Agudist and Zionist in Sharp Clash at Plenary Session of Polish Sejm

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Isaac Gruenbaum, Zionist and leader of the national minorities bloc which defeated the Orthodox Agudath Israel party in the recent parliamentary elections, had a sharp encounter yesterday in the plenary session of the Sejm with Eliehu Kirschbraun, leader of the Agudath Israel, who was defeated on his own list but elected on the Government list.

During the debate of the State budget Deputy Gruenbaum declared that the Jewish nationalist deputies will vote for the budget, although they are aware that the concrete promises made by Vice-Premier Bartel with regard to the major problems of the Jewish population were not carried out. The Jewish nationalist deputies will insist on true equality, culturally and economically. He complained that the election ordinance promulgated by the Pilsudski Government caused a reduction in the number of Jewish deputies and expressed regret that “a certain Jewish group” is busying itself with pursuing an Ugoda (pact) policy. These deputies, he stated, do not represent the Jewish population.

Deputy Kirschbraun, in taking the floor to make a personal statement, rebuked deputy Gruenbaum for his remarks declaring that, “it is unpleasant to polemize with Gruenbaum, who is a demagogue.” When Deputy Gruenbaum interrupted the speaker to say that he had not mentioned him by name and that his personal statement was therefore unwarranted, Kirschbraun retorted: “Gruenbaum is a political adventurer. I alone am entitled to speak in behalf of the Orthodox Jews.”

The encounter between the two deputies called forth smiles of satisfaction among the Polish deputies.

An original etching of Jacob H. Schiff by Herman Struck, German Jewish artist, who is now in this country, the gift of Mrs. Jacob H. Schiff to the New York Public Library, has been given a permanent place in the Jewish Division.

Over thirty years ago Jacob H. Schiff, presented a gift which made possible the acquisition of books on Jewish subjects and the organization of the Jewish Division in the New York Public Library.