davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1940-03-01
| Escaped From Hitler

In Warsaw we got our first
taste of what it means to be ruled
by that regime of efficient crimi-
nails who represent themselves as
spokesman of the German people,
on the day when the city surren-
dered and the German troops en-
tered. Despite all the horrible tales
we had heard about Nazi brutali-
ty, we, nevertheless, chung to the
hope that the invading forces
would, in the hour of their victory,
evince some measure of humanity.
The worst tyrants in the world
have been known in the moment
of their triumph to show spirit
of magnanimity towards tn IS e
whom they defeated. But not so
the Nazis.
One of the first things they did
was to cOngregate crowd of cit
liens in the main, square of the
city. People we're given soup
plates and were told to line up.
They were then photographed by
Nazi news cameramen. These are
the pictures you have seen in
American newspapers hOwing
how the Nazis feed the starving
population of Warsaw. What ac-
tually happened was that the mo-
ment the pictures had been taken,
the Nazi soldiers, shouting vile
curses and insults, attacked the
unsuspecting crowd, beating men,
women and children with their
truncheOns. Filled with bitterness
and humiliation the people, many
of them bleeding from the cruel
blows, rushed wildly for cover. In
few moments the square was
empty.
This was but a fortaste. There
followed a series of systematic
bus s, indignities, physical at
tacks and inhuman tortures, such
as only the refined sadism of the
Hitlerites has been able to devise.
Throughout the days and even
ings, people on the streets were
attacked and mercilessly beaten.
Many were piled into m r
trucks and taken to the outskirts
of the city, where, without regard
to age or illness, they were forced
to do strenuous physical labor I'M
der the relentless lash Of the Nazi
soldiers. Homes were invaded and
pillaged. Frequently m n, and
sometimes women, were Ia k n
away and were never heard from
again. Houses of worship were
desecrated and burned.
Within a short space of time
100000 Jews in Warsaw were
forced to move to different quar-
tiers of the city three times. AS a
member of the executive of the
Jewish community participated
in delegations which called on the
German authorities in an effort
to secure an easing up of the
harsh and inhuman treatment to
which the Jews were subjected. AS
a result of these experiences 1
soon came to the conclusion that
the aim of the Nazis is the physi-
cal destruction of as many Jews
as possible in the shortest posi-
BILE time. In November the Costa
pc ordered that ghetto be estab-
lished Immediately. The plan was
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1940-03-01
YOU UPROOT THEM

the Jews and non-JeWs in Poland
been better than they are now.
Faced by a common enemy and a
common menace, they have been
brought closer together. Especial
ly the workmen and professional
people have shown great sympa-
thy for the tragedy of Jews. Many
Jews killed during the siege were
buried in temporary cemeteries in
Warsaw's squares, next to Catho-
lies. Frequently cultured Pole
passing a Jew on the street wear
ing the yellow badge introduced
by the Nazis, will say under his
breath Keep up your courage.
This too will pass"
Perhaps this strengthened bond
of friendship and good will be-
tween Jews and nOn-JeWS i'm PO-
land is a token of the new and bet
ter Poland that will emerge when
the Nazi yoke is thrown off, as in
the end it must be.
But for us here in this great and
free America, this thought cannot
suffice. Until t IN a new Poland
rises again, we cannot leave our
suffering brethren to struggle by
themselves. We cannot leave them
to their own fate. We must let
them know that we have not for
gotten them in their hour of black
despair. We must give immediate
help to those of them who have
been fortunate enough to flee to
the neutral countries V here they
are now stranded as penniless
refugees. And we must strive
somehow to reach into Poland
proper in order to bring our help
to those who are imprisoned in the
Nazi inferno and cannot escape.
In order to do this, it is necessary
to arouse the conscience of the
world to the shocking program of
the Nazis which has the avowed
purpose of discriminating the Po-
llsh Jews through starvation, dis
ease and physical torture.
Let us hope that we will not for
Ong have to speak about Poland
n these terms, that the Nazi bar
barism will, in our day, in our
time, be crushed by the combined
forces of world democracy.
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1940-03-01

