THE FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTIONOF THEFEDERATION OF AMERICAN ZIONISTS.
THE Fifth Annual Convention of the Federation of American Zionists was held at the Faneuil Hall, Boston, Massachusetts, May 25th and 26th, in the presence of a large assemblage of visitors.
FIRST DAY.—FIRST SESSION.
Prof. Richard Gottheil, President of the Federation, called the convention to order at 10 a. m., and Mr. I. D. Morrison, the Secretary, was instructed to call the roll which was done informally, and showed a quorum present. (See appendix I).
The chair then appointed the following as Committee on Credentials: Dr. B. L. Singer, Philadelphia Pa. (Chairman); S. Margolies, Boston, Mass.; J. Siegel, New York, N. Y.; I. Kahanowitz, Greensburg Pa.; S. Abel, New York, N. Y.; and the Honorary Secretary, ex-officio. The Secretary then read the following communications:
Dr. Herzl's letter.
To the Fifth annual Convention of the Federation of American Zionists:
For the fifth time it is our pleasure and honor to greet the annual Conference of the American Federation.
Your Convention takes place under very happy auspices. You will demonstrate that the success of our movement during the last year, and the plans of the Fifth Zionist Congress, are receiving your full and earnest attention, and that your activity has not been confined simply to discussion, but that you have been doing good effective Zionist work.
The opening for business of the Jewish Colonial Trust, the earnest and positive work of the Fifth Congress, the establishment of the Jewish National Fund, the friendly reception of our plans by the Turkish authorities,—all this, while giving us new hopes, makes greater demands upon our work of propaganda. As the work of the
Central Committee is constantly progressing and expanding, so also must the activity of each National Federation and of each individual society increase in proportion, and ever so much louder and more urgent must now be our call "all hands to work." In these hopeful but strenuous times our eyes are directed to your country; the land which so well understands how to combine ideal aims and concrete work, the land which until now was the house of refuge for all persecuted and enslaved Jews. The country that opens hospitable gates to every stranger and gives him a friendly home, will best understand our ideal of Jewish freedom when that ideal is explained to them, and the Jews that become citizens in that blessed country, will give Zionism their hearty support when once they thoroughly understand our aims and aspirations.
The endeavor of American Zionists to work in unison and in peace for the emancipation of their brethren, must find a responsive echo in the home of Washington, Franklin and Lincoln.
Wishing you great success in your deliberations, we are,
Dr. Nordau's views.
Dear Sir :—Will you kindly transmit my most cordial greetings to the Federation of American Zionists on its Fifth Annual Convention?
American Zionism is the most ideal, being the most disinterested and unselfish.
American Jews are in the happy possession of a home and a country. They are among the first white settlers of their continent. They have worn the blue coat of Washington, and spilt their blood on his battlefields. They have marched and suffered and fought under the folds of the