Evening star., 1937-11-29
JEWS PLAN 'FRONT.'
ON 0NANTLSEM|T|SM
Convention Decides to Call
New Congress in 1893.
Menace" AssaiIed.

ridLs lor united democratic
'front.' in this country against anti
Semitism everywhere were set in mo-
ton today after Nationwide conven-
tlon OF the American Jewish Congress
Wnlch concluded a tWo-day session at
the Willard Hotel yesterday.
The convention decided to summon
not later than June, 1898, a Jewish
congress TO be composed of 600 dele
gates, 400 TO be elected by direct in
dlvidual ballot of Jews and the rest
to be named by organizations affiliated
with the American Jewish Congress
Every Jew above the age Of i8 will he
allowed to vote for the delegates to be
chosen by election.
The convention declared that the
defense of the political, economic and
civil status of the Jews wherever their
rights may be threatened or denied
is the most urgent task confronting
tne Jews living in democratic coun-
tries"
Nationwide Election.
Inc unusual step of authorizing q
Nationwide election of delegates to
a congress in the spring was taken
after Louis Lipsky, vice president Of
the organization, spoke of the dis
organized, ununited competitive de-
tense now prevailing, in the face of a
situation where the anti-Semitic poison
Is spreading throughout the world"
He added
mo group of people was ever con-
fronted with such a menace as We
face and prepared with a defense in
such an objectionable manner"
DR., Stephen S. Wise. president Of
the American Jewish Congress. en-
phasizes the necessity of translatinz
the ideals of democracy into the or
ganization Of Jewish life. He called
on Jews to support democratic move
ments wherever they may reside.
TO say that democracy is the safe
guard of the Jew is only half the
truth" DR.. Wise said. Democracy
alone may be trusted to safeguard the
rights Of Jews and of all elements Of
the population, because democracy
| alone makes impossible such ruthlessly
brutal exercises of power by ma iorities
as have shocked and dismayed civil
ization IN recent years.
Human Hopes AnnulIed.
In Fascist-crazed, war-ridden
world, there is no hope for the Jew,
nor would any Jew choose to live in
a world which has annulled every
human value and every human hope.
In two ways We may requite what
America has done for US. We may
highly resolve. and We do, to give all,
even life, in order that the American
democracy shall not perish from the
earth. Turning our eyes and our
hearts beyond the seas, we may bear
witness to our faith in America by
giving our brother Jews something of
the strength, the hope and the courage
with which beloved, blessed America
has endowed US"
Addressing the meeting, Senator
Arthur Capper Of Kansas said:
1T would be blindness not to see that
! the attack upon the Jew everywhere is
| the beginning of the attack upon
democratic liberties; that if today dis
elimination against the Jewish or other
groups is allowed, tomorrow that dis
elimination may be extended 20 all
other groups. What has happened in
Germany is tragic example of how
whole peoples may be enslaved. The
anti-democratic forces are united. The
democratic forces must unite. We dare
not wait"
The delegates asked that. pending
the meeting in 1888, the World Jewish
Congress take the appropriate steps
to present to the League of Nations
the record of the violations of minor
tiles rights treaties under the guar
antee OF the League now current in
many lands, and to demand League
action to bring about the restoration
OF Jewish rights and protection against
future violations"
The union of Christian and other
democratic forces in the work of
combating anti-Semitism will be
sought
DR.. Henry A. Atkinson of the Amer
ican Committee on Religious Rights
and Minorities, told the convention
that "anti-Semitism is stab in the
heart of every nation"
He pledged the cooperation OF his
organization in fighting such persecu-
ton.
DR.. Samuel McCree Cavert, general
secretary Of the Federal Council Of
Churches Of Christ in America, pre-
vented by illness from attending the
meeting, sent a message expressing his
sympathy with the aims of the Jewish
Congress.