TO THE PRESIDENT, AND DELEGATES OF THE FEDERATION OF AMERICAN ZIONISTS IN CONVENTION ASSEMBLED.
BELIEVING that if the F. A. Z. is to succeed at all in carrying the message of the Zionist movement to every Jew in America, it would have to radically change the haphazard method of its propaganda, I requested the President of the Federaion to permit me to assume the duty and responsibility of making a beginning, at least, in the systematizing of this neglected branch of its activity. During the brief period that has elapsed since this permission was granted ‘to the time of making this report, I have done but little more than experimental work, a sort of preliminary ploughing of a field which, if properly cultivated, will bring a rich harvest. Possibilities have revealed themselves, as well as obstacles due to long neglect, but which with careful work will be overcome. Due, primarily to Mr. de Haas’ tour through the South and Mid- die West, a field for Zionist endeavor has been discovered from which, in the course of time, great results may be expected, if the ground covered by Mr. de Haas shall not be neglected, and if, in fact, cities and towns not visited by him shall be visited by others from our ranks. We already have at our disposal the services of a number of able volunteers who will co-operate with a contemplated propaganda campaign in the South, exclusively, next Fall and Winter. In New England, obstacles have been found: obstacles due to the industrial conditions prevailing in that section, precluding the possibility of a consecutive tour, and limiting the method of propoganda to the ordinary mass-meeting. A way to cope with this difhculty will be found, it is hoped, before the Winter sets in again. In the Middle States very little has been done directly by the Propaganda Committee because the various councils in Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Cleveland and Baltimore had arranged definite programs before your present committee began its work. these programs have, in all cases, shown an intelligent understanding of the needs of the particular locality and your committee has not felt called upon to interfere with work already begun and so well planned. As a matter of fact, it is the desire, as it should be the province, of this committee to co-operate with the various councils where they exist, and it should also be incumbent upon the councils to co-operate with the committee. The committee should refrain from making up programs, leaving that to the better judgment of the couneils, but should suggest speakers and occasions for celebrations or commemoration.
Chiefly, the Propaganda Committee should be consulted, and its judgment accepted. with regard to mass-meetings. It is important that whatever large public meetings are held by Zionist councils or societies shall be of such a
character and addressed by such persons as to make a proper impression upon the publie in general. It has happened that meetings have been called by Zionist societies for other than Zionist» purposes, and it has also happened that Zionist meetings have been addressed by undesirable persons. whose bearing and utterances have mortified the local’ Zionists and injured the movement. It has happened also that Zionist societies have arranged mass-meetings with the expectation that certain persons would be willing to address them, only to discover when too late that the advertised speakers had not agreed, or were unable, for various reasons, to address these meetings. It is a fact, too, that certain persons are asked to speak at such a large number of meetings that they become exhausted, while others, whose platform presence is equally desirable and valuable to the movement, are compelled to remain silent. All of these things are due to the fact that there has been no attempt heretofore to svstematize our proparanda.
A — 1 ee te ke ER! Auer Tas a a Te: One of the first tasks of your committee was to correspond with a large number of ladies and gentlemen known as Zionists throughout the country to induce them to volunteer their services, to stipulate the terms and conditions upon which they would volunteer. As a result your committee takes pleasure in offering the following official list of speakers now enlisted in the services of the Federation:
Mr. D. Aberson, New York; Rabbi A. M. Ashinsky, Pittsburg; P. P. Bregstone, Chicago, Ill.; M. Banowitch. Savannah, Ga.; Jesse F. Bluestone, Pittsburg, Pa.; S. Bialock, St. Louis, Mo.: Gedalia Bublick, New York.; F. Berenson. Peoria. Ill.; Harry Cook, New York.: S. Solis Cohen, Phila., Pa.; Mrs. Benj. Davis, Chicago.; Rabbi S. N. Deinard, Minneapolis, Minn.:; Miss Freda Davis, Pittsburg.; Rabbi A. P. Drucker, Brunswick, Ga.; Dr. L. N. Dembitz. Louisville; N. Finklestein, Brooklyn.: S. Henri Finkle, New York.; Rabbi Joseph Friedlander, Beaumont.; Rabbi A. Gorowitz, Wonsocket.; S. Goldman, St. Louis, Mo.: Dr. B. L. Gordon, Phila.; Rev. J. H. Greenstone,. Phila.; J. Gartenstein, M. D., Milwaukee.: Rev. C. I. Hoffman, Indianapolis.: E. J. Jackson, St. Louis.; Henry Jackson, Pittsbure.: N. D. Kaplan, Chicago.; Ephraim Kaplan, New York.; Max E. Katz. Cleveland, O.: Rev. C. H. Kauvar, Denver, Colo.: I. Kahanowitz, Greensburg, Pa.; Maurice Leon.; R. A. Merlis, New York.; S. Margolies, Cleveland.; Max Reichler, Cineinnati, O.; Abraham Rappoport, Petoskey, Mich.: J. S. Raisin, Port Gibson, Miss.; D. A. Siegall, New York.: Rev. Saul Silber, Columbus, O.: Rev. J. S. Sherbow. Phila.; Chas. H. Sachs, Pittsbure.; George Tunkle, Augusta, Ga.: Esther T. Weinshenker, Chicago.: H. Wahrhaftie. Memphis.; Rev. Dr. S. S. Wise, Portland, Ore.
It is hoped that this list will be increased this