quarters in Chicago, numbered, during the year 1903-4, sixty-five societies; during the past year the Order had added thirteen gates to its roll. Owing to the peculiar dificulties attaching to the propaganda work of the Knights of Zion. this Order has been able to pay neither the full Federation tax nor the full number of shekolim. We trust that before this convention will have adjourned a plan will be adopted whereby, at the same time, the Federation will be strengthened and justice be done to the elaims of the Kniehts of Zıon.
The Mizrachi, or orthodox party of the Zionist movement, with headquarters in New York, was recognized as a part of the Federation by the Executive Committee in November, 1903. According to the report of the secretary. of the Federation at the convention of 194, the Mizrachi numpbered seventeen societies. It numbers at present eighteen societies. The relationship between the Federation and the Misrachi is to be regulated upon a party basis. This means that each society of the Mizrachi is to receive a certihcate of afliliation from the Federation by paying its affiliation fee; that each society must furnish the Federation with a list of its members and pay to the Federation, through the central office of the Mizrachi, Federation dues and shekel tax. Members of the Mizrachi will also have a seat in the committees of the Executive Committee, and correspondence with the various societies will be carried on through the central office of the Mizrachi. The activity of the Mizrachi during the past year will be shown in its report.
The Federation has, furthermore, entered into negotiations with the Paole Zion, the socialist party of the Zionist movement, with headquarters in New York. It was only a technical matter which prevented the Paole Zion from joining the Federation before the convening of this convention upon a party basis as outlined above It is hoped that the Paole Zion will soon be affiliated with the Federation. There are now ten Paole Zion societies in this country, with a membership of about 500.
It has also been the endeavor of the Federation to lay as much stress as possible upon the formation of academie societies, that is, of societies composed of students at academie institutions. There are, at present, seven academie societies, either formed or in the process of formatioin.
It is, furthermore, the policy of the Federation to encourage the formation of junior societies, as far as this may possible. We hope to regulate the status of junior societies by offering them associate membership in che Federation upon the payment of one-fifth of all fees and dues, with the exception of the shekel, which. because of the fact that the members of junior societies
are under the shekel-paying age, has no reference to them.
When it is added that those societies: which constituted the organization instituted in opposition to the Federation, the United Zionists of New York, have affiliated with the rederation or are contemplating such affiliation, it will be seen that the work of this year has been fruitful of one thing, above all others, namely, the strengthening of the Federation by the elimination of opposition and by the addition of those Zionist elements which have hitherto remained separate from us. Our movement is the Jewish national movement, and just as a nation is composed of individuals of different types, so must our movement reflect these differences. When the Paole Zion shall have joined the Federation, there will be within the movement and on the floor of the convention an administrative party, a conservative party and a radical partv.
— Three Zionist periodicals were started during the year, and are still being published, the Zion Messenger, the organ of the Order Knights of Zion, the Jewish Banner, the organ of the Cleveiand Couneil, and the Cincinnati Zionist, the organ of Cincinnati Zionists. Besides the pamphlets issued by THE MACCABAFAN, the Federation issued an English translation of Ussischkin’s “Unser Proeram.”
The greatest difieulty which the Federation has to contend with is its lack of funds. It costs the Federation just as much to condurt the business of 237 societies, with 6,500 shekel payers, as it would cost to conduet the business of twice that number. The Federation, upon its present basis, will, in all probability, be able to pay its debts and conduet its routine during the coming year. This is not a satisfactory state of affairs. The Federation needs a paid seeretary who shall devote most of his time to the work of the organization. The Federation, furthermore, needs funds for the publication of pamphlets and for the carrying on of propaganda work in general. If each society were to double its membership, i. e., if each member of each society were to secure but one new member for his society, the finamwial ditficulties of the Federation would, in great measure, be settled.
From all appearances, it can safely be predicted that Zionism in America may look forward to the most active year in its history.
J. L. MAGNES.
The report of the Treasurer was then read. Financial reports will be found in appendices.
The Chairman of the Propaganda Committee, Mr. A. H. Fromenson, then read the following report: