New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
Delegates From 324 Or.
ganizations inCity Band
for Walk-Out; Legisla.
tive Help Is Demanded
Strict Laws Asked
To End Cou gine
Bricklayers Drop Strike;
to Rush Work ON 800
Uncompleted Buildings

Almost 100000 Jews banded tog ether
to resist rent profiteering last night
and formed the Jewish Tenants League,
through delegates from 324 Jewish or
CARNATIONS, who met at Beethoven Hall
210 Fifth Street Speaker after speaker
specifically denounced the Jewish land
lord as chief factor in the present
crisis, the chairman declaring that rs
per cent of the Jewish victims suf-
fered from extortion by men Of their
own race. Plans for general strike
of the Jewish tenants and all others
who can be influenced on May l were
greeted with enthusiasm.
The meeting was held under the
auspices of the United Hebrew Trades,
and almost 1000 delegates and specta
tors overflowed the big hall and its
galleries. The organization formed will
be the biggest of it's kind on record
An executive committee of fifteen was
formed to carry out the plans laid
down.
Public. Action Demanded
Resolutions were passed demanding
the appointment of public service
commission to assess the valuc of
rental property, that constitutions
amendment be submitted declaring ell
houses with more than two families
quasi-public utilities, that statewide
organization be perfected, that no
eviction be made without certiti
cate from the Health Department that
it would not injure the health of the
evlcted tenants, and that the city and
state start home building.
The chief object of the new oreani-
cation, as stated by Ruben Gusk1n
president of the United Hebrew Trades
who presided, was the formation of a
distinctly Jewish body to cope with the
Jewish part of the rent-hogging. AL
though the resolutions passed all looked
toward legal action, most of them
being suggested by the address of
Jacob Panken, Socialist and Municipal
Court Justice, the idea of a. general
rent strike was prominent throughout
the discussion, and the threat of this
lies behind the whole program. The
most vigorous cheering Of the meet
ing was called out by Alderman
Vladek's first suggestion Of this weapon
against landlords, and dNevery reference
to it was hailed with the utmost en-
thusisam.
i,VVU,UUV 10 JOIN RANKS
Morris Feinstone, secretary of the
United Hebrew Trades, declared that
the response to the rallying call had far
exceeded the hopes Of the trade, and
he predicted that within few days
the strength of the new organization
which practically is centercd around
the U. H. t., will reach the million
mark which is aimed at.
The 324 organizations which sent two
delegates each to the conference were
as follows: 150 labor unions, 90 lodges
Of the Workmen's Circle, 25 syna-
gogues, Is branches Of the Consumers
League, 20 branches of the Socalis
party, 10 lodges of the National Work
mems Alliance, 10 lodges Of the indie
pendent Order Of Birth Abram, 2 of
the Independent Order of Birth Sho-
lem, of the Jewish Veterans Associ-
alton and 10 tenants leagues OF various
kinds. Every effort has been made to
keep the league clear of any possible e
tinge of partisanship or other narrow
ing influence.
I'VE meet not as workers, not even as
individuals, but as jews" declared Mr..
Guskin in opening the meeting. "be-
cause it is the unfortunate fact that rs
per cent of the landlords who mold the
whip over the workers Of New York
are Jews. We wish to have the Jews
speak with single, powerful voice
against these men, both to the Board of
Aldermen and to the Legislature"
Justice Panken, who was the prin-
cipal speaker, not only urged the
formation of the organization as the
only effective way Of dealing with the
situation and advocated the spending
of $5O,000.000 by the state and CITY
for housing, but declared that the
houses of the rich should be seized and
rented at fair price to the suffering
thousands of the city, the rentals
Continued pace fourl