar duty and obliga-
/ ton to that country and that wherever feasible
no effort should be spared TO ciyitize and bring
/ It to a position where # will bear comparison
with anT other community in the civilized world
No sooner had Mr. straus with his own
ewes the ptifui and squaIid conditions In Paiea-
tine that so sadly needed relief than he. with
the decision and generosity characteristic OF him.
took immediate steps 70 correct them With the