The Jewish monitor. (Fort Worth-Dallas, Tex.) 191?-1921, 1920-06-25
BUKAWINA JEWS LEADERS IN
JEWISH PARTY POLITICS OF
RUMANIA.
By Lobel Taubes
Our Vienna Correspondent.

already had great experience in the
political field while their province was
part Of the old Austria Hungary
should lead their Rumanian co-relig-
ionists, but recently emancipated and
still inexperienced in political activity
is hardly surprising.
The Bukawna Jews have been politi-
cal pioneers in an even larger sense.
1t has been pointed out in a previous
article that much of the antagonism
and hatred of the Jews in Central Eu-
rope, particularly in Austria Hun
gary, was the direct effect of their stu
pid political affiliations which made
them the political tools of the larger
nationalistic groups, to be used in the
suppression of the smaller groups. To
the credit of Bukawinian Jews let it
be said that they were the first to rec
ognize that only by forming political
party Of their own to act as an indie
pendent political unit may the Jews
avoid dangerous entanglements and
cease to be the scapegoat of the other
nationalistic groups. Only after tast-
ing the bitter fruits of their foolish
harvest, have the Jews of the other
territories of Central Europe learned
to profit by their example. All of them
have now adopted the Jewish political
program.
In the first Rumanian elections af-
ter the annexation of Bukawina and
before the Peace Treaty with Rumania
was ratified, the Jews Of that province
declined to participate. Great effort
was exerted by the Rumanian govern
ment to induce all sections Of the en-
larged country to take part in the cleo
tions in order to manifest their affili-
alton with the new "fatherland." OF
small numbers-l02,000 according to
1910 census-but with great expert
ence, the politically conscious and ma
ture Bukawinian Jews stuck to their
resolution that as long as the status
Of their province was not definitely de-
cided, and while the Rumanian govern
ment failed to show by act and deed
that it was going to fulfill its promis-
es Of equality to the Jews, they would
not participate in the elections. The
government, anxious to prove to the
nations Of the entente that the Jews
Of Bukawina were on Rumania's side,
put out a certain lumber merchant,
William Hecht Of Czernowitz, as a
candidate for the Senate. He was
elected by a marginal majority, but
the Bukawinian Jews never recognized
him as their representative and de-
MED that he had right to speak in
the name Of the Jewish people. AS
fate would have it, Mr.. Hecht died
soon after his election, and his place
in the Senate was made vacant. This
time it was felt in governmental cir
cles, that the whole of Bukawinian
Jewry must be interested in the cleo
ton Of Hecht's successor who should
actually represent it in the Senate.
Meanwhile, the whole Parliament
was dispelled because Of internal po-
litical dissension, and now all the citi-
zens Of greater Rumania are called
upon to participate in general cleo
ton to both the Senate and Chamber
Of Deputies. And the Jews also, whose
political rights have in the main al
ready been recognized, for the first
time in the history Of Rumania are to
express their will in the administra-
tion Of their country. "Greenn in the