Evening journal., 1918-12-14
HEBREW LEADERS
in Big CONFERENCE
First American Jewish Con-
gress Will Convene in
Phila. Tomorrow
WILLIAM TOPKIS is
AMONG DELEGATES

With more than 400 distinguished
delegates representing every Jewish
community, organization and society in
the United States attending, the ilrst
American Jewish Congress viii con-
vene in Philadelphia tomorrow, Fully
100000 Hebrews will be represented.
Not only viii the congress prove one
Of the most moment0us occasions In
the history OF the Jews, but It will be
an event OF immense international sig
niflcance, coming, as II does, on the
eve OF peace readiustment. II VIII adj
vocate that not merely small nations.
but separated peoples as well, among
whom are the Jews, be assured OF
equality. protection and the full prsvi-
lege OF the laws Of whatever part OF
she world they are situated. IL will be
The aim OF the congress TO define Jew
lsh aspirations and by analogy TO point
out the ideals OF the right 10 self-de-
termination on the part Of such groups
as the Lithuanlans, Czechss Sloyaks,
Poles and others.
The question OF recreating Jewish
homeland In Palestine, which has re-
President Wilson, Great Britain, France
and Italy, also Will be a major topic.
Supreme Court Justice Brandeis, Abram
l.. Elkus, ambassador 90 Turkey; Oscar
straus and Henry Morgenthau, former
ambassadors 10 Turkey, prominent
zlonlsts, are expected TO take leading
part IN the discussion.
Philadelphia, the birthplace Of free
dom, Will extend a hand OF welcome 10
the members Of the congress when they
assemble here tomorrow. Resolutions
extending the Official welcome Of the
city have been adopted by Common and
Select Councils. The purposes and
aims OF the congress have the support
Of Governor Brumbaugh, the Rev. Dr..
Russell II. Conwell, John Wansmaker,
Archbishop DOugherty, Bishop Rhine
lander, Representative J. Hampton
Moore. Judge Robert Won Mosehzisker
and other prominent Philadelphians.
TomOrrow's sessions, afternoon and
evening, viii be held In the Metropoli-
tan Opera House. The remaining ses-
slOns will be held IN Lu Lu Temple.
During the convention Philadelphia
VIII be visited by hundreds Of men
prominent In official, literary and in
dustrlal circles of this country, most
OF whom will be delegates. They in
clude:
Prof. Harry Friedenwald, Baltimore;
Prof, Felix Frankfutter. Louis E. Kir-
stein and Max Mitchell. Boston; Otto
Irving Wise, San Francisco; Justice
Hugo Pam, Adolph Kraus and Judge
Harry NJ. Fisher, Chicago; Prof. Gott-
hard Deutsch. Cincinnati; William Top
ks, Wilmington: Nathan Straus. Louis
Marshall, ex-Ambassador Henry Nor
genthau, Joseph Barondess, Justice Ja-
cob s. Strahl, New York City: Ben Sell
ing, Oregon; Colonel Harry s. Cutler,
Providence, r. J.; /. w Hellman, Jr.,
san Francisco; Judge Milton Strass-
burger, Washington; Julius Rosenwald,
Oscar 5. Straus, Jacob II. Schiff, and
Governor Simon #. Bamberger. Of Utah.
The congress was flrst scheduled to
meet November 1917, In Washington,
but with Americas entrance into the
war, 10 was decided that the activities
required TO make the convention a she
cess should be directed TO bringing the
war TO a successful and speedy close.
With peace In sight, II was determined
again TO take up the work.