The Denver Jewish news., 1924-02-14

Wilson, wartime President of the
the Jews, has stirred the Jews of the
country as has no other event in many
months. Mr.. Wilson had often dem
onstrated his intense interest in jew
ish questions and was influential in
obtaining at the Peace Conference in
Paris recognition of racial and relig
ious minorities, which has reacted
most favorably for Jewish minorities
i'll Eastern Europe. He heartily sec
onded the Balfour Declaration and
urged the approval of the British
Mandate over Palestine.
Mr.. Wilson vetoed three restrictive
immigration measures. The former
president did not hesitate to say to
those close to him that he had vetoed
the bills because he Believed them to
be discriminatory and thai he thought
them to be aimed principally - tac
Jews
In the debate over the = .oga.ion Of
the Treaty with Rusi'l. Mr.. Wilson
demanded the cagn tion of the
American citizenship of Jews, ending
fight which had been ,.agel for
many years.
1t was Mr.. Wilson who appointed
Louis ID. Brandeis to T. Supreme
Court bench, an appointH-cnt which he
fought vigorously to nave approved
and in which he was successful, over
coming the prejudices of the Supreme
Court itself and of Congress. AS gov
ernor of New Jersey he had previously
showed his friendliness for the Jews
in appointing Samuel Kalisch to the
Superem Court of New Jersey.
In an exclusive statement to the cor
respondent of the Jewish Telegraphic
Agency, Joseph P. Tumulty, secretary
to Mr.. Wilson, while he was governor
Of New Jersey and later president of
the United States, discussed the
friendship which the deceased states
man had for the Jewish people.
president Wilson entertained no
\ doubt whatever of the anti-Jewish
character of immigration restriction
said Mr.. Tumulty, stating frankly
| that he himself shared the deceased
| ex-president's conviction. For the
first time Mr.. Tumulty, also, revealed
| what has hitherto been unknown offici-
| ally, that Mr.. Wilson had decided to
| appoint Justice Louis d. Brandeis as
| one of Americas plenipotentiaries to
4 the Versailles Peace Conference, but
| was prevented from carrying out this
wish by the late Chief Justice of Su-
preme Court White, who refused to
grant Justice Brandeis leave for that
purpose, stating that the court was
too busy to spare Brandeis.
Mr.. Tumulty also definitely con-
| firmed the long standing impression
| that Brandeis was one of Wilson's
| principal advisers both during and
\ after the war. He said Wilson fire.
i ouently consulted Brandeis on some of
| the greatest problems of the govern
ment, especially when critical situa-
] ations arose and placed much reliance
\ on Brandeis' advice. Mr.. Tumulty re-
n called some incidents in connection
with Mr.. Wilson's nomination of
\ Brandeis to the Supreme Court.
"The president had not made the
Slightest intimation before hand of his
intention to nominate Brandeis," Mr..
| Tumulty said. "One morning he called
me and said 4 have decided to NOM
mate Louis d. Brandeis to fill the va
cancy on the Supreme Court bench
INV God l exclaimed, you will never
| he able to put that over! He is Jew
| and the large interests will oppose
| him for his advanced views' 4 will
nut him over,' the president replied
\ firmly, she is man of the highest
integrity and the country needs the
/ Kind of vision he possesses on the Su-
\ preme Court bench / will never for
\ Get the next thing the president asked
n me to do. 1t was so unusual Mr..
\ TumuIt continued. at was always
customary to send nominations to the
senate with one of my assistants in
/ the White House. In this instance,
| however, the president said, 'Tumulty,
| want you to take over Brandels'
nomination personally. l wish to
show Mr.. Brandeis every courtesy and
| in this way to convey my deep interest
\ in the confirmation of his nomination.
N OF course, ] obeyed the presidents S
request and it undoubtedly made the
N expected impression"
Mr. Tumulty also recalled the letter
which Mr.. Wilson, during the fight