to have the ghetto fenced with
barbed wire from Z o'clock in the
evening until 6 in the morning.
In the daytime the Jews were to
be allowed to visit other parts of
the city.
The ghetto idea was as nothing
in it's cynical brutality compared
! to the demand of the Nazi au-
thorities that the Jews should set
up two military brothels of Jew
ish girls, one for officers and one
or priv a e S. This order was
brought to us at the offices of the
Jewish Community Council on No
vember End by a Gestapo official
named Wende. We Indignantly re-
jected this proposal to the undes-
cribable ire of Wende. The same
order was delivered separately to
the go year old president of the
Jewish community by the chief of
the Gestapo in Warsaw, Captain
Batz himself. The president ans
wered that he would rather face
the firing squad than comply with
such an order.
could tell you many more
grueSOme stories, not from hear
say but from personal knowledge
and observation. 1 could tell you
for example of what took place
in GrudZiaLZ where several score
of young boys and girls were exc
cuted in the public square facing
a church, because the Nazi Off
Gals had discovered that morning
a secret appeal posted in the city
calling upon the Polish population
to keep up its courage under the
Nazi inquisitiOn. But 1 have told
you enough to indicate the hOrri-
BILE nightmare that has descended
upon Poland.
They say that it is an ill wind
that blows no good and so, as an
indirect result of the Nazi inquisi-
ton, am glad to report one
heartening fact. At no time in the
past have the relations between
The Southern Jewish weekly. [volume] (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1939-1992, 1940-03-01
BY DIR. HENRIK SZOSZKIES

1t is only a few weeks since I
succeeded in escaping from NaZi
Poland. 1 am still haunted, day
and night, by the things 1 saw and
the things 1 personally expert
enced, and 1 suppose 1 shall be
haunted by them as long as live.
The message I bring to you to-
day from Poland, is message
written in blood. This is no mere
figure of speech. I am speaking of
a martyred nation, of millions who
are the victims of reign of ter
ror unequalled in the history of
mankind, of countless thousands
who have already been done to
death through execution and tor
ture. 1 know how unfortunate I
am to have made my escape and
I can truthfully say that, but for
the grace of God, might now be
one of the martyrs of whom I am
writing, because no one who has
remained in Poland is immune. to
the insane wrath of the Nazis.
Millions of Poles, Jews and Uk-
rainianS find themselves in one
huge concentration camp, for that
is what Poland has become under
the Nazis. They have all been
classified by the Hitherto over
lords as inferior races whose lives
are cheap and who should regard
themselves grateful for the privi-
Iege of starving and Shaving under
the Nazi lash. But it is needless to
point out that the Jews have been
singled out for the special atten-
ton of the gentle GestapO.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26

AS western representative of the
A. F. of l.. he investigated the 1885
strike of lettuce workers, he said, and
found that local officials had deputized
and armed citizens He Immediately
sensed the hysteria being created and
asked them to abandon the policy, but
they refused and shortly thereafter
the deaths occurred, he told the COM
mittee
District Attorney Elmer Heald of
Imperial County branded Casey's tes-
timony as "scurrilous attack" He
said he presented all the witnesses
available to county grand jury which
refused to return any indictments.
Casey testified after Gen. Pelham D.
Glassford, one-time Washington, d.
c., police chief, accused the Imperial
Valley growers of using communist
hysteria to justify mob rule to main
tain their supremacy over starving
migratory workers"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26

Where labor bites each others shin
bones nationally, there will be lot
of agreement locally.
That will be worth great big pic
ture after the battle is over.
One thing can throw all present
ideas out of the window-that's the
wars. Yes, there are wars; not just
one war. There may be more wars
and the ones we have may get bigger
very suddenly.
And, believe it or not, the United
States CAN get very much more
mixed up in the wars than at present
Oh yes, VERY much more.
And then, F. d. R. may remove the
question mark and run-and then
every present opinion and forecast
would have to be remade right there
So you see, the political year is GO
ing to be interesting, even if not nice
What do YOU think?
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
Relief Is No Longer A
Temporary Measure

Columbus, o. LNS).-State We'll
fare Director Charles L. Sherwood in
a radio broadcast as part of a series
of educational discussions, said ire
lief is no longer an emergency pro-
gram but will probably be with US
as far ahead as we can see."
Sherwood predicted it would be nee
essary to consider the financial re-
quirements of relief in all future
budgets. At the same time he urged
the decentralization of the federal
works program and recommended
that it be placed on the same admin
istrative level as aid for the aged. He
suggested that development and ad-
ministration of works program for
relief be placed in the hands of the
state with federal assistance in fl
nancing,
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26

as against total of 196,552,000 in
1888 with 63,411 employees. With a
telegraph monopoly, more and more
work will be added to the load of in
dividual employees because no office or
branch will be maintained unless it is
worked at full capacity.
Union Prepares to Fight
"F. G. C. reports average w. U. op-
orators monthly compensation in 1888
was $125 as against Postal's $83.
"The C. T. U. is preparing to do all
within its power to block telegraph
merger, and in addition the A. F. of l..
has pledged it's full assistance. De-
spite the implied endorsement of the
merger by Senator Wheeler, we be-
lieve that Congress will hesitate to
enact merger legislation at this ses-
sion when it is shown how many en-
ployes this industry has already
thrown onto the unemployment rolls,
and how many additional will be af-
fected by merger"
An editorial in the Commercial
Telegraphers' Journal for January de-
clares that the telegraph merger
"must be blocked" and says that the
Western Union and Postal are fur
nishing a telegraph service which,
with all its defects, affords greater
employment than would telegraph
monopoly. The editorial sharply criti-
cizes the Federal Communications
Commission report for failing to make
recommendation for protecting the
telegraphic industry from unfair COM
petition.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
UNION ANNOUNCES
DECISION TO FIGHT
TELEGRAPH MERGER
Denounced as Heavy Blow at Employ
ment-Journal Criticizes Federal
Communications Commission.

