Louis Lipsky is Elected President of Zionist Organization at Final Session of Buffalo Convention

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The Presidency of the Zionist Organization of America, an office which has not been formally filled since the Cleveland convention when the split with the Brandeis-Mack group occurred, was restored and the title of President was given to Louis Lipsky.

This was the climax of the twenty-ninth annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America, which ended its sessions at the Hotel Statler here yesterday.

The twenty-ninth annual convention, which was termed the convention of self-assertion of the democratic elements in the Zionist movement, took this action following a day of important discussion and adoption of resolutions outlining the future course of the policy of the organization and plans concerning the extension of its activities in the immediate future.

HONOR MR. LIPSKY

The nomination, announced by Louis Levinthal of Philadelphia, chairman of the Nominations Committee, was enthusiastically received by the delegates who rose and applauded President Lipsky for nearly ten minutes. In the midst of the enthusiastic approval given to the nomination, Emanuel Neumann, who took over the chair, introduced a motion asking the Executive Committee of the Zionist Organization to consider a fitting manner in which to honor the election of Mr. Lipsky to the Presidency, which coincides with his attaining the age of 50. Mr. Neumann’s resolution was seconded by Joseph Barondess, Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver and Dr. Schmarya Levin who, in glowing terms, paid tribute to the service which Mr. Lipsky renders to the Zionist movement.

With the simplicity and modesty characteristic of him, Mr. Lipsky, in his reply, declared that he sees no difference between the title of Chairman and President.

“I do not think that one is entitled to speak of sacrifices made by this or that individual for the Zionist cause. The Zionist movement is so rich in spiritual values and satisfaction that no matter how much one gives to it or how much one does for it, he is doubly rewarded,” Mr. Lipsky declared. “We have in the Zionist Organization a democratic movement marked by mutual understanding and mutual respect,” he stated.

THE NEW OFFICERS CHOSEN

The following officers were elected by acclamation:

Hon. Vice Presidents, Miss Henrietta Szold, Joseph Barondess, Reuben Brainin, Dr. Max Heller of New Orleans, La., Rev. Hirsch Masliansky and Judge David A. Lourie of Boston, Mass.

Vice Presidents, Mrs. Irma Lindheim, Mrs. Archibald Silverman, Providence, R. I., Ab. Goldberg, Judge Bernard A. Rosenblatt, Max Shulman of Chicago and Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver of Cleveland, O.

Hon. Secretary, Dr. David J. Kaliski; Executive Secretary, Meyer W. Weisgal; Treasurer. Isaac Meister: Associate Treasurer, Harry P. Fierst; Administrative Committee, Hermann Conheim, Jacob Fishman. Boris Grabelsky. Judge William B. Lewis of Philadelphia, Pa., I. D. Morrison, Emanuel Neumann, S. J. Rosensohn, Morris Rothenberg. Maurice Samuel, Louis Topkis of Philadelphia. Pa., S. J. Weinstein and Benjamin Winter.

A budget of $223,000 for the forthcoming year was also adopted by the convention.

APPROVE $7,500,000 FOR NEXT U.P.A.

The recommendation of the committee on Palestine funds. headed by Mrs. Archibald Silverman of Providence, to the effect that the quota of the forthcoming United Palestine Appeal be not less than seven and a half million dollars was endorsed. The following officers were recommended for the United Palestine Appeal.

Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Honorary Chairman; Judge Julian W. Mack, Rabbi B. L. Levinthal, Honorary Vice-chairman; Judge William B. Lewis, Chairman; Emanuel Neumann, Chairman Executive Committee; Hermann Conheim, Treasurer; Vice-Chairmen. Louis Lipsky, Zionist Organization of America; Morris Rothenberg, Keren Hayesod; Bernard A. Rosenblatt. Jewish National Fund; Dr. David J. Kaliski, Hebrew University Fund.

A place was reserved for the president of Hadassah.

DISCUSS $300,000,000 LOAN FOR PALESTINE

The idea of a Jewish National Loan to the amount of $300,000,000, which would be raised and invested within the next ten years with a view to enabling the creation of a Jewish majority in Palestine within that period, was brought before the convention by David Remes, representative of the Palestine Labor Federation.

The suggestion made by Dr. Max Heller of New Orleans, that this matter be referred to the Executive Committee, urging it to give the question of a loan its carnest consideration, was set aside when Judge Bernard A. Rosenblatt and Dr. Schmarya Levin stated that this matter is holding the attention of the members of the Zionist Executive and that it is now being studied by a special commission headed by Dr. Arthur Ruppin.

