The Convention, in general, showed that our organization is stronger than ever before, our resources slowly increasing, the number of intelligent workers multiplying, the loyalty of societies to the Federation becoming stronger, and, in fact, a healthy, progressive growth in numbers, strength and intelligence. We believe that during the coming year progress will be as healthy as it was during the past year.
THE CONGRESS.
We are sure that far-sighted leadership will win in the coming Congress, and that the zeal of those who favor a pell-mell penetration of Palestine will not win the day. We are proud of the enthusiasm and even the partisanship which Zionism has aroused in its own ranks, but we cannot close our eyes to the fact that calmness and statesmanship must hold the reins of the movement, even if it be necessary to sit down on some of our enthusiasts.
Just as our American Federaion struggled with questions of organization, so, it appears to us, the Congress should devote itself to a practical consideration of the problems of organization. The statutes of the Congress are loose, and the methods are not the best that could be devised. The Federations have grown almost without official regulation, and the system of electing delegates does not connect with the Federation with that regularity and precision that it should. It is obvious that some plan is needed that will place the entire election machinery within the machinery of the Federation organizations.
That there has been little or no statesmanship in the activity of the Smaller Actions Committee is to be deplored. When we speak of statesmanship, we mean the development of the work in Palestine with a clear-cut policy of political activity in mind. Whether those engaged in practical work are inspired by that statesmanship, or are conscious of it, does not matter. but the Actions Committee ought to be larger than any of the enterprises contemplated for the rejuvenation of the land.
- We send greeting to our colleagues at The Hague, and to the forty delegates who will represent America.
A TALE OF TWO CITIES.
THE students of Volozhin on strike! The old Yeshibah closed because of a difference between professors and students on the question of whether modern languages may be studied and newspapers read! We see a picture of rebellious students stealthily reading and studying the forbidden literature. We see them murmur when caught and rebuked, subdued but not convinced. We see them grow openly rebellious as the modern forces in their lives come out more and more strongly. Besides, the authorities have nothing back of them but tradition, no money l'chaper 'al pesha.
What a contrast—in theory—does the theological seminary at Cincinnati present! A secular education is demanded. Men are encouraged to be of this world. Education. is along the lines of least resistance and regardless of tradition they have money to back up whatever they do. But the relation between professors and students—there’s where der ewige Jude shows himself in America as well as in Russia. The authorities think they know more than their subordinates, and “go do them something,” as they say in Yiddish. The students and some of the teachers are willing to be taught and to teach, but not to be dictated to on matters where they consider themselves capable of formulating an opinion of their own. What is the result? A split on Zionism that has not been healed by forcing the instructors “voluntarily” to resign or by inducing some of the students voluntarily to find themselves closed out, for the simple reason that a very liberal majority of the men in the Collegiate department are outspoken Zionists and although the Preparatory students are too young to have formed opinions, at least two of them have been rather active in the movement. Now, while this condition is easily explained— and not on any such ridiculous hypothesis as “learning” Zionism in the class-room or even at meetings of the Zionist society’ which these young men attend—it is natural that the college authorities should be enraged. As a business proposition they find their investment does not pay as they had a right to expect. It cost this year over fourteen hundred dollars each for the education of the