The Denver Jewish news., 1924-08-07
Rabbi David rhIlipson OF cincinna

Il consider II most unfortunate that
the religious issue has been Injected
into our American political life, This
Is one Cf the mast disastrous results
OF ku KluN Khan activity. But since
that issue was forced 10y the Khan in
the recent Republican and Democratic
convention and since II Is now To the
fore IN n number of the states 1t IL a
fait nccompli. For this reason, there
Is. to my mind, hut one course for all
believers in the American principle Of
religious liberty to pursue. and that is
10 light this un-Amcrican organization
tooth and nail There can he no evasion
that does not spell cownrdice. The Is
sue hns been forced upon rs. To keep
silence may be good partisan politics,
lnt II Is very poor American prin.
ciplc"
Dr, David dcSola Pool, RABBIT Of the
Spanish and Portuguese Synagog OF
New York states:
NV if'''l anu NV spun VI ti' Nttl-
stitutiou Of the United States are ex.
plicitly opposed Ia any Limitation on
citizenship by reason of racial origin
or rncial aililintion.
The Ku KluN Klan is avowedly d.
visivo If Amcricnnism along racial and
along religious lines. 1t is, therefore.
nm imperative ohligntion for Gentle and
Jewish citizen alike, of whatever hue
their skin. to safeguard our country
from this menace to our political, our
social and our human unity.
Combating the Khan Is not pecu-
liarly the duty OF the Protestant, nor Of
the Catholic. nor OF the lew. II Is an
ineluciable duty of American citizen
ship"
Rabbi Leo lung Of the Jewish Cen.
Ter, In New York. writes:
a year ago I declined the offer of
membership on the Council OF m inter
,dcnominational Anti Ku Klux Kim As
Sociation. | see no reason for change
Of my attitude: which was based on the
following considerations:
The "Judcntieck" of medieval times
was the badge of shame of ChristendOm.
Thus is the X. X. X. the personal dis.
grace of the American Protestant
Church: and its destruction is the per.
sonal duty Of that body.
I'VE Jews as Jews must continue to
make our positive contributions. coon
Grating with our Gentle brethren, dcdi-
eating our energies to efforts which
aim nj the bcttcrmcnt of the average
American citizen, fighting on every hat
tie field for truth. justice and brother
hood BY increasing the forces for
good we shall help to eliminate the In.
tiucncc of the fool and the criminal,
whose folly and cruel cowardicc wreak
their worst ON mlnorities md glory in
the brutality of X X. X. achievements.
by ever improving the Jew, we shall
not fail To improve the Gentle and to
an WIN hhSh
Ku Klux Klanism out OF existence.
Il am confident that God Almighty
will help those Americans, Jews and
Gentiles. whose minds are devoted to
the fundamental humanity OF Religion.
| feel sure that the Protestant Church
will emerge victorious from this grave
conflict, once it has determined to re-
capture fer all of its followers the so
cinl ideals of the Bible. to exclude from
its blessing the slanderer. the blind
hater. the goddess priest, the fools who
follow them and the Ku Klux Klnn who
harp on their moral and intellectual
ineptitude."
Rabbi Abba Hllel Silver of Cleve-
land writes:
We have too many important things
in Jewish life today to disslpate our
energy in fighting secret organizations
which do not like us. You cannot
keep n man from hating you and you
cannot keep men, who share common
hatred from organizing. When such
, hatred cncroaches upon our political
/ rights we can have recourse to govern
ment! When it confines itself to social
and economic opposition we can do
nothing.
I'VE are abundantly supplied with
anti.dcfamation leagues to counteract
/ false propaganda and we have nm An
glO-Jewdsh press to carry on the true
propaganda. We have our multitudin
Gus committees and congresses to voice
our vigorous protest on proper oc-
casions, and have free platforms and
pulpits from which to proclaim our
Americanism to the satisfaction OF al
Jews What else Is there to do? What
] else can we do?