Women May Vote But Are Not Eligible for Election (J. T. A. Mail Service)
The draft Statutes for the purpose of regulating the Jewish Communities in the country in accordance with the new Government law were adopted unanimously at a Conference of Jewish Communities, held here this week. The conference expressed appreciation of the work of M. Schweig, the Secretary of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Old Roumania, who drafted the statutes.
The Federation of Jewish Communities in Old Roumania was represented by Chief Rabbi and Senator, Dr. Niemirower, the President of the Federation, M. Eli Bercovici, M. Schweig, Dr. I. Steinhardt, M. Adolf Schwartz, M. A. Solomon, M. S. Gross, and M. I. L. Sternbach; Dr. Filderman and M. Serezianu represented the Union of Roumanian Jews; Chief Rabbi Zirelson of Kishineff, Rabbi Mordecai Shochetman of Saroka and M. B. Aberman of Bender, represented the Orthodox Central Committee of Bessarabia, and Dr. Mutchnik, Engineer Kusznir, M. J. Skwirsky and Rabbi Berger represented the Democratic Central Committee of Bessarabia; Chief Rabbi Dr. Eisler and M. Laks, General Secretary, represented the Jews of Transylvania, and Dr. Galimir and M. Almoslino represented the Spagnol Communities. The only absentees were the Orthodox Jews of Transylvania, who stated that they were opposed to the establishment of a united front, Former Deputy Dr. Ebner of Czernowitz sent an apology explaining that the election campaign made it impossible for him to attend.
Heated discussion took place on two questions–votes for women and the voting age. The Democratic Bloc of Bessarabia demanded that women should have the right to vote and to be elected. Chief Rabbi Zirelson threatened to withdraw from the conference if women were allowed to be elected. Chief Rabbi Zirelson’s motion that women should not be eligible for election was adopted, and the Democratic Bloc declared that they would stand by a votum separatum. It was decided to give the vote to persons who have reached the age of 21, and to hold the elections on a proportional basis.
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