Zionist Labor Conference Asks for Easing of U.S. Immigration Law

A resolution appealing to the new U. S. Congress, which starts its session on January 7, for the elimination of the discriminatory provisions of the McCarran-Walter Immigration Law, was adopted here today at the concluding session of the three-day national conference of the Farband–Labor Zionist Order. The resolution urged Congress to end the concept of “desirable” and “undesirable” peoples and races.

Another resolution calls upon the members and branches of the Farband to broaden and intensify their efforts in behalf of the United Jewish Appeal, the Histadrut campaign, the Jewish National Fund and the Israel bond campaign. Louis Segal, general secretary of the Farband, reported to the conference that members of the Zionist labor order purchased Israel bonds totalling about $35,000,000 during 1958. He emphasized that they also participated actively in the UJA and in the JNF.

Mr. Segal reported that the Farband has now 82,000 members. He said that the Farband was conducting a nation-wide cultural and educational program among its members, and that it was also organizing English-speaking youth branches throughout the country. The Farband, he said, is also planning the building of homes for the aged for members reaching retirement age.

Meyer Brown, president of Farband, announced that he would submit a four-year plan to intensify the activities of the order with a view that the younger English-speaking members should be inspired to continue the traditions of the Farband. The conference concluded with a banquet honoring Mr. Brown on his 70th birthday.

The establishment of an annual award for outstanding journalistic achievement in the Yiddish, Hebrew or English-Jewish press in the name of Mr. Brown was announced at the conference. Two prizes will be awarded annually to the two journalists who make the greatest contribution toward enlightening the Jewish public on an outstanding issue of Jewish concern.