The Pittsburg Conventionof 1903
. SEVEN years is not so long a period of time and yet we who were present at the Pittsburg convention of 1903 feel as if since that time a large section of our lives ‚has been completed and that we have witnessed quite a good deal since Pittsburg Zionists invented the youthful, exuberant cry of “Aleph, Beth, Gimmel, Hey, Vov, Tınn i .
For the first time Zionism in this country connected with the American youth. Pittsburg with its boisterous determination to give all Zionists a cordial welcome in ‚true western fashion, was typical of youth. Whatever was done, was done with eclat, ‚good nature, wholesome cordiality. It is pleasant to feel that, from the indications already at hand, the Pittsburg Zionists have retained their youth and that in spite ‚of the passage of seven years, it is still as vouns. '
“ There were many stirring events at that cönvention, many friendships made that are still maintained. Who that was there will ever forget the informal reception or lunch in Turner’s Hall, Ibelieve? Itlooked like. a sort of sub-cellar, and there were gathered the young men of the mövement, ‚and the young women, seated at improvised tables. It was not altogether conventional, but we sat and ate and created a hubbub of conversation, and ever and again one would stand upon the table and deliver a speech; brief, as luck would have it, but filled with a fine comraderie, which gave tone to the sessions of the convention that followed.
The streets were filled with Zionist emblems. The entire Jewish community seemed to feel proud of the welcome it was giving to the movement. Herzl's picture, Zionist flags and bunting, Zionist buttons, everything had the holiday air about it which spread like contagion everywhere.
Of the proceedings of the convention little may be said, for as a rule, discussions were rapid, sometimes lengthy, and we had a constitution to dispose of, as we have this year. The convention came just after the Kishineff pogroms, and every
delegate was fired with strong feeling. It was at Pittsburg that Dr. J. L. Magnes made his first appearance as a Zionist delegate. He spoke on the Kishineff resolution. It was his first speech, I think, and it made a deep impression. We, who had impressed him into the service of Zionism at the time, felt that he would become a force in the movement, for in addition to his persuasive voice, he had that virile youthfulness and sincerity which made him very attractive.
It was the last convention attended by Prof..Gottheil and there was no intimation of his intention to resign. As a presiding -oflicer, Prof. Gottheil was alert, not well-trained .in parliamentary tactics, but with a certain suavity, which. enabled him to gain his points without calling into play the power of his authority. Mr. de Haas was then. secretary, with practically his first convention on hand, and as a result .a number of new methods were introduced ‚which, backed up by the Pittsburg Zionists, whose confidence Mr. de Haas had ‚obtained to an unusual degree, were con- ductive to smoother vrocedisre. Jo.
A ‚feature of the convention was the ‚care bestowed by the matrons upon the ‚delegates.. There were. Iuncheons every day, and the banquet was prepared ‘by them without the assistance of a professional caterer. At every turn, genuine Jewish hospitality. was found, and there ‚was not a delegate who did not feel that he was being cared for by the arrangements committee. And then the social affairs, the lawn party and its trolley .ride, in which every delegate participated, when they filled the murky atmosphere of the Smoky City with Zionist cries. That was an enjoyable event to every delegate as well as to the Pittsburgers themselevs.
The Federation emerged from that convention stronger than ever before. It obtained the confidence of Zionists which had been lacking, but the Pittsburg Zionists themselves sacrificed so much for its success that after the convention they had to pass through great hardships before they could safely say that as organized Zionists they were on their feet again. It is to be hoped that this convention will leave the Pittsburg Zionists without any unpleasant memories or consequences.