Omaha daily bee., 1919-02-16
ZIONISTS HAVE
Great VICTORY
Celebration
Rabbi Wise, Returned from
Peace Conference, Tells of
Progress of Zionist
Movement.

Greater than any other Zionis
demonstration ever held in thi
country was the Victory Zionis
celebration at the Manhattan Oper;
house Sunday evening, February 9
More than 5000 New York Jew.
turned out to give an ovation to DR.
Stephen S. Wise, chairman of the
American Zionist delegation to the
peace conference, who has just re-
turned from Paris.
Every one of those present was
imbued with the spirit of victory
and with the feeling that the object
for which they had hoped and for
which they had worked these many
years has at last been realized. Pro-
longed cheering greeted Judge Jul
ian w. Mack, president of the Zion
list Organization of America, as he
stepped on the platform to open the
meeting. His address was continual
ly interrupted by applause.
The Zionist Symphony orchestra
played several numbers. For fully 10
minutes the audience cheered and
waved Zionist flags as we'll as flags
of the allies, and sang the Hatikwah
and the Star Spangled Banner.
When the demonstration had finally
subsidized, DR.. Wise spoke.
Urges Support.
He wound up his address by ap-
pealing to those present to support
the project which the Zionist organ
ization is now undertaking in Pales-
tine and for which the organization
has launched campaign for $3,000,-
600. In response to his appeal, the
audience Immediately raised in
pledges and in cash $250,000. 1t is
expected that the total amount raised
at that meeting will exceed that fg-
ure after the pledges which the conf
mittee was gathering among the au-
dience will have been counted.
Mr.. Louis Lipsky secretary Of
the organization, who is at Johns
town, Pa, on Zionist business, has
sent the following telegram, which
was read at the meeting:
Zionist duty in Johnston pre-
vents my presence at meeting in
Manhattan Opera house to hear DR..
Wise report on the political pros
poets of the Jewish people. We shall
without doubt be inspired by what
DR.. Wise has to say, but ! am sure
that DR.. Wise will be gratifled to
learn that as secretary of the organ
ization | am in position to report
to him as vice president of the Zion
ist organization that since he left US
six weeks ago, the Zionist organic
alton of America now has:
First-A registered membership
of $4,000, distributed in 969 cities,
in every state of the union, an in
crease during the six weeks OF ST.
81.
Second-To the petition which is
to be submitted to President Wilson
endorsing the American Jewish con-
gress resolution, asking for the es-
Enlistment in Palestine under the
trdsteeship of Great Britain, OF such
political and economic conditions as
will make Palestine into Jewish
commonwealth, there have already
been secured in the course OF three
weeks four hundred and thirty-tive
thousand signatures Of Jews.
500 Cities Carry on Work.
The work Of gathering these sig
natures is now being carried on IN
over 500 cities, which, when they re-
port. will show beyond question that
over 100000 Jews have signed the
Third-Pledged contributions to
the Palestine restoration fund OF S3,-
100000 have been received already TO
the amount of over $3,00O,OOO, with
scores OF cities, large and small, yet
to be heard from, which indicates
that the 100000 will be over sub
scribed for the year 1919. These
contributions come from over l'4Uo
cities.
determination of the Jews of Amer
ica and with the favorable political
conditions about which Dr.. Wise
himself IS better informed than any
man now in the United States. it IS
obvious that the Zionist ideal is ir-
resistably being transformed into
is--s.-r. ~aaisFu