The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-09-29
Lectures on Ameri-
can Ideals Given in
Yid h Important
Factor in Work


stands for we would have to use leaflets
which did not bear the cross at all, other
wise all the material would be wasted.
The officials of the Red Cross were big
enough to see the point. In two days We
had ready 100000 explanatory pamphlets
without the emblem, in which we also pub
lished letter signed by all the rabbis, who
urged the Jews to give all they could to
the campaigners. The results will never
be forgotten Tens Of thousands of do
lars were collected in coppers and nickels.
Old men, women and children gave their
last, their all.
Most of the money collected in the booth
Of the Educational Alliance was contrib
uted by working men and women early
every morning and evening as they passed
10 and from work The children from
twenty blocks around brought their pen
MES. i saw Mrs. Rose Alexander, who
was in charge of the Red Cross work, cry
like child over and over again; cry be-
cause of the super beautiful spirit she saw
in everybody.
/ have spoken Of this particular piece
Of work because it illustrates point
When important matters have to be ex-
planned the psychology of the people has
TO be taken into consideration. The same
words cannot he used for everybody.
The greatest satisfaction / had from my
work was that speakers who came down
with fixed opinion about the East Side
changed it at first contact. They got more
than they gave. They found before them
fathers and mothers who wanted 10 know
what their sons We're fighting for
Learned Truth About America.
To want 10 know is not Il crime To
impart knowledge is a privilege. In their
hard pressed life all they knew about
America was the sweat shops, the dingy
rooms, the crowded streets and the NOV
ing picture houses. In Russia they had
never heard any evil said about Germany.
On the contrary, everything worth while
came from there. Compared with Rus
STA. Germany was paradise.
Ii was necessary to make other compar-
isonS, comparisons with an America other
than they had known Not the one COM
prised within dozen blocks between the
Bowery and the East River. The soul of
the country had to be interpreted to them.
Little by little good deal of the tech
niquc of my work was taken over by my
assistant and my secretary, Miss Kassel-
stein. She was put in charge of the en-
Pertaining part Of the programme. 1t
was she who got singers and players for
Miss Hatch of the National Song Commit
tee cooperated with her.
Free from all those things, | devoted
most of my time to developing speakers,
10 meeting them and to discussing possible
subjects. DR.. Peyser secured the assist
ance of Mr.. Thomas Of the lecture bureau
of the Board of Education and host of
other Amercanizing institutions in this
rity.
Did We make converts? I did not set
ont 10 do so. The Jews are as loyal TO
his country as are the most LOYAL Ameri-
rans. TIC them America is not only
unit, it also represents an
deal. We all honor more self-made
nan than a born millionaire The Jews
.ame here in pursuit Of that happiness
which was denied them elsewhere In the
rush Of life most of the people here had
forgotten why their ancestors
zane here The war brought it back to
Ill Of them. TO all of US.
Surely, men like President Nicholas
Murray Butler of Columbia University,
Dr.. Paul Buffa of Colgate, John Foster
Tarr and others from my enormous list
# speakers will help dispel whatever in
xactitudes regarding the attitude Of the
Jews that may have floated in the air.
they will all remember the tense attention
# the East Side crowds. the eagerly out
tretched heads of the youths and the
hungry eyes of the adults; the fathers,