Ohio Jewish Chronicle, 1924-08-22

              Central Ohio'a Onl}f
Jetoish Newspaper Reaching Every Home
l1 A WEEKLY newspaper! FOR THE JEWISH HOME
Devoted io jlmerican
and
Jewish Ideals
Volume VII —No. 14
COLUIVIBU.S, 01-119, AIT( JUST, 22, 1924
Per Year $3.00; Per Copy loc
The Career of Mr. Ben Selling, Pioneer Jew of Portland, Oregon
The Life Story of One of the Best
Known Jews on the Pacific
Coast Reads Like a Novel
RECENTLY CONTRIBUTEP $50,000.00 TO THE H. U. C.
{Specially Written for the Ohio Jewish Chronicle.)
Crowning a career of achievement witli one of, the outstanding philan¬ thropic gifts of the year, Ben Selling, one of the best known Jews on thc Pa¬ cific coast, has come to a commanding position in the limelight of 'national J< ish activity. Mr. Selling, it was recently announced, contributed .$."50,000 to the ' library of thc Hebrew Union College, to celebrate his seventieth birthday. This gif^ has made it possible for the college to acqoii-e a collection of priceless lit¬ erary and historical treasures, including the manuscripts of thc Chinese-Hebrew colony at KaiiFung-Foo.
iMr. Selling's interesting contribution has widenctl by many thousands, the cir¬ cle of those Who are interested in the story of this western Jew, whose par¬ ents came with the "gold-rush" to Cali¬ fornia, and whose varied activities have made him'a dominant figure in Pacific coast political, commercial, philanthropic and Jewish activity.
.Ben Selling was born in San Francisco on April 29th, 1852.   His father, Philip .Selling, born  in  Fuerth  near  Nurem¬ berg, Germany, was the son of a rabbi. He came to  California  in  1850. '   wife  was Caroline  Auerbiich, born  in Ingenheim near Landau and she the Isthmus of Panama in 1850.   They were  probably the first Jewish couple to be married in California.   Their mar- ¦ riage took place on August Mth, 1851, in S'onora.   T.)iey came to Oregon gust, 1862.
Ben SeUing came to Portland -with his parents in 1863. He attended Beth Israel school, which ^was a day school
¦He'lafer attended'the Portland Acad¬ emy, but was early taken out o'f school to assist his father in their business, then located on First and Yamhill streets. Part of his school days Were spent in San Francisco, .but he became homesick there and returned to Port-
. land to remain with his father without salary until he entered his own business, which was a, boot and shoe store, in company with F. S. Aiken and H. E. Dosch under the name of Aiken, Selling & Go. This business was carried on from 1881 to 1893. Mr. Selling then made a trip abroad, visiting Palestine,' Egypt and European countries. Upon his return to America he found things practically Jevelled to the ground be¬ cause of the panic of '93. He started all over again with practically, no capi¬ tal and all on borrowed money. He went into the clothing business and was successful as a merchant, being still ac¬ tively engaged in that enterprise.
Mr. Selling has held many public of¬ fices and positions of trust and confi¬ dence. His outstanding effort was his campaign for United States senator in 1912. While his defeat was a matter of tremendous regret both to his friends and to himself, it came not so much because of Mr. Selling's lack of appeal to the voter as because of the'peculiar
• political situation. At that' time Mr. Roosevelt was running as head of the Progressive party against Mr. Taft and Mr. Wilson.
Mr. Selling was asked to decide which wing of the Republican party he would support, and feeling that Roose¬ velt had used Taft rather badly he de¬ cided to stick by the regular organiza¬ tion, knowing that it would very much jeopardize his chances of election. Upon (Concluded on page 6.)
HANS HERZL ADMITS HIS BAPTISM BUT DENIES OTIIER DETAILS. "I AM NOT IMPORTANT TO JEWRY," HE SAYS..
LONDON —(J. T. A.) A letter from Hans Hcrzl con- firming his conversion to Chris¬ tianity, but denying other de¬ tails, appeared in Saturday's London Daily Telegraph. The letter reads as follows:
"In view of the statement about myself to.which you gave publicity last Tuesday, allow mc to say that while it is true that I was baptized into thc Christian Church on July 20 in Vienna, report of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency is in no other particular correct.
"Thanking you in advance for any courtesy which you may show these lines, I am Sir, Yours obediently, Hans Hcrzl. London, August 1.5.
