The Denver Jewish news., 1924-12-04

proportion OF editorials dealing with
Jewish group issues is only slightly
above one-qunrter of the total, and
but two-ffths as large as the group de
voted to general American issues.
The editorials dealing with govern
mental questions constitute by far tho
largest minor category, the total for
this single group exceeding that Of all
the categories dealing with the Jewish
, group and world issues, combined, by
2S per cent.
Attitude Of Yidalish Press Towards
Civic Questions.
A special section is devoted to con-
sideration Of the prevailing attitude of
the Yiddish press towards outstanding
civic problems, among them urban con-
gestion, naturalization and citizenship
immigration, political party aiiillntion,
industrial relations and education.
Urge Jews to Become Farmers
The Yiddish newspapers are all In
accord in dcprecating the tendency Of
| immigrant Jews to concentrate in over
whelming numbers in urban sections.
They extol the position and opportuni-
ties Of Of the American farmer and re-
peatedly urge the Jews to return to the
soil. For example, in reply TO the
question as to whether son should
become farmer, one editorial states
several reasons why Jews should re-
lows:
| If Walter Traub has the inclination
and ability to become a farmer, then we
admire his father for having such son
than those fathers whose sons are doc
tors, lawyers, and engineers.
Importance Of Citizenship Emphasized
The Yiddish newspapers utilize every
possible opportunity to urge their read
ers to become American citizens. They
commend the naturalization work car
ricd on by the special bureaus and
classes organized for this purpose in
the Jewish institutions, centers, and
social settlements, and ask their read
crs to render financial support to all
these efforts.
| The decision Of one of the large Jew
ish labor organizations not to admit
any new member unless he shall have
at least declared his intention of be-
coming an American citizen by taking
out his first papers, was greeted with
! approval. The newspapers are careful
TO point out that naturalization is a
privilege and duty OF which all who in
tend to settle permanently in this coun-
/ try should avail themselves.
! The Yiddish press also endeavors TO
acquaint its readers with the obliga-
tions which assumption of American
citizenship imposes. 1t exhorts them to
exercise their right to vote, emphasiz-
| ing at the same time the importance of
| the ballot box to the life of a democ-
racy. 1t condemns strongly any at
/ tempt to resort to sabotage. terrorism,
direct action, or other forceful meth
Ods II points to the exercise of the
franchise as the only means of solving
any problem or effecting any desirable
change 1t gives the candidates for
American citizenship splendid training
in thinking about and forming judg-
ments on political questions.
The Future of the Yiddish Press
One Of the incidental results of this
study shows that large proportion of
readers are attached to the Yiddish
press who are sufficiently Americanlzed
to rely for general news on the YER
nacular press. Why does the Jewish
/ immigrant hold with such tenacity to
the Yiddish press even after he has ac-
Qulred facility in the use of the Eng
| lish language In the Judgment of the
writer the replies given to this ques-
tion by over ninety per cent of the
! support to the conviction that, although
I the Jewish immigrants support their
group press more generously and for n
longer period than do the nOn-Jewish
immigrants, the present tendencies, if
maintained point to the gradual de
cline of the Yiddish press in this coun-
try.
Yiddish Press Resembles General
Press
The analysis of the content of the
editorials of the entire YiddiSh press
| has brought to the surface results
which are significant. II has been gen
orally assumed that the primary aim
of forcign-languag press is to Keep
| its readers in touch with the events
which transpirc in the "old country to
aid in keeping the immigrant readers
in America well informed regarding the
welfare Of their relatives whom they