The Reader’s Forum

(The editors reserve the right to excerpt all letters exceeding 250 words in length. All letters must bear the name and address of the writer, although not necessarily for publication.)

To the Editor, Jewish Daily Bulletin:

On Friday, October 5th, 1934, there appeared in your paper an article headed “LaGuardia withdraws support of pro-Nazis, anti-labor Judge.” This article concerned Justice Selah B. Strong, and was given unusual prominence. Possibly you are not aware that the decision from which you attempted to quote was promulgated September 17, 1921, at which time Nazi-ism was unknown and Hitler never heard of.

Your whole purpose apparently was either due to ignorance or an attempt to misquote and misrepresent this distinguished Judge in the eyes of the people so as to create an anti-Jewish feeling.

In Brooklyn, where he is known, he can number thousands of Jews as his friends, and he is not and never has been either anti-Jewish or anti-labor. If you read the decision you will see that no attack was made upon labor unions. His opinion follows the decision of the highest court, whose decisions under his oath, he is bound to follow. Of three cases in fourteen years, two were affirmed by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, one of them being the one from which you attempt to quote. The third case was settled after his decision, while an appeal was pending in the Appellate Division.

How an opinion thirteen years ago could be distorted into the article appearing in your paper, is beyond my understanding.

J. J. Duberstein,

Campaign Manager.

New York City,

Nov. 2, 1934.

To the Editor, Jewish Daily Bulletin:

On July 22, 1934, you carried a report dated from Salonica on the 4th of July, 1934, in which report it is asserted that I am not the representative of the Synagogue-Central de Israel Aschkenasim of Barcelona and Seville—further, that my documents from Spain and Palestine are falsifications. Wherefore, I inclose the copy of the statement from the Consul General of Spain in New York which I ask you to publish in the Jewish Daily Bulletin as a document verifying my status.

Rabbi Fernando N. Friedmann, Spiritual leader of the Sinegoga Central de Israelitas Aschk., Barcelona.

To Whom It May Concern:

The Rabbi Don Fernando N. Friedmann has shown me on this date two communications from the Government of the Generalidad of Catelona, Spain, signed by its President Don Francisco Macio, both dated February 17, 1933, relative to the authorization to found a Sinagoga Central De Israelitas Aschkenzsim, destined to the practice of the Jewish religion and for the education of the language, history and culture of the Jews and the social assistance of their brothers of the same race. Another communication from the Civil Governor of Barcelona, No. 4189, dated May 17, 1933, signed by Governor C. Admetlla, authorizing Rabbi Friedmann to establish a synagogue, designed to the practice of the Jewish religion and for the education of the language, history and culture of the Jews.

Another from the Civil Governor of Seville, dated January 20, 1934, authorized the aforesaid Rabbi Friedmann to establish a synagogue for the same purpose above mentioned, and lastly a communication from the Civil authorities of Barcelona, dated May 22, 1933, authorized the aforesaid Rabbi Friedmann to collect funds for Jewish immigrants from Germany.

That to the best of my knowledge and belief all of the above named documents are authentic.

New York, October 20, 1934.

(signed) Antonio De La Cruz Marin,

Consul General of Spain.

The signature of Don Antonio De La Cruz Marin, as it appears on this document is to the best of my knowledge the one of the Spanish Consul General in New York City on this date.

Washington, October 26, 1934.

L. Calderon,

Spanish Ambassador.