Milwaukee Golf Club Officials Ask Jewish Members’ Resignation

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

Milwaukee is having a little wave of anti-Jewish discrimination that is attracting interest beyond its boundaries.

The officers of the Michiwaukee Golf Club, which Jews have helped organize and in the grounds of which Jews are holding stock, have written letters to eight Jewish members notifying them that by unanimous decision of the board of directors, these eight are asked to resign. All but one of them are charter members.

Immediately three Jewish members prominent in Milwaukee professional and business circles, who had not been asked to resign sent in their resignations. Also one non-Jew, a member of a large real estate firm, sent in his resignation.

The Club had 32 Jewish members while the non-Jewish members number about 25. The letter sent to the first eight gave no reason for the demand of immediate resignation. It merely apprised the members that the board of directors “unanimously decided” and also adds that the “club will repurchase the shares of stock owned by the members at the price originally paid together with interest at six per cent per annum from the date of the purchase.” The property of the club has gone up tremendously in value. The letter was signed by B. J. Neitschmann, who is secretary-treasurer of the club. When asked what was behind the move Mr. Neitschmann “couldn’t say.” At first he seemed surprised to hear “the news” but later he dropped the surprise and ordered the reporter to “keep out of this.”

Morris Stern, who resigned voluntarily, in a letter to club officials wrote “I can put but one construction on this action, namely that this was done because of their faith. If this is the case I cannot retain my self respect and remain a member of the club.” His resignation was accepted without comment.

Michael Levin, one of the eight who was asked to resign called the attention of the club to the fact that they can’t compel these resignations.

The probabilities are it was stated, that all the Jewish members will resign in a body. Already a new golf club Brynwood club, is being planned and a site for a large golf course is being laid out.

The funeral of Dr. Herbert L. Celler of Mt. Sinai Hospital, former President of the Alumni Association of the hospital, who died on Thursday evening, took place yesterday. He was 50 years old.

Samuel S. Daughty, pastor of the Old First Reformed Church, Brooklyn, and the Rev. Charlas C. Albertson, pastor of the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, paid tribute to Dr. Alexander Lyons at a special fellowship service at the Eighth Avenue Temple, Brooklyn, Friday night, in honor of the twenty-sixth anniversary of Dr. Lyons in the pulpit.