While nothing has been said as yet, it looks as though the work of the Congressional committee investigating subversive propaganda activities in the United States will be severely handicapped. Sufficient funds have not been made available to do the work as it should be done.
The House of Representatives has appropriated only $10,000 for the conduct of the investigation by the McCormack committee. Representative Samuel Dickstein, sponsor of the investigation requested $25,000.
Now it appears that all the committee will have to work with is the $10,000 already appropriated. During the last few weeks the body has been doing some very effective work looking into the activities of several leading propaganda groups and their leaders. At the rate they are going, $10,000 will not last very long, especially when it is necessary to send investigators to different sections of the country. In order that the committee may be in position to really do what should be done in an investigation of such broad scope, it should have at least ten times the amount already appropriated. The results of such an investigation certainly would be more than worth the cost, according to present indications.
The twenty-second annual convention of the United Synagogue of America, although supposed to have been in the hands of laymen, really suffered from too much rabbinical tinkering. This was evident mainly in the addresses delivered by a majority of speakers. Even the laymen who addressed the convention sessions dressed their talks in rabbinical language. But, since the convention is over-and it was a successful convention-all is forgiven.
The big job is yet to be done by those who attended. Thousands of words were spoken in behalf of a cooperative and united Jewry under the leadership of the synagogue. Unless those who heard these words get into harness to do some effective and continuous work in their respective communities, all will have been wasted.
Senator Robert F. Wagner of New York, who was the principal speaker at the convention banquet, was roundly applauded by the hundreds of persons present when he was introduced by Rabbi Herman Abramowitz of Montreal.
The able Senator from New York, born in Germany, does not believe in the principle of persecution because of racial, religious, or political differences. But, somehow or other, his remarks concerning this subject were somewhat passive.
Most of the Senator’s address related to industrial and business recovery. Here is what be had to say about that which at the present time greatly concerns world Jewry.
“Persecution for political opinion or race or religious belief, quite aside from the fact of its savagery, has resulted always in strengthening and enobling the object of attack. Despite these lessons in practical experience, there are yet some sections of the world that are willing to resort to conflict and oppression. Here again the one solution is a slow educative process, courage and the cumulative triumphs of justice and right through their own eternal force.”
Education is a slow process. But in the meantime-what?
There is one consolation, however. Senator Wagner told those at the convention that “Through-out the ages you have earned the gratitude of mankind for your emphasis upon the ethical ideal in life, and there will never be a time when you will not be in the forefront of enlightened social leadership.”
The House of Representatives almost voted George M. Cohan a medal for writing the song “Over There” which did so much during the days of the World War. Cohan would have been voted the medal if a certain Congressman had not expressed an objection to consideration of the resolution providing for it. Maybe better luck next time the resolution is taken up.
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.
