Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-07-14
ZIONIST BRANCH
IN ROCK ISLAND
FORMED SUNDAY
Tri- City Members Become a Part |
National Federation Of Body
of America

Tri-city members of the Zionist
organization of America were
formed into a branch of the ma
tional organization at an entLu1i-
astic mass meeting held by the body
yesterday afternoon in the Odd Eel
lows hall in Rock Island. The
members will hereafter be known
as the Rock Island district of the
Zionist federation of America.
Officers for the Rock Island dis
trict elected yesterday were:
President-Samuel Gellerman.
Vice presidents-Philip Sitrik, B.
Isenstein.
Recording secretary-Harry Hor-
blitt.
Corresponding secretary
cite Scudder.
Treasurer-David Sitrik.
Chairman, Palestine restoration
fund-Simon Lewis.
B. Jenkins of Chicago, noted
Zionist organizer, called the meet
ing to order and introduced the two
speakers of the afternoon: Samuel
Blitz, head of the New York City
bureau of the Zionist Federation of
America and Meyer Goldberg, noted
writer and orator.
er, with a message of earnest ap-
Mr.. Blitz who is splendid speak
peal. spoke briefly Of the suffer
ings of the Jewish people, of their
long exile, and of the necessity for
the establishment of a homeland.
He predicted that the new Jewish
state which will be formed in Pal
estine will be one founded on JUS
tice and democracy. The persecu-
ton of the Jewish people for hun
dreds of years, their perseverance,
their faith and struggle against
overwhelming odds, cannot have fit
ted them for aught but realiza-
ton that their national home must
be truly democratic, declared Blitz.
Makes Attack.
The speaker bitterly attacked the
small group of antt-Ziontsts whom
he described as Jewish anti-Semites
who are opposed to the high ideal
for which not only Jews stand, but
for which America waged war;
namely, the freedom of the smaller
peoples.
Mr.. Goldberg in his address made
an eloquent plea for the Palestine
restoration fund. He explained that
the fund is being devoted to the re-
building of Palestine and to the
laying of a firm foundation for a
Jewish commonwealth. The He
brew university which is being
erected, the cornerstone of which
was recently laid with great cere-
mony in the presence of General
Allenby, under whose brilliant lead
ership the British regained Pales-
tine, should prove one Of the strong
est centers of Jewish education, ac-
cording to Mr.. Goldberg. He spoke
briefly of the bravery of the Jewish
battalion composed of thousands of
Americans and foreign lads who
fought under the blue and white
flag of Zion to help regain the holy
land and to restore civilization Mr..
Goldberg predicted that the Jew
ish nation would soon be a member
of the league of nations and that
Jewish ambassador would be in
Washington.
The election of local delegates to
attend the American Zioonist con-
vention in Chicago on September
IA, when Jews will prove beyond
doubt that they deserve and expect
to be given Palestine in which to
make a national home, was then
held. Speakers at this convention
will include Louis D. Brandeis,
Nathan Straus, Rabbi Stephen Wise
and many other Rotables from
America and abroad. The following
men will represent the Rock Island
district: Samuel Gellerman, Ben A.
Stewart, Henry Horblitt, Emil
Weinrott, David Sitrik, and Simon
Lewis.
Large posters of blue and white
upon which was printed the picture
of President Woodrow Wilson, and
his declaration recently made in
favor of the restoration of Pales-
tine to the Jews, large American |
and Zionist flags were all used to |
decorate the hall where the neting |
was held.