Hans Herzl, Son of the World Famous Zionist Leader Peserted Judaism And Embraced Roman Catholicism
Greatne&& of Father Was Mllitortune of Son, Declares Jacob de Haas — Was Converted hy Dominican, Schlessinger, Who Is Himself a Convelrted Jew — Missionary Catholic Circles in London Awar^ of Hans Herzl's Conversion — Hanft in Hiding; in Cadioj^ Convent, Leader of Which Is Also a B^tized Jew — StfStolow Declares Hans' Act Was That of a Deranged Mijid >-Mother Implanted in Dr. Herzl's Children a Cont#npt for Zionism.
CONVERSION MAY HAVE BEEN ACT OF SPITE
WORK, ACCORDING TO VIENNA DISPATCH
'NEW YORK.—(Jewish Telegraphiclanse that was oii him was that he Agency).    Jacob   de   Haas,   Executivei.'sltcl only in the minds of
Davis Makes Clear In Acceptance Speech His Stand on the Klan
Democratic Nominee for .Presi¬ dent . Declares   Against   All Organizations Which Create Prejudice and Discord
UNTERMEYER IS HIGHLY PLEASED WITH THE PRO¬ NOUNCEMENTS OF DAVIS
(Special to Ohio Jewish Chronicle.) CLARKSBURG, VA. (J. T. A.).- John W. Davis, Democratic nominee for President, in his acceptance speech here, made the following reference to racial and religious questions involved iri the Presidential campaign;
'In the platform we have adopted I find   a   further   declaration  concerning
found for silence. We have taken occa- rcafiirm our belief in the consti¬ tutional guarantees of religious free¬ dom, and to deplore and condemn any effort from whatever source to arouse racial or religious dissension in this country.
'Such a declaration every right- thinking American must endorse. No dis¬ aster that the mind can picture equals in its hideous possibilities the coming in this couritry of a separation of its cit- lenship into discordant groups along racial or religious lines.   Nothing woiild
Secretary of the Palestine Development Council and. life-long friend of Theo¬ dore Herzl, issued the following state¬ ment   in  connection with  the  conver-
II of Hans Herzl:
'I am not at all surprised at the inci¬ dent, which as it were, completes thc tragedy of the family of my never-to-be- forgotten friend and leader, Theodor Herzl.   Behind it all, is -a painful story
unhappy family life, dating frc tliat day when Theodor Herzl decided devote himself to the Jewish cause and Herzl never converted his wife, whose dislike for the idea grew in proportion
her husband's devotion, and therefore, absorption iii other than family affairs, and thc routine of his profession. The three children, Hans and his twp sisters, came, therefore a good deal under the mother's influence, and his fathet died, if I recall correctly, one week {before Hans' Bar Mitzvah (13th birtlidayy. Upon the death of her husband;j^ Mrs.".
widow and therefore whatever influence she exercised upon her children ws^'un- iympathetie to Jewish life. Comifj^tun- dcr . English influence, 'Hans ji^tM,-1' think,   rid   himself   of   this
with him in 1920. It was a painful ses- in that it was evident that he was' entirely set in his ways, habits that had lothing of his father, and a state of nind of dull unhappiness. He walked and talked like a man twenty years my r. He made clear to me that the chief burden of his life was that he could never be himself; that he could take part in nothing that related to Jewish life  as  an individual,  and  the
GRAND SOCIAL PICNIC TO BE GIVEN BY C. J. W. OF LANCASTER, OHIO
Columbus Jews, as well as co-reli¬ gionists from other sections of Central Ohio, are cordially invited to attend the Grand Social Picnic to be given tomor¬ row (Sunday) August 24, by the Lan¬ caster Council of Jewish Women at Fern Cliff near Lancaster. A splendid program comprising dancing, cards and various sporting events lias been ar¬ ranged. It is expected that a large crowd will turn out for the affair, A most enjoyable time is promised every one.
