The Denver Jewish news., 1918-12-05
Jewish Interests at
Capital Neglected
Splendid OPPORTUNITIES To
AWAKEN, CONCERN IN JEWISH
AFFAIRS OVERLOOKED.
BY our special Washington Cores,
pOndent.
JOS. l.. TEppER.

inc 1ateS anu allaiTs VI lht Noiu y
smaller nationalities than from the
time war was declared 10 inc time the
urmisrice was signed This phenomen-
on was most natural. The people were
asked for the greatest sacrifices to
make democracy safe and for the pro-
lection of the smaller and weaker ma
lions There was really no other ade-
quate and sufficient ground to plunge
n nation into the crucible of war.
Was this not golden opportunity
To educate the people to understand
the tragedy of the Jews international
position us well AS his just demands
for equal treatment? Should not the
moment have been seized upon to show
what contributions the Jew made TO
the worlds civilization and in gem
cral to make propaganda in his be-
half?
You would imagine that the shrewd
and clever Jew, AS the world knows
him, would forthwith marshall all Of
his national and international forces
during much an historic period to put
his case up to public opinion and
thereby hasten his regeneration DID
lie do it? Let MS see.
Before the war such backward peo-
pie like the Czccho-Slavs and the Jngo-
Slavs were not heard of at all, except
by historians. The mention of these
names even to the average intelligent
American would be Chinese puzzle.
Even of such independent nations like
the Serbians, Montenegrins and Bull
gnrinns, little was known. The Jews,
ON the other hand, occupied a very i'm
portant aud influential position in the
very land Of the United States and
were strong factor In It's eomnaer-
cial and political rise. They were
much talked of and written about.
They have had their traducei's but they
also have had powerful friends. In
short they were, as they are now. n
great power in the country: n force
to be reckoned with by all clements.
Yet, the leaders of the aforemcntion'
ed backward and obscure nationalities
have shown real foresight in the carly
beginning of the war by establishing
efficient and active propaganda bn.
reaiis at Washington, and successfully
inaugurated compaign of education
and agitation in favor Of their respec,
tive peoples. Hitherto obscure, they
suddenly became historic" nations
the pillars of culture and civilization.
They did not overlook MS we'll to ma.
nipulate the latent sympathies that the
war evoked in favor of the suppressed
nationalitics in the central powers.
They constantly deluged Congressman
Senators. officials, newspapermen and
newspapers with statements, inter-
views and the like. Not n single op-
portunity waS overlooked to draw ad-
vantage from every incident of the war
and its attending circumstances. Over
night the nation acquired symp-
athletic knowledge of the needs ant
aspirations of each of these smaller
nations and thus public opinion was
aroused in their favor. Result: These
nationalities were not passed off WITH
the palliative of declaration or u
sympathetic letter of approval, pW
were actually and in fact given in
ternational recognition and standing
as sovereign nations entitled ia their
homclands. When peace is concluded
their delegates will aid in the formtl
lation of a new world order and be
parties to the peace treaties.
We. n world wise. historic and in
genious people would not of course
descend to such commonplace practise
as a we'll organized publicity bureau
and left it all to our great leaders
to look after our natural needs. Re
suits: While the newspapers were
filled with the eulogies of the Jugo'
Slavs, Czecho- Slavs, Croatians, Poles
Slovenes, etc. and columns upon col
umns extolled their value to civiliza'
ton and the necessity for their re-
demption. very little was said about
according justice to us and dischargine
\ the debt Christianity has accumulat.
ed in centuries of persecution and sup
preston.
And when we search for the why's
and wherefores for this tragic neglect
of an unparalleled opportunity. we are
met by that eternal curse that like the
plague in Sues famous novel, "Tht
Wandering Jew" pursues us thruou'
the centuries, an impossible and in
surmountable egotism and conceit.
The emergency of the war worked