For the first time in the history of conventions of the National Conference of Jewish Social Service, a bitter contest arose over the election of a president, with the result that a compromise candidate was chosen.
The contest over the presidency caused a serious division in the ranks of the delegates. The battle developed when Harry L. Lurie of New York, as chairman of the nominating committee of the convention, presented the name of Jacob Kepecs of Chicago as the committee’s choice for president. Dr. John Slawson, executive secretary of the Jewish Board of Guardians of New York, thereupon presented the name of Hally L. Glucksman as an opposition candidate for the presidency, in a petition signed by 100 delegates, including five past presidents of the conference. Dr. Slawson read a letter from Dr. Solomon Loewenstein urging Mr. Glucksman’s election in preference to Mr. Kepecs on the ground that in the present hour it is important that greater lay interest be drawn to social work and that Mr. Glucksman is the better fitted for such an effort.
Dr. Slawson also read a lengthy petition signed by the one hundred who endorsed Mr. Glucksman’s candidacy, setting forth their reasons for their preference.
The election resulted in a tie, each candidate receiving 135 votes. The retiring president, Dr. I. M. Rubi now, stated that he would refuse to cast a deciding ballot. Thereupon Judge Jonah J. Goldstein of New York proposed that a committee of five, including the two candidates, be chosen to settle the controversy. On the committee with Mr. Kepecs and Mr. Glucksman were appointed Dr. Slawson, Mr. Lurie and Judge Goldstein, and their unanimous decision agreed upon a compromise candidate in the person of Dr. Jacob Billikopf of Philadelphia. Dr. Billikopf accepted the election over the telephone, but his choice must now be approved by the incoming executive committee. It is certain that his election will be approved.
Other officers elected by the conference are: vice-presidents, Marc Grossman, of Cleveland; Blanche Renard, of St. Louis, and Louis Oettinger, Scranton; tréasurer, Violet Kittner, Cleveland; secretary, Michael Freund, New York; members of the executive committee to serve for three years; Dr. Billikopf; Ann Kaplan, New York, and Will Hirsch, Philadelphia.
The convention officially closed this morning, following a “Care of the Aged” section, the central topic for discussion being “The Cost of the Care of the Aged.” Jacob Abrams, executive secretary of the Jewish Home for the Aged of New Haven, was the speaker, with Miss Renard, who is executive director of the Jewish Federation of St. Louis, leading the discussion.
Among the resolutions adopted at the closing business session Sunday afternoon was a statement regarding the situation in Germany, expressing a protest against the indignities heaped upon the Jews in Germany and pledging to cooperate in the effort which will bring about a “revocation of the measures that seek to reduce the Jewish population to a class of untouchables.”
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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.
