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.]

That the real issue at the Ford-Sapiro trial are the charges made by Ford against the alleged “Jewish conspiracy” is the opinion of the “Richmond News Leader,” of Richmond, Va. In an editorial of March 19, the “News Leader” writes:

“Fair-minded men everywhere will be sorry if the skill of Senator James Reed suffices to turn the Sapiro-Ford libel suit into a virtual trial of Mr. Sapiro’s methods in organizing cooperative associations. Mr. Sapiro has made many enemies, some of them in high places, and his services have been in such demand that he may have received retainers that seem exorbitant. But that is not the issue of the proceedings. At least it should not be. Sapiro is suing Ford for allegations that linked Sapiro with Ford’s imaginary international Jewish conspiracy to dominate the financial world. Ford ought not to be permitted to sidestep those charges, even though the court has held there can be no libel in criticizing a religious sect. If there is any way by which it can be done, Ford’s absurd charges should be subjected to the daylight-scrutiny of a court hearing, to the end that people who once looked upon Mr. Ford as something as an industrial superman will see what manner of nonsense he has swallowed. A complete expose of the trashy, lying evidence on which Ford has sought to arouse hatred against the Jews would serve not only to complete the burial of anti-Semitism in this country, but also would aid in a just appraisal of the man.”

The editorial of the New York “Times”, in its issue of March 20, on the Ford-Sapiro trial is held by the Philadelphia “Jewish World” to be “expressive of the opinion of all right-thinking Americans and of right-thinking people throughout the world.” The “Jewish World” says in part (Mar. 22):

“Very correctly the ‘Times’ points out that ‘this tide of race calumny has swept on, in the columns of the “Dearborn Independent”, until it has brought pain and suffering to millions of American citizens. They have felt themselves equally hurt and helpless under such sweeping and anonymous attacks.’

“The millions of citizens whom the ‘Times’ mentions are clearly the Jewish citizens of America who feel outraged and hurt by the malicious libels which Ford’s anonymous hirelings are inventing and broadcasting.

“Moreover, while the trial is going on in a Detroit court, the eyes of all America, in fact of the whole civilized world, are turned upon it. Ford is before the bar of the world’s public opinion. If he is in possession of proofs to substantiate his charges this is the best opportunity to present them in court, which would mean before the court of the whole world. If he does not possess such proofs then it is his bounden duty to say so, to declare publicly that he was misled, that he based his accusations on the statements of liars. This Ford must do if he has any sense of responsibility left in him.”