Fern Cliff Farm is the first farm after the Ohio Fuel Company on Logan Road south of Lancaster. Don't forget if you are looking for a good time, come out tomorrow.   You will never regret it.
utterly destroy our happiness and security at home and our dignity and in¬ fluence abroad. Let us thank God with reverence that those who builded the in¬ heritance we enjoy dealt with that ques- n and settled it long ago. 'Let it rbe said to the immortal glory of those who founded the Province of Maryland that religious freedom on this side of the water began with the Tolera- act, which they adopted in .1649. It broadened with' the years until it was written into thc Constitution in language too plain to be mistaken, that in this happy land of ours every man might, without loss or threat of loss, without lessening or threat of lessening his civic, social or political rights, worship in his own way and fashion the one God and Father of us all. This toleration run* not only to the creed professed by a majority but to every creed, no matter how numerous or how few its adher¬ ents. It was written, too, that Church and State should be forever so far sep¬ arate that neither the right nor the duty of public service should be dimin¬ ished or enlarged by the religious belief of any man. It is the solemn duty of every believer in American institutions to oppose any challenge of this sacred doctrine, organized or unorganized, un¬ der whatever name or in whatever char¬ acter it may appear.
"Fom one who aspires to the Presi¬ dency, however, a declaration even more direct than this may rightfully be ex¬ pected, I wish, therefore, not merely to denounce .bigotry, intolerance and race prejudice as alien to the spirit of America, I wish also to state how and in what way the views I entertain are to influence my actions.
"Into my hands will fall, when I am elected, the power to appoint thousands of persons to office under the Federal Government. When that time arrives I shall set up no standard of religious faith "or racial origin as a qualifica¬ tion' for any office. My only query con¬ cerning any appointee will be whether he is lionest, whether he is competent, .whether he is faithfulto the Constitu¬ tion. 'No selection to be made by me (Conclttdtd on page 6)
'Oil of Theodor Herzl. He was interest- ^ . P.ilestine, but nervous, timid and stlf-conscious. I had recently hoped, from news that I received that he had 'prol)ably' gotten into a better mood when as informed that he'went to Vienna translate' his father's diary .piKlish.
¦ l "I would assume from what I know pi him, that baptism represents no re- •tigiuus conviction, but merely an attempt |o escape the depressing thought that thc jvorld treats him as the son of a great thing that he cannot es- for there would be no news value ih the report of. the baptism of Hans Iferzl, if iHans Herzl were not the son o'f Theodor Herzl who regarded the QOiivcrsion of a Jew, as-the Supreme failure in the attempt to achieve assimi- TAtion." -   ,;
JACOB   DE   HAAS   WILL
LEAVE FOR PALESTINE
FOR  ECONOMIC
SURVEY.
NEW YORK, (Jewish Tele¬ graphic Agency). Mr. Jacob de Haas, who has been associated with thc Zionist and Palestinian movements since 1892, and who in the last few years has de¬ voted himself specifically to thc economic development of Pales¬ tine, is leaving on the Belgan- land, on September 4th, for Palestine, where he will devote himself to the investigation of business opportunities and mar¬ kets, with a view to the en¬ couragement of individual en¬ terprises.
Mr. de Haas was in close as¬ sociation with thc late Theo¬ dor Herzl from 1896 to thc time of his death.
In 1910 he interested Justice Brandeis in Zionism, and he has been Identified, since that date, with the policies and organiza¬ tion which are associated with the Mack-Brandeis group.
yyut IU   irt
'|ian-tli ''cape, for
I Vienna: t^^ ( j e w i s h . Telegraphic
_,.-  _- —.   ,,  >s<:ricy).—;Uans Herzl, only son of Dr.
Herzl felt that'Zionism 'had made^-lier' ^' ^jjieodor IJcrzl, late-leader of the Zionist
Russian Gov't Allots Great Tract of Land To Jewish Colonists
AUotment of Ground, However,
Does Not Solve the Entire
Problem of Colonization
NEW JEWliSH FARMERS
NEED MONEY BADLY
.itiovem'ent,'.deserted", the- faith of his Ijither and etnbraced Cathblicisin, it was 'swncd here; toclay. The act of conver- i')n took place''on; July, 20th, two days |cfoj'e.ct^c.,twentteth 'anniversary o£ the,
ZioTiisis and Jews the world over paid 'tribu\e to his memory.
PecAiIiar circumstances surround this tragic\ event in the history of the late Zionist leader's family, 'Hans was bap¬ tized bi the Catholic priest Schlessinger, who is\ himself a Jew converted to Christiaiiity.- No official data is avail¬ able as to the place where thc conver¬ sion tooK place but if is probable that it was performed in the Church of the (Concluded on page 4)
(Special to Ohio Jewish Chronicle.) ¦NEIW    YORK.-H Ninety    thousand
(Tom
The Jewish Field of Honor
By DR. BENJAMIN JABLONS
(Editoii's Note: Dr. Jahlons, w/io I These young men and women walk herewith gives his impressions of Pales- along the streets and roads of the cities tine, based upon a visit of three weeks, and   colonies   with   heads   erect,   with
tvhich he covered practically the c»- proud swinging steps. "Here for the tire country, is an eminent New York I first time in our lives we feel at home"
physician, whose tnedical tvork has taken him to almost cvery_ country in the world. He holds a distinguished war record, having served with the Red Cross in the Balkan War, with Dr. Blake's famous medical unit in France during the early years of the World War, and later ivith the First Division 1/ the A. E. F., and after thc Armistice n the medical department in Washing- on.)
