Declaring that the letters of Bishop C. E. Byrne to foreign entries in Galveston’s international pageant are an affront to Galveston’s Chamber of Commerce, the Merchants’ Association and other outstanding civic organizations sponsoring the event, W. L. Roe, managing director, has written to the various foreign beauties, protesting against the action of Bishop Byrne.
Reports of the withdrawal from the international beauty contest of “Miss Europe,” Miss Elizabeth Simon and “Miss Austria,” Miss Goldarbeiter, both Jewish girls, provoked city-wide protest and efforts are being made to have them reconsider.
“The most prominent men in the city, among them citizens of national importance, are behind the pageant and certainly would not sanction anything of the character described by Bishop Byrne, who admits that he has not viewed the event, but had received his information second hand,” said Mr. Roe. “These men could not afford to be a party to any affair that would in any way offend the sensibilities of the public or degrade womanhood. All of the entries, both foreign and American will be accorded a courteous welcome, being received by representative women of the city, who assist in their entertainment.
“Prominent Jewish citizens are identified with the international movement, and a harmonious feeling exists between Jews and Gentiles here, both cooperating for the best interests of the city. Anti-Semitic demonstrations are unknown either in Galveston or its environs,” he declared.
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.
