Locker Scores Council As “parody of Parliament”

The proposed Palestine legislative council was denounced as “a parody of a Parliament” by Berl

Locker, laborite Zionist leader, at the thirtieth jubilee convention of the Poale Zion-Zeire Zion Organization, which continued in the Hotel Statler today.

Addressing about 2,000 delegates and guests at the opening session last night, Mr. Locker declared:

“We categorically reject the attempt to institute a parody of a Parliament whose purpose will be not the furthering of the democratic ideal but the placing of the Jewish people in their own homeland in the same minority position as in other countries.

“In the name of Zionist achievements,” he continued, “in the name of chalutzism and the progress we bring to the Arab fellaheen and workers, we protest against the establishment of a sham parliament.”

The convention was opened by Joseph Lehaggai of Detroit, who introduced as chairman Hirsh Ehrenreich of New York, for many years secretary of Poale Zion.

Speakers included Louis Lipsky, Morris Rothenberg, Joseph Schlossberg, David Wertheim, Baruch Zuckerman and Eliza Shidlowsky,

Mr. Lipsky appealed in behalf of the United Palestine Appeal.

Mr. Rothenberg urged the convention to adopt a rigid formula for effectuating the Zionist Congress decision to establish territorial Zionist unions in each country but to leave it to the various parties to work out an American set-up.

There are now about 3,000 registered members in the 76 branches of the organization, it was reported by Mr. Wertheim, secretary, at this morning’s session, discussing the work of the organization in the 18 months that elapsed since the last convention. Samuel Segal of New York presided at the session.