American Editor of Encyclopaedia Britannica Denies Charge of Anti-semitic Bias in Publications

A repudiation of the charge against the Encyclopaedia Britannica that it is biased with regard to Jewish achievements was made by Herbert Brande, assistant advertising manager in the New York office of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, in a letter to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin.”

The charge was brought against the Encyclopaedia Britannica by John Gould Fletcher, English poet and critic, a contributor to the volumes “These Eventful Years” issued by the Encyclopaedia, in a letter published last August in the “Menorah Journal” and quoted by the “Jewish Daily Bulletin” in its issue of September 4, 1925.

“In my original article I mentioned the names of at least a dozen Jews who had written poetry of importance in France, Germany, England and America,” Mr. Fletcher wrote to the “Menorah Journal.” “After my article was accepted and paid for, I learned with surprise that it was to be shortened, and as I had parted with the copyright I could not protest. Practically every Jew was cut out of the article.

“Perhaps this gives light on the question why the publication says little about the Jews. As the publication in question has been extensively advertised in America as ‘not edited,’ ‘not censored’ and so forth, I should be very glad if you could give some publicity to this statement.”

Mr. Herbert Brande, in his letter to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin,” declared:

“There is absolutely no basis for any inference of anti-Jewish prejudice in connection with the Encyclopaedia Britannica. As the American Editor states, many of our stockholders are Jews, a large number of employees are also Jews, and the number of Jews who contribute to our publications are far in excess of what you might expect relative to the Jewish population of the world. Mr. Fletcher’s letter was apparently written in an effort to escape a responsibility which is clearly his; we vigorously repudiate the false and injurious inference which his letter conveys.”

Mr. Brande forwarded to the “Jewish Daily Bulletin” a copy of a letter written by Mr. F. H. Hooper, the American Editor of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, to the “Menorah Journal.” In his letter, Mr. Hooper stated:

“It is difficult for me to understand how Mr. Fletcher could have written such a letter since its statements are completely at variance with the facts. The implication that the Editor was actuated by prejudice is as absurd as it is false.

“The facts are simply these: when the manuscripts of the different chapters of These Eventful Years reached me, I found that they overran the limits of two volumes and I was therefore compelled to do a certain amount of abridgment. In each and every case, however, the proofs of the articles so abridged were sent to the author.

“The records show that Mr. Fletcher received his proof, made certain changes and additions, and returned it with a letter authorizing its publication in that form. No change was made after he OKed the proof.

“The truth is, therefore, that the responsibility for the article as printed rests with Mr. Fletcher. It he had desired to change his proof so as to include matter which he regarded as important he was perfectly at liberty to do so. As I have already stated, he did make certain changes and additions. Why then did he not add the names the omission of which he now regrets?

“Mr. Fletcher’s original draft included several long lists of what he evidently regarded as minor poers since their names were hardly more than mentioned. In condensing the article approximately seventy names were struck out and of these names perhaps six or seven were Jewish.

“It cannot be too strongly stated that racial considerations are not allowed to influence the policies of the Britannica. The very book in question–These Eventful Years–contains contributions from six, and perhaps eight, distinguished Jews, a number far in excess of the proportion of the Jewish population of the world. It is well known that a large number of the contributors to the Britannica are Jews: not to mention the fact that several of our stockholders, as well as a great many employees, are also Jewish. The absurdity of any inference of anti-Semitism in connection with the Britannica is therefore self-evident.”

READING OF TEN COMMANDMENTS IN NEW YORK PUBLIC SCHOOLS URGED

Jews, Protestants and Roman Catholics will appear January 25 at a meeting in the rooms of the Board of Education, New York City, to urge amendment of the by-laws of the board to permit reading of the Ten Commandments every week in public schools.

Leaders in the movement to have the Commandments read believe that the prevalence of crime, or at least the numerous crimes committed by youths, is due to ignorance of the Ten Commandments. Without knowledge of the Commandments, it is said, it is not surprising that young men engage in crimes of violence.

Helen P. McCormick, president of the Brooklyn Catholic Big Sisters, will preside at the hearing. The speakers will be the Rev. C. W. Roeder, pastor of Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church; John J. McGeeghan and State Senator Nathan Straus, Jr.