Discriminatory practices in Baltimore were dealt a major blow when a retailer up for confirmation to the Redevelopment Commission, was rejected by the City Council, by a vote of 19 to one because a public hearing revealed that his business practices had been anti-Semitic for a number of years.
The evidence on the realtor, George R. Morris, was presented by Solomon Rogers, president of the Baltimore Jewish Council; Rabbi Morris Lieberman, chairman of its steering committee; and Leon Sachs, its executive director. They noted that Mr. Morris’ anti-Semitic policy had been practiced for a number of years in the exclusion of Jews from residences, two swimming pools and a golf club.
In his testimony, Mr. Rogers pointed out that “for many years there have existed in Baltimore anti-Semitic restrictions in housing that have been notorious. Visitors to this city from many parts of the United States have been amazed that such a thing existed in this age. One of the principal originators of this vicious policy was Mr. George R. Morris and he has been an influential factor in the perpetuation of this policy.”
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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.