New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-08
WAR SILENCE KILLS
WIVES OF SOLDIERS
Reform Rabbls Hear Gen.
sorship Blamed for
Many Suicides.
MEYER LONDON IN
ATTACK ON RELIGION
Socialist Tells Rabbis Why
Christian World Doesn't
Denounce the War.

Moved by story Of countless self
slain women, told By Mrs. Rosika
Schwimmer, secretary Of the Interna-
tionsl Council OF Equal Suffrage, the
Joint session Of the Eastern Council OF
Reform Rabbits and the New York sec
ton of the Council of Jewish Women
yesterday afternoon adopted resolutions
calling on American churches to de-
mand immediate action by the United
States toward an armistice in the
European war. The council assembled
in Temple Emanuel
"The tragedy OF silence" said Mrs.
Schwimmer, 'is killing the women of
Europe. Suicides in Austria in par
ticular are occurring by the thousand
daily. The newspapers give little or
no news. Letters may be written TO
those in the battle line, but they may
not be addressed. Wives do not know
whether husbands are alive or dead
where they are or whether i'll or we'll.
No wonder insanity comes to their re-
lief. The condition obtains throughout
Europe, save, perhaps. in England. II
is worst in Austria, in Poland and in
Servia.
Il ask whether, if the war cannot be
stopped, censorship cannot be ended
and women told where their husbands
are and whether they are alive or dead.
Anything is better than the awful
tragedy OF silence. IL is killing the
best women in the world. women with
out whom there cannot be a new Eu-
rope. Talk of the suffering in Bel
gium It is awful there. But in
Galicia and Austria is far worse sug-
fering because Of this silence"
Meyer London, Socialist Representa-
tive-elect, told a gathering of the
Eastern Council of Reform Rabbis.
what he thought of religion last night
at the Temple Israel, in Harlem. At
the outset Mr.. London said that he
intended being very frank and would
be more so if he were addressing the
rabbis alone. Religion draws its in
spiration from the ignorance Of man
kind" he said.
Religion stood for the feudal sys-
TEN. Religion has ever upheld the rul-
ing classes. II has preached humility
and charity, and of all forms of hy
pocrisy charity is the worst II recog-
nizes two classes OF society. In sup
porting the interests of the govern
ment, where such interests are at
variance with those of the great mass
of the people, religion conflicts with
socialism.
This is why the Christian world
does not collectively denounce the war.
There is not a minister of the Gospel
in Germany who would dare to stand
up and denounce militarism. None
would dare say to the monarchs we
want no war. Il is contrary to our
teachings And yet the best Of our
Social Democrats in Germany have
been thrown into Jail for protesting
against militarism.
Mr.. London then turned his atten-
ton to the variance between the teach
ings of religion and so-called econ
omic interests" He said that while re-
ligiOn taught that there should be one
holy day in the week, economic inter
ests reckon on getting more out of a
man by working him seven days.
But" he continued, 81 say that
the employer who takes a child and
chains him 70 a machine until he weak
ems and dies, is guilty of murder He
has broken the commandment, Thou
shalt not kill And if he does not kill,
he steals the life and health of the
being within his power. Thou shalt
not steal does not apply only to cases
for Special Sessions.