JTA Director Protests UJA Official’s Confiscation of News Bulletins at Convention

The following wire was sent today by Mr. Jacob Landau, managing director of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, to the three chairmen of the United Jewish Appeal, Mr. Herman Weisman, Dr. Jonah B. Wise and Mr. William Rosenwald:

“On behalf of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, I wish to register an emphatic protest against the highhanded action taken by an officer of the United Jewish Appeal in violation of the principle of a free press. Yesterday Mr. Meyer Steinglass, director of UJA publicity, confiscated 250 copies of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency Bulletin of Jan. 12 because it contained a report which he chose to term “filthy propaganda.” He tore a JTA bulletin out of the hands of a New Jersey delegate and also tore JTA press wires off the walls in the presence of Isidore Sobeloff, Leo Gallin, Herman Pekarsky and other delegates. Steinglass also threatened to remove the JTA teleprinter from the lobby. I have no doubt that you will want to disassociate your-selves from and voice your disapproval of such reprehensible behavior by an official of the UJA, The JTA must insist on a written apology from Mr. Steinglass and his reimbursing of the JTA for damages and expenditures caused by his action, Jacob Landau, Managing Director, Jewish Telegraphic Agency.”