Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-01-11
'IgWISH NATIONAL
LOAN REGARDED
As A VITAL NEED
romer Member of Russian
Duma Says Extinction as
Entity Threatens His Peo-
Ole as Result of War.

,,orsI loan TO save the Jewish ma
N. vas advocated this morning in a
"a ..ble interview by Or. Shmaryahu
former member of the Russian
,ow in this country. Doctor
ia Of the opinion that unless some
u u.dlate steps are taken to save the
az a nation, this war will wipe him
sss sss e
" know that my proposition is not a
- one Some will look upon 1t in
fn....,t,v and others will oppose It em-
ss.ucally. some will even argue that 1t
& tmposslblity. We have many who
,,or n, guard lest modern thought
~ our Jewish conservative world.
eng g :, us look the truth suuarely in the
let MS not be frightened by It,
rs. Jewish world has been destroyed by
,tls war. Already there have come to
y. thousands of widows and orphans. The
lavish rich have ceased to be rich' par
s,..,srIv IN Poland and in Galicia. 1t
uss uuo,a 40 estimate that at least 100000
-. nave heen ruined. The other 100000
!. pnssia and in Austria were also hard
D..,,cF by the war. This Is our total at
~. o,d NJ the first six months. What
..,l, . hs later is still difficult to predict.
.s1-hn economic condition of the Jews In
,,..s above mentioned countries was
~. ~. arm, even when at their best. A
~, ~, nnrtion of them lived by what we
~, almost term miracles. ForN today
.na,. .ay bad bread; for tomorrow-a fond
sons And very often this hope had to
.rrsase the hunger. Now both the bread
snd the hope are gone.
aThe more fortunate in the war zone
- exertInz all their efforts to help their
hretbren. But when we, take into con-
.assratlon the little that was done we
must conclude that 1t is a mere drop III
the ocean.
aoss not consist of its wealth. but of the
~, That Il Is sole master of its future.
when catastrophe occurs the nation
~, nawn n part of this asset, n por-
,,cr of its future-they call 1t loan.
sT know that we as a nation do not
rosssss The requirements for such loan.
Arr nation has nothing to pawn, because
Il has no real national asset. / fully ap-
r,ecate the depth of our tragedy. Other
r.t,ons do not have many individuals
sror, whom to make large loans, but the
rs,Ior ner Sc has a definite credit With
~ n Is the reverse. We have individuals
whose credit Is good in the millions. AS
nation. however our credit would be
M That is the fundamental difference
h.tween an organized national entity and
one that is not organized. The unor-
nnIzed distributes its power among the
Individuals.
"And, while am aware of all this,
stl make bold to offer my proposition:
IA Il not possible to make loan and
thus save the Jewish nation from ex-
tinction? We cannot make 1t in the name
OF our people as n whole, but we can
make II in the name Of the various
examinations which are legally recog-
nized and have a guaranteed income.
aIf all these organizations would float
4 substantial loan. say for 20 or 30 years,
they could get real capital and thus save
thousands and hundreds of thousands
from sure ruin. This may be heroic
means, but let us not forget that this Is
great catastrophe, and can only be met
by heroic methods.
'The plan seems as difficult as 1t Is
model, and yet it could be worked out.
II we can save the bulk of the Jews In
these war-infected countries, We can still
have hope for the future of the Jew;
otherwise It looks very dark ana
gloomy"
Doctor Levin was the principal speaker
yesterday In the National Theatre 10Th
and Callowhill streets, where $4,000 were
raised for the Jewish sufferers In the
war zone.
While in the city Doctor Levin was the
guest of DR.. BENJAMIN l.. Gordon, Broad
and Mlfflin streets. He left this morning
to address another meeting in Boston.