New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-23
Capt. Sullivan Barred Him
Because of Race, He Com
plains to Whitman.
GEN. O'RYAN DENIES
PREJUDICE CHARGES
Says Hebrews in Guard Dis
prove Claims-Ready to In
vestigate, if Ordered.

Maurice Simmons. former national
commander in chief Of the United
Spanish War Veterans, yesterday pre-
scented TO Governor Whitman formal
charges against Captain II. +. Sullivan,
commander Of Battery d. I'd Field Ar
tillery, y. G. n. Y. He accused the lat
ter Of being openly prejudiced against
the enlistment OF Jews. Major General
John +. Organ Immediately issued
statement ridiculing Mr.. Simmons's
further charge that prejudice IN the
national guard Of this state was wide
spread.
Mr.. Simmons first made the charge
at a meeting at the Hebrew Tabernacle
30 West both Street on Sunday night
He said that in the I'd Battalion OF
the Field Artillery Jews were rejected
because they we're Jews. Dudley Field
Malone. Collector o. .hc Port, suggest
ed that if such prejudice existed the
Governor should interfere. Mr. SIM
mons acted on Mr. Malone's suggcs-
ton.
Calls Prejudice General.
The charges allege that Captain Sui
Ivan. when the battery was adyertls-
ing for recruits, personally met those
o. Jewish faith and told them there
we're no vacancies. This charge Is
based on an affidavit made by Max j.
Klein. o. 94S Union Avenue. The
Bronx. in which he asserts that he and
his brother were told by Captain Sulli-
van there were no vacancies: that ne
afterward found that discrimination
had been practised rot alone against
his brother and himself, but against
other Jews wanting 10 enlist. and that
Captain Sullivan admitted TO him that
he was prejudiced against Jews.
"No officer OF the United States army
crects any such barrier as that thrust
IN the way of Jews enlisting." said Mr..
Simmons. Captain Sullivan is not the
sole offender. His conduct is merely
symptomatic Of the disease of anti
Semtism with which a large part OF
the national guard in this city is IN
fected. Many similar cases have come
TO my notice, and | have both verbal
and documentary evidence 20 back
them up
Mr.. Simmons then set forth the evil
dcnce he said he had gathered against
Captain Sullivan, who. he added, is
employed as a stenographer in the Of
fee of the Surveyor Of the Port Of this
city.
Organ Denies Charges.
General Organs answer to Mr.. Sim
mons's statement was:
There are many Jews in the ma
tional guard. Some are officers and
some enlisted men. believe they are
peculiarly able best TO reply to the
charge that the men of Jewish faith
are not acceptable in the national
guard. Some Of our most capable and
rest liked officers are Jews.
"ln every organization there arc n
-ew men who seem to have hard timr
under the restraints OF discipline.
Some OF these men, when they leave
the service. attribute their troubles
rot TO their own shortcomings. but to
prejudice based on their religion or
nationality. Undoubtedly there are in
dividuals in the national guard who
are prejudiceJ against other indiyid-
uals because Of their nationality or
creed. but believe their number is
small. The whole spirit Of democracy
OF the national guard and of military
IDEALS is against such prejudice, and D:
IS suppressed wherever found. If there
are any such charges against any Off
Ger Of the national guard they will be
investigated"
General Organ said he would in
vestigate the charges against Captain
Sullivan as soon as Governor Whitman
o-taJ hin, IN do en-