Two matters of great interest to American Jews were also debated and determined upon during the last day of the convention; one, concerning the Jewish Agency, on which negotiations with the non-Zionist group under the leadership of Mr. Louis Marshal, are pending, and the other dealing with the Russian Colonization plan as a part of the work of the Joint Distribution Committee.

THE JEWISH AGENCY AND THE RUSSIAN COLONIZATION PLAN

In the debate on the Jewish Agency resolution, the difference of opinion was as to whether this resolution was to contain a reference to the Russian Colonization plan, which it was maintained, constitutes an important element in the pending negotiations concerning the Jewish Agency. Ab. Goldberg urged the adoption of the resolution.

Maurice Samuel, Israel Goldberg and Ezra Shapira of Cleveland spoke in favor of an amendment inserting such a clause in the resolution. Louis Lipsky met with the approval of the delegates when he declared that it was the right of the administration to insist that contrary to parliamentary procedure the vote be taken first on the report and then on the amendment. The resolution was then put to vote and adopted by an overwhelming majority. The resolution on the Jewish Agency read:

EXECUTIVE EMPOWERED TO CONTINUE EFFORTS FOR EXTENSION OF JEWISH AGENCY

“Resolved, that we, the Zionists of the United States in convention assembled, give our full support to a resolution of the Zionist Congress held last year in Vienna, authorizing Dr. Weizmann as President of the World Zionist Organization, to take the necessary steps for the creation of the Jewish Agency in accordance with the terms of the Mandate.

“We deplore the inactivity and delays that have marked the negotiations in this country in spite of our earnest and persistent requests for action. We note the assurances made by organizations and persons not affiliated with the Zionist Organization that when the time for action came, such action would be forthcoming. We urge again upon these groups that such time for action has now arrived.

“Accordingly, we authorize and in struct the National Executive Committee to co-operate with Dr. Weizmann for the purpose of arriving at an understanding with such non-affiliated organizations and persons who have committed themselves to participation in such Agency and to take such other steps as may make possible the early extension of such Agency.”

A heated debate developed at the closing session on the “resolution on Crimea,” which was brought back from the committee after revision following a recommendation taken at the morning session to recast the resolution. Rabbi Hammer and Mrs. Meyers of Boston, urged the rejection of this resolution.

Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver introduced a substitute resolution to give expression to the opinion of the Zionst delegates but in a milder form. Hon. Elihu D. Stone and Robert Silverman of Boston, Isaac Caramel and Jacob Fishman urged the adoption of the resolution as presented by the Committee. The speakers urging the adoption of the resolution argued that the Crimea project has become the rallying point for all anti-Zionists, and that the propaganda which is emanating from this project is calculated and is being employed to set up the Jewish settlements in Russia, which are a part of a larger relief program, as a rival to Palestine.

MR. LIPSKY EXPLAINS POSITION ON RUSSIAN COLONIZATION

Explaining to those who urged the rejection of the resolution, Mr. Lipsky declared: “It would be folly for the Zionists gathered here in convention to pass by occurrences of the past twelve months without condemning certain things which are really obstacles to the development of the unity of American Jewry. We have gone through a year of effort to raise funds for Palestine under the most critical circumstances and in the midst of this work there has come forward a propaganda which is calculated to distract the attention of American Jews from Palestine. It is a mistake to think from this resolution, or what I said in my opening address, that the colonization project in the Crimea or the Ukraine or wherever it may be is what the Zionists object to.

“What we object to is something in the propaganda. This propaganda for the project of colonization is being conducted in such way as to destroy the unity of American Jewry. It is being used for the purpose of a counterfoil of the Palestine project,” Mr. Lipsky stated.

The resolution which was finally adopted by a majority of 102 to 42 read as follows:

“This convention endorses the views extended by the Chairman of the Zionist Organization of America in his annual address to the Convention with regard to the attempt, which has been made, in public utterance and in organized propaganda, to give to the Agricultural relief measures for the Jews of Russia a significance tending to counteract the efforts of Zionists extending over a whole generation, to mobilize the public sentiment of Jewry in favor of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine.”

The convention was closed Tuesday after midnight by Rabbi Abba Hillel Silver, vice-president of the Organization, who urged the delegates to greater activity during the forthcoming year. Maurice Samuel, Rabbi Eichler, Dr. Schmarya Levin and Chaim Nachman Bialik delivered the final addresses. Dr. Levin and Bialik taking leave of the convention before their departure for Palestine.