Omaha daily bee., 1915-12-28
,Ra~AA
omA gnt1us>A4ss


IN HE big meeting held at Carnegie hali to in
augurate the 1916 campaign OF the American
Jewish Relief committee for the succor Of Jew
ish victims In all the belgerent countries Of the
world is bound TO be epochal An assemblage whose
collections and subscriptions for such phllanthropc
purpose rolls up colossal total in OF tsOO0oO
at one time and in Response to one appeal, will find
few II any counterparts anywhere. AZ sat on the
stage OF the vice presidents Of the meeting
could look out a of faces. making audience
that filled every available seat in that hal from
bottom TO top. every chair in every box. and hun
dreds were turned away, because here in New York
the police authorities are inexorabe against
crowdng public places and forbid absolutely adms-
sion that would block the asles crowd the Hobbies
I have seldom seen enthusiastic, should per-
haps say spe-bound. concourse OF people, and the
stirring addresses aroused the deepest kind of fervor
The duties Of presiding officer devolved Louis
Marshall the eminent New York lawyer. who ARGUED
court about two years one OF the most eloquent
pleas presented by Dr. william Rosenau,
membered as having been at one time in charge OF
Temple Isreal in Omaha, who came over from Baltl
more, where he Is located, and who explained
that he had deferred his departure a trip to the
southwest in order TO be this exceptional
occasion. Familiar, too, Dr. John II. Finley.
who stopped off" in Omaha only a few months aga
and who a frequent visitor when head OF Knox
college, commissioner Of education Of New York
state, who pictured graphically the duty OF those in
favored peaceful lands to aid afflicted brethren
abroad. and President Jacob Gould schurman OF
Cornell university. more than In Omaha to round
up his scattered Ithacans and lent the influence
OF his great personality to the movement Let me
note in passing that every one OF these men,
speaking TO me, recalled their visits to Omaha and
made inquiry to conditions out there and to
mutual friends.
The climax OF the meeting, however, the
hortation of DR.. J. L. Magnes. whose pathos and
fervor. soul-reaching entreaty and passionate por-
trayal OF the awful conditions besetng the homeless
and helpless Jewish inhabitants of the war zones
lifted his hearers enmasse out of their seats and
started the unique outpouring relief fund contribu
lions. True tho announcement of four 100000 dona
lions had been prearranged, doubtless also few
OF the others in the larger amounts but the most of
the rest was spontaneous. Remember that BILLY"
Sundays whole weeks campaign in Omaha
with all his acrobatic appeals brought in only about
$4,000 compared with this meeting with It's
aggregate Of over $4,000 of which least 800 900
was raised ON the spot. Nor it ali in large
anounts-one contributor sent up half his weeks
earnings" which turned out to be $780, and another
worker empted his pocket OF SlO5 and retained
only the 8 cents to have fare to ride home.
sitting wrote out three pledges in sue
cession tearing up one at time. while he increased
the figures in the next. And quote a number made
their contributions for much a month long as
the relief work might continue. Everything
rtous and Observation-Disclosures applause greeted the
reading of tho pledges signed by well known names
or representing unusual sacrifices by the donors.
observe In the New York Times of yesterday
facetious editorial the celebration plans for the
coming Nebraska semi-centennial Of statehood in
which my name and that editor of ''our ANITA
BILE democratic contemporary coupled 'un-
frienda OF Nebraskas adopted and formerly
son." in humorous effort TO rub II in the
sion OF Colonel Bryan from the themes OF the pro-
posed historic pageant OF that is misnomer
speaking only for mysef-for have never so far
known ceased to have friendly personal relations
with Mr. Bryan. exchanging oourtesies even while
engaged In incorporating political hostites. The
Times editor probably meant what he said TO be
taken example OF political humer but ne ought
to be advised he does not already know. that the
Nebraska seni-centennia will be big enough to In
clude everyone who has helped write the history OF
the state and that political differences no
part
I spent evening at the Republican club CT
York which made wish that similar organiza-
ton might be maintained In every large population
cener-but unfortunately It cannot 1t the gather
ing place for the active OF the party. think
nearly all Of whom met said they had met me OF
| me at Chicago. and they all expect TO attend
the coming national convention. which is to be
gathering Of all the clans that ever marched under
/ the republican banner.
New York City.