Workers Organization Launches $300,000 Drive for Palestine Settlers

With the unanmious consent of 586 delegates, representing 34 states and 6 provinces in Canada, the National Jewish Workers Alliance, meeting in its fourth annual convention, pledged itself to raise the sum of $300,000, in the course of the year 1929.

At a mass meeting and reception Sunday evening at the Manhattan Opera House, in honor of the Palestine Labor Delegation, bringing to a close the convention which opened on Saturday evening, the campaign was officially launched and the sum of $75,000 raised.

The organization which has one thousand affiliated groups, and has in the last seven years raised $435,000 for use of Palestine workers, voted to constitute itself a permanent body, functioning between campaigns and to enroll a contributors’ group of 30,000.

The convention voted to establish a Technical Institute in Palestine in memory of the late Max Pine.

The convention went on record as favoring greater immigration into Palestine. It stated its unequivocal opposition to land speculation and its belief in the principle of land ownership as exemplified by the Jewish National Fund. The recent clash between the right and left Labor Wings in Tel Aviv on the Yiddish-Hebrew question was criticized, the Convention declaring it cannot sanction physical means to settle questions of principle.

An optimistic report on present conditions in Palestine was brought by David Bloch, Mayor of Tel Aviv, and Israel Meriminsky, Secretary of the Palestine Labor Federation. Despite the economic crisis, declared Mayor Bloch, industry has been strengthened in Palestine. Palestine is open for new immigration, he stated, appealing to American workers for support.

Unemployment has virtually ceased in Palestine, said Mr. Meriminsky. Organized labor, he said, now counts 32,000 workers in its ranks. As indication of the progress in the Holy Land he quoted the import and export figures for 1926 and 1927. In 1926. he pointed out, the exports amounted to the sum of $6,500,000. In 1927, this amount was raised to $9,500,000. In 1926 the imports stood at $32,000,000, in 1927, at $30,000,000. Despite the lack of immigration, there has been a natural increase of 15,000 in the Jewish population.

Others who delivered addresses were Dr. Chaim Arlesaroff, Dr. Shmarya Levin, Maurice Finestone, Secretary of the United Hebrew Trades; A. Shiplacoff, Chairman of the Campaign; A. Baroff, I. Hamlin, Secretary of the Organization; Miss G. Meyerson, representing the Women’s Group. Greetings in behalf of the Socialist Party of the United States were extended by Norman Thomas. A. Shiplacoff, Myer Brown, and Baruch Zuckerman served as Chairmen through the proceedings.

The following were elected campaign officers: A. Shiplacoff, Chairman; Maurice Finestone, Vice-Chairman; Max Saritsky, Treasurer and I. Hamlin, Secretary.