The Denver Jewish news., 1924-08-21
For Sen. La Toilette
WILL BREAK AWAY FROM
DEMOCRATIC PARTY If
DAVIS WILL NOT DE.
NOu nee KHAN. DE-
CLARES SAMUEL INTER
MYER.
Has Admiration For senator la Fol.
lciie and Expects Same Attitude
From President Coolidge.
CJevi-h Telcgraphic Agency,


away from my lifelong allegiance 10
my party for | should then regard him |
as unworthy to he n leader Of n grcnt
party. declared Samuel Tntermycr In
an exclusive statement issued today to
the Jewish Telegraphic Agency In con
nectlon with the symposium Of opin-
ion gathered by the Agency concerning
the attitude Of American Jewry to-
wards the X. X. X
The symposium Of opinion you have
gathered" stated Mr.. samuel I'm
termyer, "ou the important question Of
the policy To be followed by the Jews
in combating the activities of the
dcspicahle lawless, un-Amcricnn Ku
kluN organization Is most interesting
aud instructive. II is. of course. graft
flying to me to find some well-nigh un-
animous support in the position | have
consistently taken as to the way in
which we should deal with this eN-
crcscence upon the body polite of Amer
'aiI NV ~ l'll Nhlf lllf1f Ntul'l
after mature consideration.
The question is not one of feeling,
about which there can he no difference
of opinion among the decent citizenship
Of this country. but purely one Of pol
icy for the Jews. II is easier to plunge
unthinkingly Into fight than to re.
strain oneself, especially where the pro-
vocation is so overwhelming and we'll
nigh irresistible. but 1t is not always
the part of wisdom.
If you will examine the record Of
my public uttcrnnccs- wherever and
whenever the opportunity has present
ed itself-you will find that few men
have been more outspoken in their de-
nunciation Of the Klan. But | have
always launched the attack from the
point of view of an American citizen
rather than from that of the Jew-that
being not only the most patriotic. just
and legitimate. but the most expedient
and effective.
Il regret. for the sake of the Jewish
| cause. to which I have throughout my
life devoted my best energies, that my
position on this crucial question has
been misunderstood and misrepresented.
/ And this Notwithstanding my frequent
public expressions Of contempt for and
dcnunciation Of the miscreants who are
seeking 10 poison the wells of American
/ life and to spread bigotry and hatred
where only the gospel of love, unity,
tolerance and understanding should he
preached.
When DR. Wise. whom | esteem
highly as public-spirited citizen, an
out utSianding teacher in our faith and II
priceless asset to the Jewish people,
gave expression to his point Of view
of my attitude. | conferred before
penning my reply with my friend and
partner. Mr.. Louis Marshall. found him
| in full agreement with me and upon
the wisdom of the policy to bo adopted
as outlined in my letter to the American
Jewish Congress.
The preteNt offered for these mis-
representations concerning my attitude
upon the Klan was my support of the
pre- Convention nomination campaign
of Mr.. McAdOo who has been my life
long friend and whom | know to he
about rs much of "A Sympathizer as |
am with this odious hooded order that
has dared TO rear its vcnomous head
in cur political life There WIS no
more reason for his making public his
personal views on that subject in antic-
! ipation of his choice by the convention
| than there would have been for Mr..
| Davis or President Coolidge to have
done so at that time, and no more
| his views on the general issues that
would he involved in the campaign
which is not customary and which none
of the men did whose names were be
fore the convention. There were over
thirty candidates before the Conven-
| tiOn. They were not asked for eX-
presSons of their views. | do. how
evr, know that, If nominated, Mr.. Nc
Adoo would have been as Outspoken in
his denunciation of the Klan as any
decent citizen could desire. His closest
friends and most stnunch supporters
throughout his public and private life
have been among the people of our
race.
my admiration for the coura geous,
outSpokcn utterances of Senator LaFol-
lette on this subject is boundess.
expect the same unequivOcal stand from
Mr.. Davis and have faith that his cour-
age and American spirit will require
him to express himself, regardless Of
consequences. Nothing less will salts
fy mc-not as "A jew but as citizen.
| If he fails to announce himself | shall
| feel impcllct to break away from my
lifelong allegiance to my party-for
] I Should then regard him ms unworthy