In Palestine the Jew is finding his soul and regaining his self-respect.
That is the outstandiijg fact that I carried away with me from my three weeks' visit to the Holy Land. That looms biggest to me as I sit down to give, briefly, my impressions of this tre¬ mendous, herculean effort in which Jew¬ ish manhood and Jewish womanhood are rising to supreme heights.
Palestine is a small country, yet it is difficult to speak coherently of what is going on here. There arc so many Aiding opinions, so many cross-currents of life, so much propaganda; but above orienting one's outlook, unifying these diverse, swirling streams of life, stands out this overwhelming, super¬ human effort by small groups of de¬ termined men and women, carried 01: under almost impossible conditions; this effort to make the Jewish people again.   .
"With Heads Erect"
It has fallen to my lot to live in t of the countries of the world.and where, except in America, have I seen   such   stalwart,   such   courageous Jews   as   the   Chaluzim   in   Palestine.
they  tell  you.    None  of  the  cringing, whining types that one encount Ghettos  of   Europe,  that  on( Palestine before these young
began coming to build up their Homeland. They're self-reliant, coura¬ geous, strong and swift. The Arabs respect them, really fear they had nothing but contempt for the other generations of Palestinian Jews. one who has seen Jewj-sh througliout the-world, this changed viewpoint was thrilling, inspiring.
.\ lot of sentiment has been expended on the Chaluzim. They deserve better. Nowhere have people gone through such experiences, such suffering, such trying deals. They've slept on the ground itil they got mattresses; they've slept under the skies until they got tents; and they've slept in tents until they've got¬ ten houses. They've starved and they've suffered from fevers. But always they've carried on. It's not a happy sJKht to see these young men ami wonien struggling, though always winning, against tliese insurmouiiti-lble odds. But never a word of complaint do you hear. "Why, we're happy to he here, happy to have a part in the rebuilding of Eretz Israel", is the answer tlicy always give when you accost them on thc roads or at their work in the colonies. I shall never forget the young school-teacher T mi't in Prague, who had returned from Palestine to visit her parents. Cultured, iMJiicated, she had left behind wealth ¦\m\ social position to serve as one of the builders of Palestine. She had married one of the young colonists, serving in a lowly position in the Jewish settlement, (Concluded on page 5)
desiatin 250,000 acres) of land have just been put at the disposal of Jewish colonists by the Russian government, according to reports which "have reached •Jii&:^a*i^¥i'fteiy)rie'i?&AihvWfe-sg&cla- at 103 Park avenue. The corres¬ pondent from Charkov writes that 40,- 000 desiatin, 15,000 of which is in one stretch, lies in the vicinity of Cherson, and the remaining .50,000 desiatin in Crimea.
The allotment was made after the en¬ thusiasm with which Jews are taking to farming attracted the attention of the government,    which   created   a   special consider   the   question. Thp central committee of the Ort sub¬ mitted a memorandum to the commis- showing   the  growth   of   Jewish colonization.    The   land  is   excellently situated and is ready to be worked on. The allotment of ground, as necessary I it was, does not solve the entire ,prob- m   of Jewish   colonization,   however. There still remain seed and implements to be gotten, cattle to ,be bought.   And it is here that the financial crisis of the Ort is leaving its mark.   Unless the new farmers can receive loans with which to provide  themselves  with   these  things, the land at their disposal will remain un- worked and wasted.
So .stringent is the economic condition of the Ort that full-fledged activities are dally being curtailed.   The Odessa Ort reports that their agricultural school has the hands of a co¬ operative organization, and that the ex- imental   farm   has   been   decreased, h in acreage and in number of pupils. )f    the    houses    which    had    been promised   the    new    colonists    around Odessa, only forty could be constructed, and   only   a   small  percentage   of   the loans for machinery and cattle applied for could be granted.   This curtailment of activity had to go on' during an in¬ flux  of  new  agriculturists,  and what¬ ever funds reach the Odessa Ort imme¬ diately disappear  in the overwhelming demands.
