American Jewish Committee Discusses Bias; Elects New President

“The striking absence of Jews from the executive ranks of large corporate enterprise in the United States” was condemned here last night by Irving M. Engel, American Jewish Committee leader, at a dinner dedicated to him on the completion of his five years as AJC president. Herbert B. Ehrmann, of Boston, was elected today to succeed Mr. Engel as president of the organization. The election took place at the closing session of the three-day annual meeting of the 52-year-old organization, held at the Commodore Hotel here.

Mr. Engel said that there is “a vital link” between the exclusion of Jews from certain residential areas and country clubs, and the discrimination practiced against Jews in employment by large corporate firms. The Rev. John La Farge, prominent Catholic leader, was presented at the dinner with the American Jewish Committee’s American Liberties Medallion, for his role in fighting for equality. In his acceptance speech, he warned that the increased “diffusion” of hate literature in this country can have a disastrous and long-range effect on youth.

The dinner also served as a farewell affair for Israel Ambassador Abba Eban, who was presented with a crystal bowl by Jacob Blaustein on behalf of the American Jewish Committee as an expression of “profound esteem and abiding affection.” Mr. Blaustein hailed the Ambassador as a statesman able “to be flexible without sacrificing principle.” Mr. Eban, in an impressive address analyzing the American scene as seen by him during the 11 years of his service in the United States, said:

“There are three gifts which nascent nations–and Israel in particular–can learn from America. The first is your almost innate genius for freedom under law, the sublime conviction that democracy is the highest expression of man’s social personality. The second is the American gift of harmonizing diversities–for nowhere has there been such a great triumph in creating a national personality which seeks the enrichment of varied cultural sources. The third is your belief in the affirmative qualities of technology and science–for the true vocation of the scientific age lies in its response to the compassions and utilities of mankind.”

LAY CORNERSTONE FOR $2,500,000 INSTITUTE ON HUMAN RELATIONS

The three-day meeting, attended by about 1,000 communal leaders from 600 communities throughout the country, culminated today in cornerstone laying ceremonies for the American Jewish Committee’s new $2,500,000 eight-story Institute of Human Relations, which will be ready for occupancy in June of this year. The Institute will be a center for research and practical application in intergroup and human relations and will serve as the Committee’s permanent headquarters.

Speaking at the ceremonies, Senator Jacob K. Javits urged the Federal Government to “mobilize all available resources in the technical, scientific, educational and practical areas” in an effort to reduce the scope of intergroup tensions. He urged the Congress to follow President Eisenhower’s recommendation and create a Statutory Commission on Equal Job Opportunity on Government Contracts. He said that this measure “could have a far-reaching effect in helping us achieve the full implementation of the Federal Government’s established policy of non-discrimination in employment.”

Other principal speakers at the ceremonies, which were attended by national and communal leaders, were: Mr. Engel, Mr. Blaustein, and Judge Joseph M. Proskauer, honorary presidents of the American Jewish Committee; and the AJC’s executive vice president. Dr. John Slawson. A. M. Sonnabend, of Boston, AJC vice president, served as chairman. Dr. Slawson set these goals for the Institute:

“The Institute will be engaged in basic as well as applied research in the problem of prejudice. It will be a center for the taking of counsel with one another with those who work in the field of human relations. It will engage in training in the skills of human relations and prepare people to work in that area, thus contributing toward the emergence of the new profession of human relations.”

Mr. Ehrmann, the new American Jewish Committee president, is a prominent lawyer, writer of distinction, and a leader in Jewish and non-sectarian communal affairs Born in Louisville, Kentucky in 1891, Mr. Ehrmann was graduated from Harvard College and Harvard University Law School and has been engaged in the practice of law in Boston since his admission to the bar.

A member of the War Labor Policies Board and director of the Industrial Relations Division of the United States Shipping Board during the First World War he has been active in civic affairs and Jewish organizational life since his student days. At present he is a trustee of the Combined Jewish Appeal, honorary trustee of the Associated Jewish Philanthropies in Boston and representative at large of the local Jewish Community Council.