J. D. B. News Letter

The two largest, most widely circulated and most influential newspapers in Bucharest, the “Adverul” and the “Dimineatza,” are not only edited and published by Jews, but have from their inception had Jews connected with them in some important capacity. The “Adverul” is generally known as the “New York Times” of Bucharest. These papers are important not only because of their great circulation, but because of the political power that they wield and the influence they exercise among the most important members of the community.

The “Adverul” was founded in Jassy in 1872 by a talented and energetic journalist named Beldiman, a descendant of a prominent family of gentlefolk. Despite his aristocratic ancestry, he was a man of radical beliefs. These beliefs colored his newspaper, which was the first newspaper in Roumania to have correspondents in the most important centers of Europe. Its success was almost immediate, and in 1888 its offices were moved to Bucharest, the capital and political center of the country. From a circulation of 11,000, remarkable even for that period, it grew to 80,000, and by 1895, when the direction of the paper passed into the hands of Constantia Mile, and outstanding Democrat, who was known as the father of modern Roumanian journalism, the “Adverul” had become the largest afternoon paper in Bucharest.

The “Dimincatza,” a morning paper, and primarily a newspaper of information, was founded in 1904 by K. Mile. Its circulation increased rapidly, and today, with its 150,000 readers, it is the most widely distributed paper in the country.

The presiding genius of both papers today is Herr Graner. The present development of both papers is due to his remarkable organizing ability and his journalistic talent. Among his more important collaborators are Sacher and Branisteanu. Grauer and Branisteanu are Jews, while Sacher, a non-Jew, is the leader of the Roumanian Social-Democrats. The most distinguished literary figures of Roumania, countless educators and political leaders, are numbered among the contributors to these papers, particularly to the “Adverul.” Nevertheless, both papers are non-partisan and independent organs, but maintain a radical and progressive policy. They carried on the spirited campaigns which brought about manhood suffrage and agrarian reforms.

The stand of these newspapers on the Jewish question occupies a special chapter in their history. In their columns there appeared reports of every prosecution of a Jewish community whose rights had been invaded. Fol-

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(Continued from Page 2) lowing the World War, when the greatest part of the Jewish community was admitted to citizenship, both newspapers aided the Jewish community and the Jewish organizations in their fight against the aggressive Cuzist anti-Semites, and reported every attempt to curtail Jewish rights and every attack upon the Jews.

Lately the papers have assumed a positive attitude and reflect in their columns the contributions of world Jewry to the arts and humanity, and display a particular sympathy towards Zionism and the work of reconstruction in Palestine.

Two years ago. Herr Grauer visited Palestine, and was deeply impressed with the greatness of the Zionist idea. During the recent disturbances in Palestine, both the “Adverul” and the “Dimineatza” had a special correspondent in Palestine and published long dispatches on the events there. They are now carrying lengthy reports on the sessions of the Parliamentry Commission of Inquiry.

Concerning Jewish participation in Roumanian politics, both papers are of the opinion that the Jews should play a more active role in the political parties. In general, it may be said for these papers that in the communal, political, economic and cultural life of Roumania, they have played a historic role which increases in importance from day to day.