Evening star., 1932-03-10
BAKER BROADCASTS
APPEAL TO NATION
FOR WORLD AM|TY
Says Arms Situation Makes
Need for Understanding
Greatest Since 1914.
HITLERISM BROUGHT UP
AT CHURCH CONFERENCE
True Meaning of Term Melting
Pot" Given to Meeting by
Roger w. Straus.

The cause of tolerance was carried to
a Nationwide radio audience last night
by Newton D. Baker in the closing ad-
dress of the National Conference OF
Catholics. Jews and ProteStants at the
Willard Hotel.
With a world more heavily armed
than ever before and busily preparing
for another conflict, Mr.. Baker declared,
the need for understanding and amity
among groups, religions and nations Is
greater than its has been since 1914.
He said that quite recently in this
country we have seen great bodies OF
persons perverting the pure current OF
political thought"
The Secretary of War in the Wilson
administration stressed the need for
adult education in tolerance in the
problems of government. With the
problems of government in democracy
becoming more drastically difficult,
every step for progress means the edu-
cation of majority of the Nations
population" Mr.. Baker said.
Peace Machinery Needed.
The speaker stressed the unsettled
condition of world politics and said the
world needs machinery which will pre-
serve international peace"
The objective of the conference, he
stated, is not to attack the faith OF
any participating group. but to break
down prejudice and intolerance.
What we have been interested in,"
he asserted, "is not what any man be-
lieves, but what other people think
about him, and do to him for believing
what he does believe.
I'VE are not here to attack faith,
but to attack prejudice. Thomas JET
ferson was an exemplar of tolerance
as was George Washington. There was
nothing of condescension in the toll
erance of these men.
IT am hopeful that after a while the
United States will become a Nation of
educated men. BY an educated man
mean one who suspends Judgment until
he knows and has weighed all the
facts"
Hitlerism Discussed.
Shortly before Mr. Baker spoke. the
attention of the conference was drawn
to the rise Of Hitlerism in Germany by
Rev. Samuel McCrea Cavert, general
secretary OF the Federal Council of
Churches of Christ in America.
He said this movement carried
threat of discrimination and possible
persecution for the Jewish people He
urged the full influence of American
Christian groups be brought to bear on
Germany.
Roger w. Straus of the Union of AM
erican Hebrew Congregations, presided
last night He is co-chairman of the
conference with Mr. Baker and Prof
Carlton j. H. Hayes.
He said the phrase melting pot"
should be interpreted to include indi-
vidual and group liberty and differ
entiation as well as cooperation and
understanding.
Term Melting Pot Defined.
About Is or 80 years ago." Mr..
Straus said, Israel zangwill gave to
this country a beautiful ideal in the
phrase the melting pot Many felt
that the melting pot meant every
group should be liquef1ed in a mass
and cast In single type. This is a
Allow me to use an
is a process known as smelling and
We take various ores and
minerals from all parts Of the earth,
smelt them in a furnace and refine
them in pot, and then cast bars Of
pig lead, each one identically the same
as the other. Before getting this exact
Sameness, we must remove all the
gold and silver. that is, the precious
metals
I'm the same way, If we were to
try to mold every one in this country
to the same pattern, we should have
to remove the precious elements OF in
dividual initiative and individual ideal
ism. This misconception Is the basis
OF such narrow movements as Com
munism. The finer ideal is to permit
liberty to individuals and groups and
at the same time to promote co-opera-
tion and understanding.
Summary Presented.
A summary and Interpretation Of the
round-table discussions which have
been held during the three-day meet
ing was presented by Miss Rhoda E.
McCulloch, editor of the Women's Press
of New York; Prof. John A. Lapp of
Marquette University and Rabbi Morris
Lazaron of the Baltimore Hebrew Con-
gregation.
Miss McCulloch emphasized the need
for tolerance education and said dlVersl-
fed faith is no bar to united action.
The conference clearly recognized at
its sessions that it is not necessary for
any group to alter its faith in order
to be tolerant of the faith OF another
group. Prof. Lapp declared.
Rabbi Lazaron stressed the need Tor
and suggested that local con-
ferences of Jews and Christians should
be created in all sections OF the coun-
try to fight against prejudice.