There are only a few Jewish families living in the town of Milton, 40 miles from here, but an anti-Semitic episode has created a furor unequalled in the town’s recent history.
Councilman Ross Gordon of Milton was elected Reeve (sheriff) of Nassagawaya Township in a heated campaign. His opponent was Allan Ackman, a Jew. The word was spread around that Mr. Gordon told voters at an election rally: “Vote for anyone, but don’t vote for that Jew!”
A score or more of Milton residents, angered by this alleged display of intolerance, picketed the Nassagawaya Township Building, wearing Star of David armbands and carrying protest placards. One placard read: “Jesus Couldn’t Qualify for Reeve. He, Too, Was Jewish.”
After the pickets paraded for an hour, a delegation entered the Council chambers and its spokesman, W.A. Johnson, told Mr. Gordon that he owed the taxpayers an apology for having raised religious issues in the election. Mr. Gordon denied the statement attributed to him. He had, he said, been asked whether Mr. Ackman was Jewish and “I said I thought he was. I don’t believe I said anything wrong. I think the people owe me an apology”
Mr. Ackman told reporters that he didn’t know whether or not the fact that he was Jewish had been raised. “If it was,” he commented, “it shouldn’t have been.”
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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.
