New-York tribune., 1918-10-25

Talk Forces
Magnes Out
Pacifist Resigns From Jew
ish Commission Because
of His Views

The Rev. DR.. Judah L. Magnes has
been forced to resign from the Amer
lean Jewish Committee because of his
announcement that he was in full SYM
athy with the Bolsheviki of Russia, and
hoped to see their ideals accepted and
adopted by the entire world. DR.. Mag
mes resigned at stormy session Of
the Executive Committee when Jacob
H. Schiff denounced the deplorable
conditions brought about by the Boil
sheviki and demanded that theemenace
be curbed.
Mr.. Schiff did not confine his attack
to the Bolsheviki of Russia, but
launched into bitter criticism of the
actions of East Side Jews who have
accepted the doctrines of Lenine and
Trotzky. He said that such actions by
Jews in New York might be construed
so as seriously to obstruct the work
carried on for the betterment of the
Jewish people.
AS soon as Mr.. Schff finished his
speech DR.. Magnes took the floor and
announced that he was Bolshevik
and in full sympathy with their doc
trines and ideals. He added, that if
the sentiments of Mr.. Schif were to
be construed as the sentiments of the
committee he would no longer serve.
His resignation was Immediately ac-
cepted and he left the meeting room.
Bolsheviki Not Wanted.
Samuel Dorf, Grand Master of the
Order of Birth Abraham, who is a
member of the committee, made a
speech after Dr. Magnes had left the
room, demanding that other members
who are in sympathy with the Bolshe
wiki be forced to resign. He said that
If the committee did not want DR..
Magnes they should not allow the men
who had aided the Forward" which
he characterized as the American
mouthpiece of the Bolsheviki, to re-
main as members. He said that whom
the Forward Association was about to
be denied tho right to send their paper
through the mails members Of tho
committee had assisted in adjusting
the matter with the Post Office De-
partment However, no other resipna-
tions were offered.
The following members of the COM
mittee in unison attacked the Bolshev;|s
element on the East Side who were aid
ing the war obstructionists in the pres
ent political campaign: Louis Marshall.
president; Cyrus Adler and Julius Ro-
senwald, vice presidents: Isaac W.
Bernheim, treasurer; Colonel Harry
Cutler, OF Providence; Professor Jacob
II. Hollander, of Johns Hopkins Uni
versity; Federal Judge Julian Mack, ex-
Judge Sulsberger, Of Philadelphia; A.
Leo We'll. of Pittsburgh; Oscar S.
Straus, Samuel Dorf, Isadore Sobel and
Cyrus l.. Sulzbcrger.
Magnes One of Organizers
DIR. Magnes was one of the organizers
of the American Jewish committee
which has been engaged in philan-
thropic work among the Jews for the
last fifteen years. Most of the work
of the committee was confined to coun-
tries where the people were oppressed.
DR.. Magncs has held many important
posts ard at one time was rabbi of the
Temple Emanu-El. Shortly after we
entered the war he became strong
pacitist and was active in the Peoples
Council.
There was movement started on
the East Side early in the summer to
make Or. Magnes the Socialist candi-
date for Congress. The persons who
attempted this move are now support
ing Congressman London for re-elec-
ton. DR.. Magnes is chairman Of the
American Jewish Kehillah.