The American Jewish world. [volume], February 04, 1916, Image 8

About The American Jewish world. [volume] (Minneapolis ;) 1915-current

Image provided by: Minnesota Historical Society; Saint Paul, MN

                
OH?? AMERICAN 3JpuiibI| Darlft.
Continuing The Jewish Weekly.
Established June 12, 1912.
DR. S. N. DEINABD, EDITOR
h. H. Frisch, Managing Editor.
ADVISORY BOARD—A. N. Bearman,
Louis R. Frankel, John Friedman, Arthur
M. Harris, Sylvan Hess, Adolph Hirsch
nian, Meyer M. Isaacs, Gustavus Loevinger,
Dr. Isaac L. Rypins, William Weisman,
Hiram D. Frankel.
Published every Friday by The Jewish
World Publishing Co., Minneapolis and St.
Paul. Minneapolis office, 316-317 Tribune
Annex. Telephones, N. W. Hyland 1860.
St. Paul office, 713 Pioneer Bldg. Tele
phones, N. W. Dale 3494.
Entered as second-class matter at the post
office at Minneapolis, Minnesota under the act
of March 8. 1879.
February 4, 1916.
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1 EDITORIAL 1
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BRANDEIS ON THE SUPREME
BENCH.
President Wilson's choice of
Louis Brandeis as Associate Justice
of the United States Supreme
Court came as a great surprise to
the country. It seems that in cer
tain quarters it produced an effect
like the explosion of a bomb shell.
The conservative press, represent
ing the big financial and commer
cial interests of the country, at once
assumed a hostile attitude. The
President could not have made a
worse choice, some of them plainly
said. The prediction was freely
made that there would be all kinds
of opposition to the appointment
in the Senate. Some senators were
actually quoted as ready to defeat
the President's wish. At the pres
ent writing it is not known what
action the Senate will really take in
the matter, and how strong the op
position really is. We predict that
the appointment of Brandeis will be
confirmed without much ado. Presi
dent Wilson is tdo"sagacious a lead
er to make such a startling move
without having ascertained that he
would receive the. necessary sup
port.
Whence comes the opposition to
Brandeis, and why? Brandeis is a
persona non grata to the big finan
cial interests of the country, be
cause he has always represented the
people's interests over against them
And he has fought the people's fight
not as an orator, or demagogue,
or politician, but as a very practi
cal, hard-headed lawver in some
408 THE AMERICAN JEWISH WORLD February 4, 1916
very concrete instances. He fought
and won. He left bruises and scars
on the opponent's hide. They na
turally hate to see such a man ele
vated to such a position. It is not
that they are afraid that Brandeis
will do them further harm. They
know very well that Brandeis as
Associate Justice of the U. S. Su
preme Court will have an altogether
different part to play than was his
part as the people's lawyer. The
Supreme Court is naturally a con
servative body, and must necessarily
be so. Brandeis will leave all his
radicalism behind as soon as he
crosses the threshold of that august
tribunal. We may trust his good
common sense for that.
They are opposed to his occupy
ing such a position because of its
moral effect. When a man like
Brandeis is politically rewarded
with an exalted position, the fact na
turally lends courage and strength
to the cause of social progress and
economic emancipation in this coun
try. Other popular leaders and
pleaders will take heart. From the
point of view of the big financial in
terests a man like Brandeis should
be politically punished instead of re
warded.
President Wilson knows all that.
But he also knows that as far as
the masses of the people are con
cerned. there is nothing he could do
that would please them more and
win their confidence in a higher de
gree than such an appointment. So
much for the wisdom of the Presi
dent's choice.
To us Jews the matter is most
gratifying. America is still the
citadel of political freedom for all
human beings. The fundamental
principles and traditions of this
country are still sacred to this na
tion. We venture to say that not a
voice will be raised in opposition to
Brandeis because of his being a Jew,
and his not being an adherent of the
religion of the majority, although
there are many who would probably
like to disqualify him on that ac
count. This should give pause to
all faint-hearted and discouraged
Jews who cherish political ambi
tions, and should set them athink
ing. The really worthy Jew can
always get his de:-erts in this country.
This has been demonstrated many
times before. It is demonstrated
a-1c.v in the case Brandeis. Not
that an honest man would ever barter
his religious convictions for a mess of
pottage, for any preferment, honor and
glory. But here and there we find
some unprincipled brothers to whom
the attainment of the object of their
ambition is above everything else, who
do not allow a little thing like religion
to stand in their way.
To us it is gratifying to know that
the choice for the high position has
fallen on a man like Brandeis, who,
we firmly believe, will always be a
credit to the Jewish people. Brandeis
is a loyal American to the core. To
him the welfare and the progress of
this country, the peace and prosper
ity of this nation, are above all other
interests. To what extent he will
henceforth be able to give his services
to the Jewish people is problematical.
But should American Jewry in some
emergency need a leader and a spokes
man, there is surely no man better
qualified for it than Louis Brandeis.
THE COMING CONGRESS.
From many cities reports reach us
cf organizations being perfected for
the purpose of electing delegates to
the forthcoming Jewish Congress. St.
Paul is among them. This is now
one of the most important matters be
fore American Jewry. It is the one
measure of preparedness that we need.
When the war comes to an end we
must have a body of representative
men, not self-appointed, but duly
chosen by the people, who shall speak
on our behalf, and present our de
mands concerning the oppressed mil
lions of our brethren. These demands
must be formulated beforehand.
There should be no working at cross
purposes.
But in order to make the Congress
truly representative of all the Jews of
this country, it is imperative that every
Jewish community send delegates to
it. It is equally imperative that all
Jewish organizations of each commun
ity, if possible, unite in such action.
That would give the Congress the
power and dignity of the one body
truly authorized to speak for Ameri
can Israel.
It is to be regretted that Minne
apolis has as yet taken no action in
the matter, save that of calling a mass
meeting some time ago, which, how
ever, was attended only by one sec
tion of the community, and, by resolu
tion, declaring itself in favor of the
Congress. We suggest that a meet
ing be now called by some leading or
ganization. say the Bnai Brith lodge,
of representatives of all religious and
fraternal societies, to formulate the
ideas and wishes of the Minneapolis
community, and to elect delegates to
present these ideas at the Congress.
It may be well to invite Fargo and
Grand Forks to send representatives
to such a meeting. We trust that the
officers of the Minneapolis lodge will
avail themselves of the opportunity of
rendering the communitv a service.