The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1917-05-03
NEW JEWISH ERA
REPORTS FROM RUSSIA AND "a
ESTINE GIVE GREAT PROMISE.
Sir Alfred Mond, only Jew In British
Ministry, Comments On Valu. Of
Race 10 New Russia-U. S. Emigra.
tion 10 Diminish.

DIT HIlIIN WlSllAf CIlly 9N ~ go " ANla'N
Ministry Comments On Valu. Of
Race 10 New Russia-U. S. Emigra.
ton TO Diminish.
London, April 90 CBy MaiU.-'Thc
news of the past few weeks, both from
Russia and from Palestine points 20
the opening OF new era for the jew
ish race" declared Sir Alfred Mond
In am Interview today Sir Alfred
who holds the post of first commis.
sioner for works in the Lloyd George
cabinet. is the only Jewish membct
Of the present ministry
ON Russia Ee explained, "the rev
oution brings the promise Of complete
political emancipation In Palestine.
the British advance indicates in tAe
near future the realization Of the same
modified form of a national ideal
which most Jews have held dear for
centuries
"Of the two events. the revolution
in Russia is much the more impoI
amt development so far as Jews are
concerned for it applies to 100000
of my race. Nothing Ike this num-
acr could possibly Dee affected by 'Io
maturing of the Palcstnian ideal
"With the advent of a liberal ne
'gime IN Russia. the sentiment of Amer
lea has changed, and Jewish intlu
oucc. which was cXcrtod ON the side
of antiRu,-ian feeling in America. if
now pro.Rusaian a very remarkable
but quite natural transformation
Jewish emigration from Russia TO
the United States win now diminish
for the conditions that made for this
emigration no longer operate Under
the new era the Russian Jews should
shed the characteristics which are
largely due to repression. to exclusion
from the life Of the nation Embraced
in the nation, they will he mouldc !
by the national genius Of the Russian
people while retaining their'own indi.
yiduality
Russia viii find now that her new.
born Jews are a tremendous asset
Wherever the jew has received full
liberty as in England and the United
States, he has proved himself an IN.
ergetiC, enterprising and loyal citl
zen. In many branches of industry
finance, law and medicine, he has eY
celled.
when | was in New York the trr
mendous zest for educational progress
even among the most illiterate of the
Jews who had emigrated there, wa.
one OF the many things that impressed
me. ! visited an extremely fine tech
nical school built by the municipaht'
OF New York, one Of the finest institu
tions of its kind have ever seen
and there | was told that very large
proportion Of the pupils were childre
Of the poorest Jewish parents VIII,
had come from Russia.
Jews in Russia have never beer
hostile to the people of Russia. bu
only to the despotic form OF govern
ment there. and this hostility undoubt
edly played a great part in feedin'
the rcpugnance which democratic Am
erica discovered for the Russian auto
cracy"
Turning to the opportunity openc
up for the Jewish race in Palestin
by the entrance of the British armies
Sir Alfred said: Are the Jews suit
able for the agricultural life whic
must be the basis of the development
OF this sun-enriched soil? ReferenC
to the Jewish agricultural Colonie
established IN Palestine in recent year
gives an affirmative answer. TheS
colonies have achieved remarkable rC
suits and seem TO point to the survivd
of the old pastoral instinct of tn
Jews.
81 consider that the jew has a p,
culiar aptitude for farming. II jew
are found today mostly in non-agricu
tural purusits 1t is because they hav
been prevented for centuries frol
owning land. so of necessity they hay
congrcgated in the cities. shoul
like 10 see much larger agriculur:
element among my people, for th
physical results TO the race would b
very appreciahle,
81 have yet to be- convinced that Oh
foundation OF an independent JEWS
state in Palestine comes within Oh
domain oi practical politics. but | sc
no reason why guarantees should n.
, be- given to the Jews there OF Oh
fullest liberty tu manage their ow
affairs and for the protection of the r,
suits of their labor