Governor Smith Urges in Proclamation Support for New York U. J. C.

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Governor Alfred E. Smith issued an official proclamation today calling upon the citizens of New York to respond generously to the appeal of the United Jewish Campaign, in the drive which begins in this city next Sunday.

The Governor’s proclamation reads:

“When during the World War the cry of their distressed co-religionists in Europe was sent across the ocean to the Jews of America, asking for shelter for the homeless, food for the orphans and healing for the sick, the generosity of the response was unparalleled in the history of American philanthropy.

“The aid then given to these stricken people saved the Jews of Poland, Roumania, Russia, Bessarabia and other European countries and Palestine, from almost physical extinction. There followed a period during which it was hoped that peace would come to these sufferers and that they would be able to support themselves again without resorting to charity. But the countries in which they live are still passing through a period of political and economic re-adjustment which makes it impossible for hundreds of thousands of families to make a living, and conditions have grown so depressing that once again these unfortunate human beings must ask for help from their American brethren.

“And, now they ask not for charity, but for an opportunity to rebuild their lives upon the basis of trained productive industrial and agricultural labor.

“Once more the American Jew is called upon and the Joint Distribution Committee which rendered such historic service to the Jews during the war is taking up the task of securing the necessary funds to bring about a thorough reconstruction of the victims of the war.

“The present plight of the Jew is particularly tragic because the gates of America and other countries are now practically closed to him. In the past, his sufferings were mitigated by the outlet of migration. Now, this escape is denied him. The American Jew who has always been so generous in helping his less fortunate brother will not be indifferent to this noble effort made by the American Jewish leaders who are at the head of the United Jewish Campaign.

“Called upon again and again to give generously to the unfortunates of the world, New York always finds sufficient resources with which to respond. This present need of women and little children for relief from starvation and misery and the encouragement of the noble effort of the heads of families to reestablish themselves as artisans and productive factors in the countries where they live, should be encouraged and aided, and merits the sympathetic interest of our citizens.

“April 25th to May 9th has been set aside as the time for the collection of these funds, and therefore, I, Alfred E. Smith, Governor of the State of New York, call upon the people of this State to respond generously at that time as they have in the past and to make possible the complete achievement of this noble humanitarian task.”