The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-11
SCHIFF BIDS JEWS
TO Be AMERICANS
Opposes Il Jewish Congress in
the United States as
Reasonable.

Jacob H.. SchiT. chairman OF the
American Jewish Committee. In "A state
ment issued yesterday to the WGrhcit,
strongly opposes a Jewish congress as
reasonable and un-American.
There Is no room in the United states
.or any other congress except the United
States Congress- he says. "The ques-
ton OF a Jewish congress. which has
been raised by the Zionists ,this can
not b.. denied). who would like to segre-
gate the Jews of America into a sepa-
rate class, will eventually arouse the
suspicion NJ the American people against
the Jewish population"
Mr.. Schin says IL Is necessary that the
Jews OF the United States should unite
10 help their brethren Ia Europe. but ne
insists that a congress is not necessary
for that purpo@e and that IA congress
1! Il is called will probably bring MOTH
ing except the possible loss Of the re-
spcct and good will OF the American reo-
pie. He suggests instead OF a congress
with national tendencies that an Ameri'
can Jewish convention he called.
The statement of Nj Schin II by wa!
OF a reply TO an opposition t. the Ainer!-
can committee led by Justice Leon Saun-
lthTs hdlo ~ 49,
succeeded In passing the congress plan
over the objections OF the committee on
tha ground that II IL not sufficiently rep
resentatiye 10 care for all the interests
OF IN. American Jews. The inedlat
cause for the statement at this time by
Mr.. Schif Is not mentioned.
The statement In part folloWs'
..The United States as "A nation 10 no"
I'm It's infancy one can hardly SPEAK OF
an American nation as yet. Inc hhimr'
Of peonle in the United states who's par
ents have been in tins country three'
four. ave or six generations is quite
small. and an American nation VIII ho,
exist until the future generations OF
those VINO arrived here during the last
century shall have been a"malganla:cd
.It is. therefore, the first duty OF all
,hose who come to the shores of America
10 make every effort to absorb as far as
nossible American ideals ana customs
and thereby help to make a perfect
American stock. Only in this way can
| we hope to have in due time a real
American nation and a true American
civilization. ,,. ,.,o
bean ,oujng 10 the United states IN
,,rye numbers. The Jew has sought and
fo,pd in this country what ne could nor
ge, i'm Europe, namely. freedom ana All
c,v,, rights. Is it not. therefore. tne nrs'
duty OF the Jew TO help build up Ameri-
can national life. together with all VINO
reall, love our country .
With regard to his stand against u
s,a and The prospect Of obtaining ma
tionnl rights for Jews in Russia MI
SchiN says: .h,, 1,
81 want to impress upon people thht "
1, nv sincere conviction that the jews
h,,e pothinp TO expect from the RUSSIAN
Covernment. Russia will never grant
anything 10 Jews until It Is forccd ia
u',;h an iron club. Unfortunately an
not speak Oh this subject freely J 40
wnn, no say. however, that the Roth
, o"n,,ns and others, as wei, as myself, were
, PROMISED by Russia on several o'.as,ons
that she would change her policy towara
the Jews. but she has never uih''e" '"a'
promise"