Following a breakfast tendered by all the Republican Congressmen from New York State in honor of G.W.Morris, chairman of the New York State Republican Committee, Congressman Nathan D. Perlman, who was the only Jewish Congressman present at this event, held a private conference with Chairman Morris, Samuel Koenig, Chairman of the Republican Committee of New York County and several of the Congressmen regarding the immigration legislation situation in Congress.
Congressman Perlman spoke to these Republican leaders officially from the standpoint of the Republican Party policies and urged them to take steps to get the Republican New York Party Organization to serve notice on the National Administration that the Organization is opposed to the Johnson Bill based on two percent of the eighteen ninety census on the ground it is discriminatory against certain nationalities, unfair, and extremely offensive to foreign born citizens. From a strictly Party standpoint, Congressman Perlman stated to the New York leaders, it should be made clear by the Republicans that they do not foster discrimination of this kind against the foreign born citizens.
After this conference, Congressman Perlman stated to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency correspondent that Chairman Morris admitted the Johnson Bill is indeed discriminatory, that he personally is opposed to the bill, and that he recognized the importance of a positive stand by New York Republicans against this proposed legislation as urged by Congressman Perlman and promised he would grant Perlman another opportunity to discuss the situation with himself and other party leaders in New York of which invitation Perlman said he would ## avail himself in a few days when he expects to be in New York.
Congressman Perlman said both Chairman Morris and Koenig as well as a number of the Congressmen were very sympathetic and that he was extremely hopeful of obtaining valuable influence against the extreme features of the John Bill from New York Republicans as a result of this conference which he said was very favorable.
It is also learned that Congressman Perlman has been active for some time in New York Republican circles in endeavoring to enlist aid against the extreme immigration restrictions, having recently interviewed among others, National Republican Committeeman Charles D. Hillis of New York, Mrs. Charles Sabin, President of the Women’s National Republican Club,….Miss Sarah Butler, daughter of Nicholas Murray Butler, and Associate Chairman of the New York State Republican Committee.
Congressman Perlman stated as far as he knows this is the first time the subject has been taken up by a Jewish congressman from a purely party angle instead of by formal parliamentary procedure. He believes more can be accomplished through the former method. Congressman Perlman declared he will continue these efforts with vigor.
Among the guests present at the breakfast were Secretary Hughes and Assistant Secretary Roosevelt.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
