The Denver Jewish news., 1918-12-05

changed their very natures. 1t made
socialists out of capitalists and jim
goes and militarists out of socialists.
and thus was built up an indomitable
will to triumph. How did we meet
that great test? Did we also forget
our petty feuds and fuse our forces
to obtain the irreducible terms for ma
tional self-respect and international
equality? As aim collectors, perhaps
yes, but as Il nation, we are still split
into as many fragments as were the
tablets of the Ten Commandments
when Moses discovered the Jews wor-
Shipping the Golden Calf. Is it perhaps
because like the lsraclitcs of yore our
leaders of today serve the Golden Calf
of self-ndiiiation?
II you think the picture is over
drawn, you would forthwith change
your mind If you lived here in Wash.
inRtOn. and saw how every Monday
and Thursday delegations representing
the Jews are knocking at the Admin
istratiOn doors trucking and favor
begging. You would never believe that
the Jews had so many self-sacrificing
and benevolent representatives and
protectors. The mere handful of three
million Jews are almost coddled to
death by its numerous national or
ganizatiOn each one pretending that
it is fit to speak in its name for all
the Jews. What of the B'nai Birth,
the American Jewish committee, the
Zionist organization. the Roumanian
Jews, the various labor organizations,
the different rabbinical organizations.
the fraternal orders and others.
1t would be a consolation il one were
only able to attribute the efforts of
these numerous organizations to n gem
uihe concern for the welfare of the
people foc whom they speak. Arc they
imbued with much feeling? Perhaps
they are. hut why do they regard each
other with such utter contempt?
1t is bard to find an answer TO these
questions unless one adopts the most
obvious one that none of them would
surrender the reins' of leadership and
would if he could. destroy his com
petitor that is also out to capture the
laurels. In its final analysis 1t Is
nothing more than petty jealousy and
sometimes spite.
In one instance this cancerous con-
dition in our leadership came close to
bringing about almost a scandal with
tinge of the burlesque. As big II
NATIONAL organization as the Rou-
manian Jews constitute in New York,
they had to split into two factions !;
apparently there were more leaders
than honors to go around. l am not
| familiar with their capers in New
York, hut they came mighty close to
carry the sacrilege over TO Washing
ton. The highest aim Of these factions
seemed to have been mission ut
| Washington to be received by the
| President or. if that is unattainabie'
by at least Cabinet officer. 1t so
happened that both of the factions al
most at the same time conceived that
the great moment had arrived Tor
them to reach the height of their am
hition. Both began to pull wires and
scramble for recognition at the White
! House to be received us the glorified
genuine spokesman for all the Rou-
manian Jews within the limits of the
United States. Fortunately the un-
seemly wrangle was scotched just IN
time by the tact Of Washingtoninn.
The situation is OF sufficient im-
portance to give it further considera'
ton and il possible to find q solution.
To give further Instances of irrcspon-
sibIe leadership at Washington and
suggest remedy will he the task OF
another article.