Holders of American Visas Will Be Given Preference In Quota
Action for Stranded Refugees in
Various European Ports Is
Urged by B. C. Vladeck,
Manager  of  Jewish
Daily "Forward"
BARONDESS AND HUSBAND DISCUSS THE SITUATION
NEW YORI'C.—That American Jews should start action on Dehalf of the sev¬ eral thousand Jewish refugees who are stranded in various European ports and possession of American visas, was urged by B. C. 'Vladeck, Manager of the Jewish Daily Forward and member of the Hias Delegation to Europe which Hist returned, at a meeting held yester¬ day at thc National Theatre, Second Avenue, New York.
Mr. Vladcck argued that moral re¬ sponsibility rests with America for the plight of these refugees. They have left their homes, sold their property,' and have received.visas from the Amer¬ ican consuls in the hope of settling in the United States. It is not only a Jewish question, it is an American ques¬ tion, Mr. Vladcck concluded.
It is planned to urge the House of Representatives' to pass a resolution ad¬ mitting these refugees who are stranded through no fault of their own.
WASHINGTON.—The State Depart¬ ment has issued instructions to all con¬ suls abroad to give preference in grant¬ ing new visas to all those Immigrants holding visas issued previously to the enactment of thc new immigration.bill, according to Immigration Commission- , er-General W. W. Husband in a con¬ ference here today with Mr. Joseph Barondess, 'Vice-President of the Amer¬ ican Jewish  Congress.
Mr. Barondess called' upon the Im¬ migration Commissioner-'General to dis¬ cuss with him the situation of the sev¬ eral thousand Jewish refugees liolding. American'''yisas'  stranded   In.i,.'«gi;l0|i8^-'^
p&'itsT[lim3tf:—M¥r'-BaVoitae5s4effl
Immigration Commissioner-General of his promise given at the International Immigration Conference in Rome to a' Jewish Delegation that he would see to- it that special consideration be given to' these unfortunate refugees. In reply, Mr. Husband stated that with the ex¬ ception of the resolution adopted by. Congress for those immlgra-nts who" had actually embarked previous to the enactment of the law, . Congress has made no provision for the other strand¬ ed refugees. The Government is now powerless to do anything in the matter unless Congress, when it reconvenes next December, will adopt a resolu- making special provision for these stranded immigrants.
In order to bring this situation to the attention of Congress, Immigration Commissioner-General Husband prom- to make special reference to this :r in the annual report of the De- ' partment of Labor which will be issued November. He also called attention the fact that according to the new law, all .those stranded immigrants who are either wives or children under eigh¬ teen of American citizens are exempt (Concluded on page 5)
CHRONICLE'S FEATURE COLUMN  BEGINS THIS WEEK ON PAGE FOUR
The attention of Chronicle readers this week is directed to page four where our special feature writer, Milton L. Farber, , commences his much heralded "Column". We would like to hear the opinions of those who differ from Mr. Farber'a views. Constructive criticism will be highly welcome.
VIENNA. — (J. T. A.) —Father Schlessinger, the apostate priest who 'baptized Hans Herzl, left 'Vienna jfor liavaria, it was .learned today by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
>:\u)4g?ii
CANTON SYNAGOGS EXTEND A CALL TO RABBI PELKOWITZ
Rabbi Is Taking   Call   Into   Serious
Consideration—Has Many Friends
in Both Columbus and
Canton.
The Chronicle has just been informed that two of the leading orthodox con¬ gregations of Canton have extended a, unanimous call to Rabbi E. Pelkowitz of this city.
The rabbi, we are advised, is taking the matter into serious coiisideratipn, es¬ pecially so because of the very attractive inducements offered.
Rabbi Pelkowitz, who has been con¬ nected with the Ahavas Sholom and Beth Jafob synagogues here for the past two years and a half, held a post for !ven and a half years in the same city I whicii he is now called. ' In both itics—Columbus and Canton—the rabbi has hosts of friends. In Colutnbus he has been especially popular, being looked upon not only as a scholar of much erudition, but also as an exceptionally fine pulpiteer and orator.
He has been very active in work on hehalf of the Mizrachi. The Columbus Talmud Torah, too, has been the object of his solicitude. Many of the rabbi's admirers here are urging him to re¬ main in Columbus. It is expected that he will announce his final decision in a few wfceWs—possibly sooner.