New-York tribune., 1921-01-17
Wilson Signs
Protest Against
Anti-Senitisn
Cardinal O'Connell and
Archbishop Hayes Are
Among Christian Clergy
Scoring Attack on Jews
Harding Voices Approval
lI6 Men and Women Are
on List Compiled by
John Spargo, Socialist

test against anti-Semitic propaganda
in the United States, bearing the
names Of President Wilson, William
II. Taft, Cardinal O'Connell and 11s
other widely known men and women Of
Christian faith, was made public here
tonight by John Spargo, Socialist au-
thor. 1t exhorts particularly chose
who are "molders Of public opinion
the clergy and ministers of all Chris
tian' churches, publicists, teachers,
editors and statesmen-to strike at
this un-American and un-(;hristian
agitation"
I'VE regret exceedingly" the pro-
test said, "the publication Of q num-
Der Of books, pamphlets and newspaper
articles designed to foster distrust
and suspicion of our fellow citizens
Of Jewish ancestry and faith-oistrust
and suspicion of their loyalty and
their patriotism"
A new and dangerous spirit, i. as-
serted, is being introduced into the
national political life by these pub
llcatlons, challenging and menacing
American citizenship and American
democracy. Men and women of Jew
ish faith, 1t declared, should not be
required alone to flight this evil, but
that it Is in very special sense the
duty of citizens who are not Jews by
ancestry and faith.'
Wilson'S Approval
TO Mr.. Spargos request for his ap-
proval of the protest, President Wilson
wrote:
Il have your letter Of December %,
and l am heartily in sympathy with
movement. / beg that you will add
my name to the signatures"
President-elect Harding, in a letter
made pubic by Mr.. Spargo, declared
his disapprovaf Of anti-Semitism, but
expressed a desire to avoid creating a
precedent by signing the protest. He
wrote:
II am sure you can understand why,
at the present time, J. am seeking the
avoidance of undue publicity and re-
luctant to make public statements re-
lating to any of our pending problems.
am no less sure that you already
know, and that the American people
believe, that I am giving no sanction
to anything so narrow, SO intolerant or
| so un-American as the anti-Semitic
movement. I have been preaching the
gospel of understanding and good will,
and no one w.lo believes in these things
and hopes for the concord Of America
can be interested in any movement
aimed against any portion Of our Amer
lean citizenship"
"We protest against this organized
campaign cf prejudice and hatred" the
signers declared, mot only because of
its manifest injustice TO those agaire t
whom 1t is directed, but also, and ,espe.
cially, because we are convinced that
it is wholly incompatible with loyal
and intelligent American citizenship"
"The loyalty and patriotism Of our
fellow citizens of the Jewish faith" it
added, "is equal t. that of any part of
our people, and requires no defense at
our hands"
Secretary of State Colby sent his ap-
proval by cable from South America.
Others who signed were Secretary of
War Baker, Secretary Of Agriculture
and Lansing, ex-Secretary Of War Lind
ley NJ. Garrison. ex-secretary of the
Interior Franklin K. Lane and ex-At-
torney General George W. Wicker
! sham.
Many Distinguished Signers
Several college presidents are on the
llSt, including NlchOlaS murray butter,
Of Columbia University; John Grier
Hibben, of Princeton; w. H. P. Faunce,
of Brown; H. A. Garfield, of Williams
College; Ernest Martin Hopkins, Of
Dartmouth; Henry Churchill King, Of
Oberlin; James r. Day, chancellor Of
Syracuse University. and Thomas u.
Shahan, rector Of the Catholic Univer-
sity of America.
Among the churchmen in the list are
Robert f. Speer, president Of the Fed
eral Council of the Churches of Christ
in America; Bishop Charles David
Williams, Of Michigan; Bishop Ben
jamin Brewster. of Maine; Bishop
Chauncey B. Brewster, of Connecticut;
Archbishop Patrick J.. Hayes, Of New
York; Dean w. P Ladd, of the Berkley
Divinity School, and Bishop D. j.
O'Connell. Of Richmond.