The charges of Max D. Steuer against the Joint Distribution Committee and the replies of the J. D. C. to the charges created a stir in the Anglo-Jewish press.
The majority of the editorial comment takes Mr. Steuer severely to tasks for the manner in which he expressed the criticism.
The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle writes:
“What is the motive of Steuer’s attack Is it his dsire to ‘get even’ with the prominent American Jewish leaders for their refusal to take his ‘World Jewish Conference’ seriously? Is it his purpose to discredit and defeat the present $25,000,000 United Jewish Campaign for relief and reconstruction, with its program of assistance to the Russian back-to-the soil movement? Or does Steuer desire to become a great Jewish leader by overnight made-to-order hocus pocus?
“We’ll take the word of a Louis Marshall, whose 50 years of Jewish service is the very definition of honor and integrity, against that of Steuer. Gruenebaum, Czernichow, Naumberg, Schabad and the whole crowd of American and European “supipers” who seem to take fiendish delight in making the Jewish problem still more deplorable and hopeless. Isn’t Jewish suffering bad enough without having to bear this further burden of ambush attacks from our own ‘brethren?'”
“Mr. Max Steuer’s statement,” writes the Baltimore “Jewish Times,” “is answered very well by Louis Marshall, who explains the circumstances under which the relief workers labored; the changes of governments. the disorganization of life generally, the chaotic condition of the currency of the various countries, the starvation and the disease which could not wait for the so-called ‘constructive methods’ mentioned by the three Polish gentlemen.
“As to the insinuation that American Relief Workers misappropriated funds, all that Mr. Steuer needs do is to make a study of the situations of these workers after their return to America, and learn for himself the sacrifice these men made, leaving well-paying positions and comfortable homes to answer the call of the Joint Distribution Committee. The glory and the honor of their sacrifice and their service received not even the recognition of the Joint Distribution Committee–to say nothing of the appreciation of American Jews.”
Says the Philadelphia “Jewish Times”:
“Mr. Steuer’s own version of the almost accidental manner in which his views became front-page copy are not acceptable to those who know the man. Mr. Steuer is too skilled in front-page dramatics too experienced in achieving front page headlines not to have been aware of the high explasive inherent in his charges. There is every reason to believe that his statements to the ship reports is were made with the pre-knowledge that be was harling a bomb.
“In the subsequent statement which be has Essoed. Mr. Ste## says he was activited by the desire to render a service. His ## to his brethren across the sea implied ? for taking the world into his considence.
“Presidenting even for the sake of arg## that his charges are ## there was nothing to be gainted by ## of ## Jews ex######################
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
