Asserting that Jews “have received more consideration at the hands of the Administration than any other nationality in the United States,” and that in the government departments “there is no lack of the Jewish nationality.” Senator Theodore Bilbo (Dem.-Miss.) today assailed Jewish support of President Roosevelt’s Fair Employment Practice Committee.
Bilbo’s attack was made prior to refusal by the Senate – by a vote of 31 to 28 – to strike out from the bill appropriating funds for government bureaus the sum of $500,000 allotted to the FEPC. The Senate’s action, which followed several days of filibustering by Southern members, guarantees existence of the FEPC for another year.
The Mississippi Senator took issue with Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, who last week testified before a Congressional committee urging the creation of a permanent FEPC. He added that Henry Morgenthau Jr. “operates the financial part of the government” and referred to the alleged influence which Bernard Baruch has upon government affairs. “A very splendid Jew from New York, Barney Baruch, is shaping all the policies of the Administration, especially post-war policies,” Bilbo said.
“I think Rabbi Wise is the last man in the world who ought to be complaining against discrimination against minority races,” Bilbo continued, “when his nationality has received more consideration at the hands of the present Administration than any other nationality in the United States.”
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.
