Carnegie Institute Head Condemns Roumania for Excesses Against Jews

(Jewish Daily Bulletin)

The suggestion that the money appropriated by the City Council of Pittsburgh, which was to have been used to defray the expenses incurred in welcoming Queen Marie on her visit to the city, be used for the purpose of obtaining justice for the Jews in Roumania, was made by the Rev. William M. Woodfin, Pastor of the Third Presbyterian Church, in the course of his address at a protest meeting against the outrages in Roumania, held last Sunday in Pittsburgh.

The meeting was held under the auspices of the local Jewish Congress Committee and was presided over by former City Treasurer, Adoplph Edlis. Addresses were delivered by Daniel Winters, President of the City Council, James Malone, Father J. R. Cox of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. Rabbi Benjamin Lichter, Rabbi Woli Leiter, and Benjamin Lencher.

A powerful plea for justice to the Jew in Roumania was made by the President of the Carnegie Institute, Dr. Samuel Harden Church who expressed himself as follows in a letter to Mr. Edlis:

“When the Queen of that country recently came to America it was the general opinion of our people that, as a granddaughter of Queen Victoria, she stood for a government in Roumania which represented an advanced and enlightened civilization. The evidence which you have placed in my hands shows me on the contrary that the government of Roumania, in respect to the rights of its Jewish citizens, is controlled by religious and racial prejudices, and permits disorders and outrages which are unworthy of a civilized state.

“I am glad to raise my voice with yours in solemn protest against any oppressions or indignities against the Jews, whether in Roumania or anywhere else in the world. The Jewish people constitute a great family in the human race, with a glorious history dating back to the very foundations of organized civilization. No branch of the race has contributed talents beyond theirs in literature, law, artscience and philosophy. They ought to be the most honored members of human society. The rest of us should be proud to acclaim them as brethren. And the American people should now, as I do, stigmatize as indecent and barbarous any government or group that permits or encourages either the social or political ostracism, persecution or vexation of the Jewish inhabitants of this world.”