Chicago (ILNS).-The Commercial
Telegraphers' Union will do all in it's
power to block merger of telegraph
companies, as recommended by the
Federal Communications Commission,
President Frank B. Powers of the
union declares in letter to union or
ganizers Powers says:
"Practical telegraph workers know
that a merger will close up 1906
Postal Telegraph Company main Of
fees and TIA Postal branches. Solici-
tors, branch managers, operators and
clerks will have no place to go. Relay
operators, T. and R. men, route aides
and others will be discarded.
"The Western Union, or merged
company, with no competition, will not
keep open all of it's 2,373 main offices
and 1,340 branches. Many of them
are now kept open in order to meet
the competition of Postal.
No Specific Labor Protection
"But what of the 29,247 telegraph
workers who have been laid off, fur
loughed or put on part time since
1880? The F. G. c. mentions that the
interests Of labor should be specific
ally protected but offers no specific
proposals of it's own except to include
the severance pay provisions of the
railroad coordination program.
"There is no mention made that the
industry, merged or otherwise, has
any obligation or responsibility for
the $4,000 Western Union and the
5000 Postal workers dropped since
1880, in spite of the fact that volume
of telegraph business is 5000 mes
sages above that of 1880.
an 1880, total of 188,777 900 mes
sages was handled by 92,658 employees
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
War Gives New Orleans
L0ngshoremen More Pay

New Orleans (ILNS) .-Longshore-
ceiving one dollar an hour, an advance
of five cents from the scale of year
ago. The new scale just signed gives
the A. F. of L. unions a practical mo-
nopoly on the longshore situation in
New Orleans, with the G. |. O. hold
ing only one contract, that with the
Morgan Line. The war in Europe has
resulted in heavy freight movement
from New Orleans and longshoremen
have had almost steady work with
many of the men receiving from SAC
to $50 week, it is said. An average
Of 5000 men are employed.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
Americas Stake

In civilization, America has a
mighty stake. Amidst the confusion
and groping, the turmoil and fury,
it is ours to hold fast to the gains of
the centuries. Ours to preserve mans
passion for democracy. Avoid the
conflict we will, if possible In the
end, liberty may remain only here.
Again ours may be the task of keep
ing this precious flame lighted to re-
store a torn and bleeding world when
the forces of destruction are spent
to help all mankind again to find the
path which leads to peace and free
DOM No nation could have nobler
destiny. Paul V. McNutt, Federal Sc
curity Administrator
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
WHAT NEXT?

Dinner on an elevator is the latest
in restaurant service. 1t is being
tried at New York restaurant. The
customer writes his order on a slip of
paper, drops it down slot, and
presses button which sends square
tray, in the center of the table, down
to the kitchen, where the food is put
on it and the tray sent up again.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
Certificates On Way To
Labor Division Chairmen

Washington, D. C. (ILNS)-Cer-
tifcates of appointment are being
mailed out as rapidly as possible to
those members and officials of organ
lied labor who have volunteered to
serve on important committee posts
in this years Labor Division cam
paign in the national war on infantile
paralysis.
Committee chairmen who have not
yet received their certificates are
urged to be patient by William Green,
Labor Division chairman, who ex-
planned that the physical job of pre-
pairing the certificates and writing in
the respective chairmen's names re-
quires considerable time. The hand
some certificates of appointment are
suitable for framing.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
FRIDAY, JANUARY 26, 1910.
LABOR OPENS IT'S HEART

