Aid was pledged to the Schwartzbard Defense Committee by the Jewish Veterans of the Wars of the Republic in a resolution adopted at their fifth annual encampment held recently in Philadelphia. Delegates were present from New York. Brooklyn. Bayonne, Jersey City, Albany, Troy, Boston. Hartford. Chicago Cleveland Detroit and Miami.
The resolution offered by J. David Delmar of New York and unanimously adopted read:
“Whereas Sholom Schwartzbard is now on trial for his life because of his act in ridding the world of that arch-fiend. Semion Petlura, who was responsible for the horrible butchery of 150,000 of our brethren in the Ukraine in 1919 and
“Whereas While under ordinary circumstances we cannot condone or approve of individual acts of retribution, we feel that this is a most extraordinary circumstance be it therefore
“Resolved. That the Jewish Veterans of the Wars of the Republic at their fifth annual National Encampment assembled in the City of Philadelphia this fifth day of July, 1926 do hereby voice their approval of the action by the Jewish Committee in France who have collected recorded and produced the records of casualties resultant from the pogroms instigated by Petlura during his terrible regime; that we offer our aid to Sholom Schwartzbard in his hour of need, and be it further Resolved. That we tender financial aid up to the sum of $100 if funds are needed to help in his cause.”
The veterans re-iterated their stand on immigration in a resolution demanding that Congress let down the bars on immigration to the wives and children of declarants and to make more liberal the measure for all others who wish to come to America, whose character is unquestioned.
The organization went on record to petition Congress for the enactment of legislation adopted by Congress at its last session, but rejected by the Senate granting out-patient treatment to war veterans, whereas they are now entitied to hospitalization only. This measure was originally advocated and sponsored in the Veterans Burean by Commander Mendelsohn.
The Convention opened on the evening of July 3rd with a salute to the colors, followed by a prayer by Dr. Oscar Levine of Philadelphia. after which Jerome Goldsmith. a delegate from Cleveland presented a personal letter of greeting from President Coolidge handed to him at the White House where he had a brief chat with the President enroute to the Encampment.
The President’s message read:
“It is always a pleasure to testify to my keen appreciation of the services rendered to America by those who have upheld her honor in our military and naval services. A grateful country will not forget her veterans.
“My greetings and best wishes are extended, not only to those present at your National Encampment in Philadelphia, but to all the members of your organization.”
Morris J. Mendelsohn was reelected Commander-in-Chief for the third term.
Rabbi Morris Sessler, formerly of the Gates of Prayer temple, New Orleans, La., died in the ###
Rabbi Sessler came to New Orleans ### years ago. He was rabbi of the Gates of Prayer temple until he resigned 10 years ago.
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