The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-12-18
EQUAL RIGHTS FOR
JEWS IS SOUGHT
Congress of American Jews Takes
Steps to Secure Full Freedom In
Religious. Civil and Political
hifc OF All Countries.

Religious. Civil and Political
hifc OF All Countries.
Providence. r. T., Dec. 17.-As the
result of the Congress OF American
Jews in Philadelphia this week,
commission has been created and
will be sent to Europe to determine
the condition of the Jews In the
various countries there and to report
their findings to an adjourned seS-
sion OF the congress.
| Colonel Harry Cutler, of this city.
president of the Congress, told the
press of the hopes Of the Jews OF
America to obtain. In the new order
of things. full freedom fon the Jew In
religious, civil and political activities
| in all the countries of the world.
Sometime before the European
war" said Colonel Cutler. "a move
, ment was begun among the Jews o!
! this country to form a congress and
! take up the condition of the Jewish
| peoples in all parts OF the world. and
! to do al, in our power to better their
condition We had especial thought
then to the Jews In Russia under the
then Romanoff dynasty; in Rumania
and the Far East.
when this movement centralized,
1t was decided to form an executive
and an adm illustrative committee OF
the congress, and to make study OF
the Jewish situation through suoor-
dinate committees in Russia. Ru-
mania, the Balkan states. Palestine
and other countries. The commit
tees were made up of men OF let
tiers. publcists and men whose quail
ifications were we'll established.
While data along these lines was
being collected and the reports being
prepared. this country entered the
war as one of the ,belligerents. the
executive committee OF the congress
OF Jews called a special session to
determine what we should do as
Americans in the exigency then con-
fronting Us.
TT was decided that 20 session OF
the congress be called and that all
our activities cease during the prog
ress of the war In order that each OF
us might be OF service to the coun-
try in whatever capacity called. and
it was further voted that the admin
istrative committee should have power
to convene the congress upon the ces-
satton- Of hestilities. or when peace
was in sight
I'm conformity with this vote. and
:, subsequent to the signing OF the ar1Is!-
stice, \. as chairman, called a meet
ing OF. the administrative committee,
ana IN turn the CoHsieSo vas NA'
to convene in Philadelphia, Dec. 10.
The chief purposes OF our program
, are:
ITO define methods whereby. in CO.
operation with the Jews OF all other
countries. full rights may be secured
for Jews everywhere.
THAT all laws discriminating
against the Jew in any way be aero'
gated.
The securing and protection OF
Jewish rights in Palestine.
TT was thoroughly understood that
by full rights was meant civil. re-
ligious and political rights, and in
addition. where any nation granted TO
any group OF people any national or
racial right. the same or a similar
right should be granted to the Jewish
people OF that nation We ask no
special favor. but We demand aboli-
ton OF every discrimination.
"Since-thcn the records have shown
that the Jews have fought valiantiy
and have giy>n more than their quota
In blood and treasure, for the cause
of the United States. the allies and
for world freedom. Therefore 1t
OF American Jews should now meet.
especially when the Peace Confer
ence is to consider the rights OF all
nations in the establishment OF
world democracy.
.'The conclusion Of the congress
will probably be to take full recog-
milton Of and establish a basic prtn-
ciple, that equal rights be accorded
to Jews In every land. In the forma-
ton OF new governments no matter
what form they may take. there
should be established in them the
principle of fundamental justice for
the Jew, and his rights In that coun.
try should be as just AS they are In
this, our country. where neither race.
creed or color Is Disseminated against
in any way.
j THE congress opening Dec. Is 10
expected to be deliberative body.
\ giving expression to these sentiments.
asking no special privilege for the
! Jew hut demanding equal recogni-
ton. such as is given all hum an be-
ings in any country under any gov
eminent
"As, illustration. let me speak OF
Poland. II Poland is to be re-estab-
Iished, and earnestly hope that II
will he, there must not be in the new
Poland one set OF laws, civil. reli
gious and political. for the Jew. and
another set Of laws for the Christian.
There must be but one set OF laws
applying equally to the Jewish and
the Christian Pole.
"A tangibles.outcome OF the con-
gress will probably he the appointing
( of Va commission to visit Europe as
soon as may be. with power 10 recon-
vene the congress when II com Pletes
it's investigations and is ready to make
report thereto
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