There are those who say that labor
is self-centered- it is concerned
only with it's own welfare, forgetting
the public interest.
The record, of course, tells diff
ferent story, and because the nation
is now celebrating President Roose-
velt's fifty-eighth birthday in order
to raise funds for the National Foun-
dation for Infantile Paralysis, it is
well to direct attention to how organ
lied labor has responded to cause
that knows no economic or political
barriers. Rich man, poor man, beg
gar man, worker and employer have
equal interests in the fight against in
fantile paralysis. Yet, organized la
Dor, representing only comparatively
small part of the 130,000,000 people
in our land, has answered the call for
funds as if it was its own battle and
has filled the war chests, the financial
war chests needed to fight poliomye-
litis as though the disease struck only
workingmen's homes.
Such of course, is not the case, al
though because there are more work
ing people than employers, their
homes are struck by this plague in
greater numbers.
Daily reports from the White
House, where Presidents birthday
greeting cards from all over the ma
tion are pouring in by the thousands
each day, carrying their messages of
greeting and most important, those
dimes and dollars science needs to
carry on its research work to find the
yet undiscovered virus that causes in
fantile paralysis, indicate at this stage
of the campaign that labor has opened
its heart and its pocketbook, wider
in most instances than any other eco
nomic group in the nation. On some
days, the majority of birthday cards
received are mostly from members of
unions.
No count has been made yet of how
much individual union members have
sent in to the White House in the
birthday greeting cards, but when this
is tailed up with what has already
been received from the cake fund, the
result will be the best answer organ
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
VALUABLE LABOR PRESS
SERVICE

That the labor press performs a
valuable service by presenting the
viewpoint of organized workers is
pointed out by William Green in an
article on the labor press in which
he says
There is a definite place and def
mite avenue of real service for the la
Dor press to the members of organ
lied labor and our friends. 1t pre-
sents the means of getting hearing
for our problems and keeping the
readers informed on matters of gen
eral interest in an unprejudiced way.
"The workers of the nation form a
great and vital part of the whole of
our citizenry. We share in the po-
litical and economic life of our coun-
try, in the taxes which support our
nation, states, and communities.
"Our opinions should be of value
and should be considered in the for
mutation of policies which affect our
lives. Through our labor publications
we have a channel for the expression
of these opinions and medium which
is devoid of partisan bias for the
guidance of our members in arriving
at conclusions.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
COMMENT ON WORLD EVENTS

state legislation for shorter hours, as
shown by the fact that in 1918 only
three states had the 8-hour day, 48-
hour week (for some occupations)
while in 1889 there were Is states
having such legislation. States hav-
ing minimum wage laws also in
creased in the same period from IL
to 26; and regulation of industrial
home work by legislation was in
creased from 13 to 18 states.
Any hope of complete isolation
from wars abroad is rendered impos-
sible by international radio broad
casting, the Federal Communications
Commission declares in it's annual re-
port to Congress.
Pointing out that the World War
had no broadcast OF high-frequency
communications problem, it cites that
u. S. now has some 800 broadcast sta
tions (also $4,000 amateur stations
and more than 5000 commercial sta
tions) whose air messages go to more
than 4O,000,O00 receiving sets.
international broadcasts by short
wave, it adds, "now cut across time
and distance to challenge any claim
of isolation"
Says Prime Minister de Valera of
Ireland: "The fact that in the case
of a modern great war the victor and
the vanquished nations alike have, for
years after the was is over, to endure
privations as great almost as those OF
the war itself, should urge that a set
tlement be sought now in goodwill
rather than wait until exhaustion has
forced the requisite dispositions fol
peace"
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
Philippine Strike Suspended

Manila (ILNS) Secretary of La
Dor Jose Avelino announced the sus-
pension of the strike of 10000 farm
workers in Pampanga province, The
strikers, affiliated with socialist
groups, returned to their jobs pend
ing mis- mediation of their dispute
Avelino said
Meanwhile, a labor inspector was
sent to Bataan province, adjoining
Pampanga, to investigate increasing
labor trouble there.
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26

Great Britain learned during the
World War No. /, that when the
women making munitions worked
overtime, the production of munitions
slowed down. Happily, the rest of the
civilized world has not forgotten the
lessons then learned.
Some of the "speed-up" systems
which were developed after the war
were in direct contravention of these
lessons-but then, it was peace-time,
and an-and-woman power was cheap
and didn't matter But the labor
unions had not forgotten, and some of
the bitterest labor battles have been
fought out along that line in the last
10 years.
In one of the cases in Britain, de-
crease of 12.5 per cent in weekly
hours of work resulted in an increase
of 23 per cent on hourly output. Sew
eral employers who were forced tc
shorten the day because of lighting
regulations and other reasons, found
the output undiminished.
American experience in that perioc
also showed in the case of tool man
ufacturer who reduced labor turnover
and eliminated lost time, while reduc
ing hours by per cent without {
reduction in pay, but secured an in
crease of production for the whole
plant of 10 per cent, and in certain de
partments even 184 per cent increase
At the same time it was reported
that the Ford Motor Company secured
greatly increased production with
work day shortened from nine hour
to eight hours.
These experiences have been eff
fective in bringing about much of tn
The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1940-01-26
WISDOM

Above all things, hope the educa-
tion of the common people will be at
tended to; convinced that on their
good sense we may rely with the most
security for the preservation of a due
degree of liberty. Thomas jefferson.