Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-16
JEWS HOLD CONGRESS-;
MA PLANS FOR UNITY
Wilson's Name Stirs Delegates to
Prolonged Cheering; Enter
Plea for Liberty.

Philadelphia, Dec. 16.--Representing
all parts of the country and all leading
organizations of Jews, 400 delegates as
sembled at the Metropolitan Opera House
Yesterday III response to the call Tor the
first Jewish Congress-thIs congress to
collate all the AIMS of Jews, organized and
unorganized and put them into form
whereby a movement forward may be
made instead ofrvacillating action as has
been the case In many previous gatherings.
Colonel Harry Cutler of Providence,
r. l., was temporary Chairman of the
meeting. After Rabbi B. l.. Levlnthal
of Philadelphia prayed, a short address
was made by Colonel Cutler.
For thousands of years" he said,
.'our people have suffered persecution
and discrimination and now that the re-
adjustment of the world civilization Is
about to be accomplished. when 1T is hoped
the fundamental principle that all men
are born equal will become an established
fact and the rights of small nations be
equally conserved with those OF greater
powers. the Jewish people must come into
its own.
As he ended with these words, the
audience. realizing that Colonel Cutler
referred to the plan of recreating Jewish
homeland in Palestine. burst out with
storms of applause.
The speaker made plea that the Jews
of the world deserved the boon of full civil.
religious and political liberty, IN view OF
the lives and treasure which they had
contributed during the war, and the pa
triotism and Self-sacrlfce OF those on the
side of the Allies
Letters were read from Josephus Dan
icl> Secretary Of the Navy; Governor
Martin G. Brumbaugh, Rabbi stephen
\ NiSe and the Italian Embassy cN-
pressing regret over the writers inability
to attend the conference and wishing II
success
Welcome on behalf Of the Jews Of Phila-
dclplia To- The visiting delegates was
oppressed N The speech of Professor David
" Nmram Of the University Of Pcnnsyl-
vania
lour principal duty, >ald Professor
Amram will b. to declare those funda-
mental principlc> II right that are YOURS
bv faith and inheritance, both a> Americans
and rs Jews. and YOU will call upon the
peoples Of other lands ~ recognize these
principles and apply thcm IN heir dealings
With the minority groups in their midst
y our forefathcr~ in .ludca proclaimed
liberty throughout the land unto all the
inhabitants thereof Let il he Your
work to support the policy ot our great
national leader, Woodrow Wilson, IN pro
claiming freedom tn The inhabitants ot
all lands
A. Professor Amfam mentioned the
President. tho crowds in he theatre went
Wild with enthusiasm They waved small
American flags, jumped on the chairs and
chccred for several minutes.
President Wilson expressed the spirit
of America, continued the speaker.
" hen he declared that international
Justice must play no favoriteS and know
no standard but the equal rights Of the
several peoples concerned The Jewish
penplc, al Middle and Eastern Europe
are among he several peoples concerned
Tho President : declaration, above every
thing. involves the thought that there
shall be power greater than any nation III
power that shall protect any man any
where in the enjoyment Of the rights that
re gwen him by the grace Of God.
II lies within your power. members OF
thc congress, To say great and perhaps
potent word IN behalf Of this thought,
to give formal shape 10 doctrine that has
been the eternal idea Of our people.
In introducing Nathan Straus Of New
York who was later acclaimed unanimously
the honorary president Of the congress,
Colonel Cutler referred 10 him rs one Of
the foremost jews I'll the world
Judge Julian " N ack Of Chicago.
recognized as one OF the most prominent
Zionists IN the country, was elected prcsI-
dent Of the congress