That the Progressive Order of the West, whose membership is centered in the Middle West and West, will seek to extend its activities to the Eastern section of the country, was indicated here today at the final session of the 26th convention, when the delegates passed a resolution to have the Order seek an insurance license in New York State. The ways and means of achieving this were referred to the Executive Board. The Order at present has a special license to operate in Syracuse and has members in that city, and in New Jersey.
The delegates unanimously adopted a resolution strongly condemning the anti-religious activities of the “Yevsektzia” in Russia, and urging the American government to use its influence to have the acts of persecution cease. The resolution introduced by William H. Goldman, of St. Louis, is as follows:
“Whereas, over two million of our co-religionists in Russia are subject to the most outrageous interference in their religious belief and are deprived of every principle of religious freedom through the activities of the ‘Yevsektzia,’ who are preventing by force and other illegitimate means the practice of Judaism and Jewish religion; particularly that concerning the Jewish youth, who is compelled to be brought up in ignorance of Jewish traditions and learning; therefore.
“Be it resolved, that we, in convention assembled, solemnly protest against such intolerable and inhuman treatment of Jews in Russia, and join with other organizations in their mighty protest against such unbearable discrimination and mistreatment.
“Resolved, further, that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Secretary of State and the Chairmen of the Foreign Affairs Committees of the Senate and House of Representatives.”
Another resolution adopted, urged the consolidation of the American Jewish Congress and the American Jewish Committee to promote “a united Jewry.” It was stated by the sponsors of this resolution that in the event the negotiations now under way between the two bodies fail to materialize satisfactorily, the Order will continue its financial support to the Congress as in the past.
The Jewish Agency was endorsed and greater stimulus for Zionist activity among members, urged. The chairman of the Order’s Committee on Jewish Activities was requested to give special attention to Zionist endeavor.
The convention voted financial and moral support to the Hias, Ort and People’s Tool Campaign and Denver Home for Jewish Children. The amount of financial support will be determined by the incoming Executive Board.
A membership campaign was voted. A motion calling for construction of “center buildings” in various cities was defeated.
That the Order may eventually undertake construction of a sanatarium for its tubercular members was indicated by a resolution which was passed. A committee of five is to be appointed to work out plans for practical assistance and care for tubercular members, and this committee is to report back its findings for action, to the 1931 convention, which the members voted, is to take place in Fort Worth, Texas. Louis Jaffie, of Chicago, headed the Resolutions Committee.
The matter of providing a contingency fund for the Grand Master which brought about an acrimonious discussion, was revived, but Grand Master Joseph Schiller refused to consider the motion and forthwith adjourned the session.
Mr. Schiller, a resident of Chicago, was unanimously re-elected to his office, and other grand officers elected are:
1st Vice Grand Master, I. D. Goldberg, St. Louis; 2nd Vice Grand Master, J. D. Barnett, Chicago; 3rd, Morhis Stein, Philadelphia; 4th, Samuel Fortas, Memphis, Tenn.; 5th, J. Jacobs, Fort Worth, Tex.; 6th, Samuel Maurer, New York; 7th, Jacob Zuckerman, Cleveland, O.; 8th, A. N. Marks, Kansas City; 9th, S. D. Frey, Syracuse, N. Y.; (no tenth on ballot); 11th. G. Hament, Baltimore; 12th, Joseph Kosakofsky, Shreveport, La.
Morris Shapiro, of St. Louis, was unanimously re-elected Grand Secretary, and the following were also re-elected: Grand Treasurer, Sol Goldman, St. Louis; Grand Beneficiary Treasurer, William H. Goldman, St. Louis; Grand Counsellor, Louis Jaffie, Chicago; and Committee on Finance, Max Gallant, Max Novack and M. I. Robbins, all of St. Louis.
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.
