New-York tribune., 1918-06-23
DR.. Wise to Speak
Full Palestine Programme To
Be Passed Upon in Four
Day Session
Especial Dispatch to The Tribune)

Memorial Hall tomorrow afternoon.
The sessions will continue until Thurs
day, and it is believed they will be
epoch making in Jewish affairs.
The purpose of this convention is to
outline plans for the development of
the national Jewish homeland in Pales-
tine, made possible by the British,
French, Italian and Greek declarations
in favor of the eproject. 1t marks the
successful elimination of twenty years
of constant agitation, in the face of
most disheartening obstacles, includ-
ing the opposition of many Jews
throughout the wrold, and the growth
Of the movement from the dream of
handful of idealists to political pro-
gramme. reckoned with by the great
powers of the world, and made a part
of the war aims of the Entente Pow
ers.
The Zionists have the official declara-
tions Of the European Allies on which
to base the solid foundations Of the
homeland.
Important preliminary steps, includ-
ing the establishment in Jerusalem of
an administrative commission, author
lied by Great Britain, already have been
taken. They point to the declaration
ica's war aims is the security of each
of the small nationalities, as a guaran-
tee that the peace congress will recog-
nize the legitimacy of their aspiration.
An Ideal Commonwealth
When Theodore Herzl, founder of
the present political Zionist movement,
outlined the project in his famous
pamphlet, "A Jewish State" he spoke
of Palestine as "model state"-as
one where the best forms of existing
governments would be eclipsed, and the
evils, still enduring in many, would be
entirely eliminated. He looked forward
to commonwealth where the class
conflict would have no place; where
there would be no exploitation of the
many by the few, where the gross ine-
qualities Of taxation would not be per-
m;tted, and where social justice would
be more than phrase.
This ideal has been kept in the fore
front by the Zionists during the two dec
AIDES of agitation, and now that their
dream approaches fulfllment, their slo-
gan is Palestine must be the model
state dreamed Of by Herl."
The opposition to Zionism has dis
appeared almost in it's entirety. Every
class of the Jewish people, in every
land, are fast approaching unanimity
ON the subject. The extreme orthodox
and the radical reform religious wings
are drawing closer together. The
proletariat and the bourgeoisie among
the Jews stand on one platform, so far
as Palestine is concerned.
Backed by Labor Unions
Jewish labor unions, with but few ex-
cialst International, the British Labor
party and the American Federation of
Labor, have adopted resolutions favor
ing the establishment Of the Jewish
Homeland. The great Jewish fraternal
orders have all placed themselves on
favorable record, some of them en-
rolling as body in the Zionist or
ganzation. A vigorous campaign, just
terminated, has, in addition to the
$4,000 regular members Of the Zionist
societies in the United States and the
der Birth -Sholom, enrolled 100000
party-tax paying members of the Zion
ist organizations Of America.
The greatest interest will develop on
Monday and Tuesday evenings, June "a
and Is, when the delegates, represent
ing the different Zionist groups within
the movement. will gather in Joint con-
ference to discuss the vital questions
concerning Palestine.
The Monday evening session will be
opened by an address by DR.. Stephen
S. Wise. chairman of the provisional
Zionist committee; Jacob de Haas, Sec
retary of the same committee. will pre-
sent the Palestine programme as a
whole. Professor Felix Frankfurther,
administrator of United States War
Labor Activities. will offer a paper on
the political and legal foundations OF
the Jewish state; DR.. N. l. Stone, Fed
eral statistician, will discuss the eco
nomic foundations Of the Jewish state
Mrs. Fels to Speak
The Tuesday evening session will
continue the discussion Of the Pales-
tine programme. Mrs. Joseph Fels,
single tax leader, will deal with the
land question. Professor Horace Kali
len will discuss the naturalization of
land, natural resources and public utili-
ties; Bernard A. Rosenblatt, Of New
York, will present plan for land value
taxation and Jewish labor in Palestine.
Education will be handled from the
secular and religious aspects. DIR.
Shmarya Levine will discuss the Hebrew
university, which is to be located. on
the Mount of Olives, and Rabbi Meyer
Berlin, leader of the Mizrachi, the or
thodox wing of the Zionist organiza-
tions, will present the question of re-
lig'ous education.
The opening session will be presided
over by DR.. Harry Friedenwald, presi-
dent of the Federation of American
Zionists, at which Judge Julian w.
Mack, Of the United States Circuit
Court of Appeals, will present a resolu-
tion defining the pro-American and pro-
Ally loyalty of the Zionists, which will
be seconded by DR.. Stephen S. Wise.
On Sunday evening there will be a |
mass meeting, at which the speakers
will employ only the classic Hebrew
language, the language of the Bible and
the language Sf modern and future
Palestine. Reuben Brainln will pre-
side and DR.. Shmarya Levin and DR..
Ben Zion Mossinsohn will be the
orators.
Included in Monday mornings pro-
gramme, which provides for group ses-
sions, will be the sub-convention of i
Hadassah, the womens Zionist or
ganization, which has just dispatched a |
medical unit of forty-three physicians,
nurses, sanitarians, social workers and |
to Palestine; a confer !
ence on the Jewish Legion, led by
Major Brooman- White. of the British
Canadian recruiting mission, and con-
ference on the new plan of organiza-
tion for the movement in America.