The Denver Jewish news., 1919-12-24
JACOB SCHIFFs MEETING ON A
UNITED DRIVE FOR ZION AND
RELIEF.
fnu = u ny


Last Sunday was day of great
Significance in Jewish affairs in New
York. The meeting which was to have
Leen held at the home Of Jacob Schiff
vas ut the last moment transferred to
Temple Emanuel, owing to the great
number of delegates who came. This
meeting was to decide the question
which had already been privately dis
crssed among the leaders Of the Zion
ist Organization and representatives
of the Joint Distribution Committee,
concerning a united drive" for $1O.-
600, 600, a third of which Is to be used
for Palestine and to be administered
directly by the Zionist organization.
Jacob Schiff played the part of
mediator between the two organiza-
tlons concerned and as matter of
fact the Zionists could not possibly
have hit upon. anyone better fitted
for the job. Mr.. Jacob schiff Is heart
and soul in favor of great constructive
work in Palestine, where he sees the
only solution for the Jewish prob
len. At the same time. Mr.. Schtff
has the entire confidence and respect
of the guiding spirits Of the Joint DIS
tribution committee. Justice Branaeis.
the taciturn Zionist, broke his usual
silence SO far us to come especially
from Washington to the meeting and
nppeal for the United Drive
1t is easily apparent that such a
union Of forces would be of great
benefit for the Zionist Organization.
tte Restoration Fund did not meet
With the great success which shc Zion
isf organization had expecfel OF it, and
ihe entire Zionist bulge. had been built
OH the income from the Restoration
i: I'D. The expenditures Of the Zicn-
ist Organization next year, here and
in Palestine will be still greater, and
the Zionists will be compelled to make
a new drive, with the same slim hopes
Of success. On the other hand, the
Joint Distribution committee has al
ways carried thru its much bigger
drives for millions, and almost with
ont any difficulties.
The plan of united drive had every
outlook of being carried thru not be-
cause the second party, the joint Dis
tribution committee was SO anxious
for it, but because few OF tie dele
gates dared place themselves in cpposi-
tion to Schiff and Brandeis, the two
greatest personalities in the two camps.
Mr.. julius Rosenwald was the one
who did come out openly with an at
tack upon this plan. and when. he
broke the silence which followed
Brandeis' speech, other courageous
delegates were found.
The open argument against the
united drive" was that many Jews
who are not Zionists contribute to the
.ioint Distribution committee, and that
these will refuse to contribute when
they know that part of the money Is
to go for Zionist purposes.
Still other reasons We're advanced
in private discussions; chiefly that the
Zionist organization speiiuS huch
money for administrative ends; while
the administrative expenditures of the
Joint Distribution committee are bare
ly one rer cent, it Is stated that the
Zionist Organization spends close TO
10 per cent for the same purpose. In
connection with the restoration fund.
At any rate, whatever the reasons.
the plan for a united drive" fell thru
ty large majority. and the partner
ship between Zionism and relief was
not effected. in spite of the efforts of
Schiff and Brandeis.
Judge Otto A. Rosalsky has been
elected as President of the Hebrew
f,orroIa,oont Homo Noxy York