The executive of the German Socialist Party today wired congratulations to Abraham Cahan, editor of the New York “Forward,” on the occasion of his seventieth birthday. Eduard Bernstein, venerable Socialist leader, cabled, “I, as an octogenarian, welcome a septuagenarian to the front as a fighter for the workers’ cause in America.”
Abraham Cahan, American novelist, Socialist leader, and for a generation editor-in-chief of the “Jewish Daily Forward,” was in receipt of numerous congratulatory messages from every part of the world on the occasion of his 70th birthday which occurs today.
Phillip Snowden, Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labor Government; Henry L. Mencken, sage of Baltimore; Oswald Garrison Villard, editor of “The Nation;” Sherwood Anderson, novelist and country editor; Adolph S. Ochs, publisher of the “New York Times”; John Macy, literary critic; the British Trade Union Congress; William Green, president of the American Federation of Labor, and two score other labor leaders, authors, Labor M. P.’s, and newspaper editors wired their felicitations to Mr. Cahan.
The British Chancellor of the Exchequer, cabled: “Your long and devoted services to the Socialist movement have earned you the gratitude of all your comrades. May you long continue to be of service to the movement.”
“I welcome you into the septuagenarian class,” was Adolph S. Ochs’s pithy message. Mr. Ochs joined the septuagenarians two years ago.
The editor of the “American Mercury,” long an intimate friend of Mr. Cahan’s, telegraphed: “Mr. Cahan at seventy has two public monuments: the ‘Jewish Daily Forward,’ and ‘The Rise of David Levinsky.’ Every American newspaperman must view this double achievement with pride and admiration. He has written one of the best novels ever done in America and he has created one of the most successful and excellent newspapers. I judge by his looks and talk that he is good for many more years hard service. May his hundredth birthday still find him in harness.”
John Macy’s message read: “The rise and permanence of Abraham Cahan is an even greater thing for literature than the ‘Rise of David Levinsky’.”
The editor-publisher of “The Nation” wrote: “On your seventieth birthday my warmest congratulations. It seems impossible that this milestone should be at hand for you. One thinks of you as certain to fight indefinitely, and full of the spirit of youth, and combat, and of ardor for justice and liberty at all times. I wish you with all my heart many more years to further the success of your experiment in journalism which I have so often described as the most interesting one in the entire field.”
From Marion, Va., where he runs two weeklies, Sherwood Anderson wired: “Please accept my congratulations and best wishes on your seventieth birthday. Long life and happiness to you.”
There will be no official celebration of Mr. Cahan’s birthday this year, such being his wish. Mr. Cahan spent a quiet week-end with Mrs. Cahan at Asbury Park, N. J.
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