The Denver Jewish news., 1925-03-19
LeonBramson, European
Delegate Of Art, A
Denver Visitor

I
Ort, occupies unique position among
the Jews Of Europe lie was born In
k0yno, In 1861, and studied law at tho
Moscow University. Later he pracfi.
ccd law In 81, Petersburg. Through his
varied activities political and social
he devoted himself to the cause of" his
corclisionisfs and entered whol'>hcart
cdly into activities which aimed To i'm
prove their economic situation through
cultural and educational methods and
through turning their activities toward
productive labor.
lie induced the Jewish Colonizat ion
Association. Of which he had become
secretary, to institute an organized
campaign for the prnmotion OF trade;
and agriculture among Jews in Russia.
rs well rs vocational schools for IN"
training of the children in the tcchni-
cal trades and to establish co-opcra-
tive credit institutions To further this
work. During the early years of this
activity 1888 1906 was the exccn-
tive head Of the Jewish Colonization
Association. lie also maintained close
contact with legislative methods in
Russia and fer n considerable time he
occupied an important place in Rus
sian politics. He was elected n deputy
Of the first Russian Douma tl9IiJ and
joined with number OF other deputies
later in protesting against the brutal
dispcrsement of the first Douma by the
government.
At that time. there were countless
political trials in Russia. and Leon
Bramson led in the organization of the
defence In many Of these He was
elected vice-prcsident ef the "rroudc.
vaja Grouppn'' Labor Group. For
these activities he was incnrceratel SOW
eral times one occasion being in
licted and condemned 10 prison for
protesting against the Czarist activities
in this well-known Balls trial.
Leon Isramson was active in the
movement of March. 1917. which abel
ished monarchism in Russia. He was
n member of the committee which
drafted the Electoral Law. providing
for the Constituent Assembly and was
subsequently elected vice chairman of
tn All Russian Committee which con
vrned the assembly.
II was Leon Bramson who affected
n change in the political situation of
the l.uSsian Jews which made him one
of the historic Jewish figures Soon
on Kcrensky. then minister of justice.
to plead for the immediate granting of
full rights to all prosecuted nationall-
ties. Kerensky. who was his political
associate and friend. entrusted him
with the drafting Of the law which he
gan II new era for minority nntiOnali-
ties and particularly for the varied
Jewish groups of Eastern Europe. A.
n mark of appreciation for his services,
he was offered the post Of under sccre-
tary of justice. as well rs that of SEN
ntOr. BrnmSon refused these honors
as he did not wish to have his eNtcn-
Sivc activities in the Council of Farm
crs and Workers intcrfcred with.
Leon BramSon made numerous liter
ary contributions on all matters affect
ing Jewish subjects in the field OF poll
ties and education. Among others. he
published the laws governing the Jews
in two volumes; complete bibiliogra.
ply On Jews in Russia; the judicature
act and the Jews n survey of the lew
ish vocational trimming past and pres
ent; Jewish agricultural settlements in
South Russia. and others.
When misery and despair came in
the wake of the October revolution and
the subsequent civil war, Leon Brem.
son headed n delegation of the Ort So
ciety, of which he was vice-president
for many years. In 1920 a delegation
of the Ort, consisting of Leon Bramson
and David Lvovitch. n member of the
Russian Constituent Assembly. started
for Western Europe in order to ac-
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