from its position. At first, when the matter was called to its attention, it was said that the Trust could not allocate so large a part of its capital to New York. Then it was claimed that the capital of the Trust was needed in Palestine. We grant that the contention of the Jewish Colonial Trust is valid at the present time, but it was not valid then. We point to this incident merely to show that the leaders in Europe are remarkably short-sighted in their handling of American Zionism.
If for no other reason, we do hope that Herr Wolffsohn will visit us this fall. To decide on matters related to American Jewish life, we respectfully submit that some knowledge of American Jewish life is required.
THE SHEKEL.
THE Federation has fixed upon the Sunday following Purim (March 27), as the special Shekel day for the United States. An energetic campaign has been initiated which will involve, at least in New York city, a house-to-house canvass.
At the present time the United States occupies the second place on the Shekel rolls for the amount of money it sends to the central committee. From what we hear from Russia, it does not appear that the Russian Zionists will be in a position to hold the first place. It remains for the United States to make a spurt and overcome the advantage the Russian Zionists now have over us, as the largest contributor to the shekel fund. With just a little extra effort, with a little more enthusiasm, our shekel collections can be increased, and we shall then be the leaders in the support of the Actions Comite.
It is an imperative duty which rests upon organized Zionists to give support at the present time to the Actions Comite. We do not wish to be classed with those critics who condemn that Comite for inactivity and at the same time neglect to give it the financial and moral support it requires, if it is to fulfill its functions. The Congress voted down a resolution that would
have enabled the Actions Comite to receive commissions from the collections of the various funds. If the movement is to continue in its organized capacity, it must strengthen the central committee, not by devoting itself to the dozen or so funds that are being accumulated, but more especially in direct work for the increase of the funds of the administration.
It is on imperative duty to work for the increase of the funds of the administration. With many others, we find that the Actions Comite has been short-sighted in its treatment of the American Federation; not only short-sighted, but criminally negligent in that it has countenanced separatist organizations to develop with its endorsement. But without waiving our criticism, we insist that it is the duty of the American Zionists to strengthen the Actions Comite by the energetic collection of the shekolim, so that the administration shall be placed in a position of influence and nower.
ARONSOHN'S EXPERIMENT STATION
Tue plans of Mr. A. Aronshon for the establishment, among other things, of an agricultural experiment station in Palestine, have .assumed corporate form, and an American organization has been brought into existence, with a list .of eminent persons on the directorate, on which appear the names of both Zionists and non-Zionists. The venture deserves to succeed and probably will be of immense value in the development of the agricultural resources of Palestine.
' The station is to be located at the foot of Mount Carmel, seven miles from Haifa, where the Technical Institute is to be erected. The special aim of the institution will be to put the Jewish colonists and farmers of Palestine in a position to carry on agriculture in a rational and progressive manner, but of far greater importance, it seems, is Mr. Aronshon’s intention of cultivating the wild wheat specimens he has discovered in Palestine, which, if success-