New-York tribune., 1921-06-06
Harding Opens
Doors Here of
Jewish Home
Governors of Twenty States
Attend Dedication of
Hebrew Sleltering and
Immigrant Aid Edifice
Tributes Paid Founders
President, by Wire, I'm.
locks Portals and Sends
Congratulatory Telegram

Tributes to Jewish Americans , -ho
came to this country as immigrants
were paid by President Harding, the
Governors of twenty states and other
prominent men at the dedication YES
terday of the new homA of the Hebrew
Sheltering and immigrant Aid Society
of America in the old Astor Library.
425 and 437 Lafayette Street. The
historic building near Astor Place.
which had been bought from the New
YORK Public Library Association for
S5Z5 ,OOO and reconstructed at cost
OIL SoOO,0OO, was pronounced in readi-
ness to take care of Jewish in MI
grants.
President Harding pressed button
winch formally opened the doors. The
PRESIDENT also sent TELEGRAM. CON
graduating the society on its Ameri-
canlzatlon work. The Presidents
telegram was greeted with cheers when
1t was read before several thousand
persons who crowded the building.
Fhe telegram said:
w.sh TO express to you my con-
gratulatlons and good wishes on the
occasion of the opening and dedication
of the new home of your society. Your
organization has for more than score
OF years carried on most useful, pa
tflotlc and humane service and I ioin
with you in the hope that with the
enlarged facilities you are nov; secur-
ing you will be able to expand and
improve it. The charity and liberality
or the Hebrew people have always been
peculiarly notable and an inspiration
to others. | want you to know of my
earnest wish for the continuance and
a q py-cyof mt, pf .,voIo
have done.
Testimony of Usefulness
"I am informed that the purchase of
the new home was made possible
through gifts from persons who came
to America as immigrants. 1t seems
to me there could be no more emphatic
testimony to the usefulness and effec-
tiveness of your society's work for
Americanization."
John l.. Bernstein, in formally ac-
cepting the building as president of
the society, enumerated the purposes
for which it is to be used. The So
ciety, he said, exercises as much care
to see that Jewish immigrants are
suitable for American citizenship as it
does to extend aid to them on their
arrival.
we welcome them upon their ar
rival, help them to reach their destina-
ton, obtain employment for them, show
them how to become citizens, discour-
age ineligibles from coming to this
country and prevent them from be-
coming public charges" said Mr.
Bernstein. "From the moment the
Jewish immigrant arrives to the time
he has adjusted himself to his new sur
roundings the society seeks to stand
by his side"
The fact that John Jacob Astor, after
whom the building is named, found
his first employment from an immi-
grant Jew was referred to by Oscar
S. Straus as a poetic coincidence.
"There is a kind of logic in history
said Mr.. Straus. "John Jacob Astor
who came to this country in 1898
found his first opportunity for his
career of wealth by becoming an en-
ployee of a Jewish immigrant named
Levy, from whom he learned the trade
OF furrier. The brethren of the i'm
migrant who helped Astor now enter
into possession of this building, which,
perhaps, Jewish immigrant helped
to make possible"
Jewish Immigrants Praised
Theodore G. Rsley, solicitor of the
Department of Labor, in discussing i'm
migration problems, declared that Jew