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Progressive Order of West Ignore Ford and Klan

August 2, 1923
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
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Samuel Epstein re-elected Grand Master.

A resolution condemning the Ku Klux Klan was reported adversely out of the resolution committee at the convention here of the Jewish Progressive order of the West. The Committee, acting on the resolution, which was introduced by Dr. Sufrin of St. Louis, expressed the opinion that it is better to ignore anti-Semitic agitation and that “recognition only stimulates its baneful activity”. The report of the Committee was received without dissent.

Samuel Epstein of Chicago was re-elected Grand Master at the closing session today. The other nominee, Samuel Kransberg of St. Louis withdrew from the race. Morris Shapiro of St. Louis was re-elected Grand Secretary; Carl Subinsky of St. Louis, First Vice Grand Master, Joe Schiller, Chicago, Second Vice Grand Master; J. IE Goldberg, St. Louis, Grand Treasurer; Wm. H. Goldman St. Louis Endowment Treasurer; Harry Feldbaum, St. Louis, Grand Counsellor, Kansas City was chosen for the next convention.

The report of the Grand Secretary showed the Organization numbered ninety-three lodges, with 12,493 members in twenty-nine cities.

The last day of the convention was featured by an address by Dr. Julius Sonderling, of Hamburg, representing the Keren Hayesod. Rabbi Oscar Levine of Philadelphia also spoke. He urged that Jews cease answering the anti-Semites but instead “devote our energies to constructive work for our internal problems and the reconstruction of our national existence in Palestine”.

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