As if by pre-arrangement the Hitlerists dropped all references to Jews out of their press and election literature to-day, the first day on which the Government restrictions against open-air public meetings were removed, and open-air demonstrations were held for the first time since the emergency decree was promulgated.
It is believed that Hitler himself has issued orders to his supporters to abstain from attacking Jews in the Presidential election literature during the whole of the election week, because it might injure his chances.
The change does not, however, mean any dropping of the anti-Jewish attitude of the Hitlerists.
The Jews of Berlin, hoping that President Hindenburg will secure re-election, watched to-day with tense interest the first open-air mass meeting called by the Pro-Hindenburg bloc. Although there are still seven days till the election, and the Lustgarten Square, where the Pro-Hindenburg meeting took place was crowded with about 100,000 people, no Jewish leader here is able to predict at present whether Hindenburg or Hitler is likely to emerge as victor. It is practically certain, however, that President Hindenburg will not be able to poll the 18 million votes which he will require under the Constitution to have an absolute majority over all his opponents and to obtain his re-election without having to submit to a second ballot. If a second ballot becomes necessary, Hitler may find his chances improved, because the followers of Herr Hugenberg, who at present have their own candidate would then probably give him their support.
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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.
