Digest of Public Opinion on Jewish Matters

[The purpose of the Digest is informative. Preference is given to papers not generally accessible to our readers. Quotation does not indicate approval.-Editor.]

The protest against the government of Roumania for the anti-Jewish outrages perpetrated in that country issued by the conference of the American Jewish Congress and the call for a nation-wide protest movement in America, will have an effect on Roumania, declares the “Day” of yesterday, pointing out that “there can be no doubt that Roumania is afraid of an American protest.” With reference to the call issued by the American Jewish Congress for protest meetings throughout the country, the paper declares:

“It is a good plan to lift this voice of protest not only at massmeetings but also on the tribunal of the United States Congress. The American government has a tradition in this respect, of defending the Jews in Roumania when they are persecuted. In 1902 Secretary of State John Hay, sent a protest note to Roumania pointing out that the American Government could not remain indifferent to the anti-Jewish excesses. To this tradition of lofty humanity we must now resort. Whether the call is to come from the Jewish members of the United States Congress or from the non-Jews, is a matter of tact, but the call must be heard and as soon as possible.

“For there can be no doubt that Roumania is afraid of an American protest. The attempt of the Roumanian ambassador in the U. S., Cretziano, to nullify the effect of the reports by issuing flat denials, is in itself a proof that Roumania realizes it would not enhance her prestige to become noted as a country that permits murderous attacks on a part of her population. But it is precisely this fear on the part of Roumania that constitutes our hope. If Roumania has reasons to silence the facts regarding her anti-Jewish excesses and outrages, the Jews of America have good reason to shout these facts to the whole world, and the louder the better.”

The distributions of the A. C. Ratschesky Charity Foundation of Boston, Mass., during the present year were made known. Of the $10,000 distributed, the Beth Israel Hospital, Boston Dispensary and the Jewish Home for the Aged, were given $600 each; Massachusetts General Hospital, Children’s Hospital, Community Health Association and the Boston Lying-In Hospital, $500 each: Country Week Association, $400; Free Hospital for Women, Social Service Department, Boston City Hospital, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Family Welfare Society. Household Nursing Association, and Boston Legal Aid Society, $300 each. Other organizations and institutions weer given $100 and $200 each.

Mrs. David E. Goldfarb has been elected president of the Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations, it was announced. Other officers elected were: Honorary president, Mrs. Max L. Levenson; vice-presidents, Mrs. Henry Bodenheimer, Mrs. Isaac Kubie and Mrs. A. L. Bretzfelder: treasurer, Mrs. A. J. Davidson, and Mrs. Samuel Leuin, corresponding secretary.