The Maccabaean

Conventions in general and Zionist conventions in particular serve a double purpose, an internal and an external one. The internal purpose is to give the banner carriers, the leaders of the movement, an opportunity to come together for deliberation, for consultation on matters of importance. The internal work, therefore, which consists of a review of the work of the past and the planning of work for the future, is done mostly behind the doors of the committee room, by those who are an integral part of the working body. The external purpose of conventions is to give the public an opportunity to become acquainted with the work that has been done. Mass meetings, banquets, papers, discussions, are the medium of expression, that put the internal world in touch with the external.

Both of these purposes found their accomplishment in the Zionist Convention held in Chicago.

There were a number of questions which had troubled the delegates for some time, and which found their answer there at the convention in the form of resolutions. It was not without hot discussions, hot debates, that the resolutions were adopted. One could hear them in the committee rooms, at the Zionist Bureau, in the meeting hall, at the lobbies of the different hotels, particularly in the La Salle Hotel, where two of the most prominent delegates were staying. So thoroughly had the questions been rehashed before they came to a vote that when the Chairman of the Resolution Committee, Judge Philip Bregstone, read the resolutions, they were adopted almost unanimously by the delegates. Convention frequenters can testify to the fact that such is always the case. The elite of the delegates, those who are interested in the policy of the organization and not in the badge they wear, begin fighting and discussing from the minute the Convention starts and even before, so that when the meeting for final action is called, the battle has been more than half won, and the fighters have either come to an agreement or have surrendered to the stronger side.

One of the first resolutions and one that called forth discussion from the floor, was the Congress question. Dr. Horace Kallen, of the University of Wisconsin, read a paper on the importance of the Congress, in which he gave an exposition of its salient features. Although this matter had the sanction of the Provisional Committee, some of the delegates wanted a clear understanding of it. Immediately after the reading of the paper a discussion developed. Dr. Levin appeared in defense of the Congress proposition, and the audience thoroughly convinced, voted unanimously in its favor. Financial support was promised,

and contributions were made to defray expenses. The Convention voted $500 and immediately collected $125.

The question of the formation of State Leagues— the plan to unite the different societies of each state into a league which is to be a part of the Knights of Zion—found discussion pro and con. There were some that thought such a scheme might cause the separation of the different societies from the Knights, and in so doing would weaken them and perhaps ultimately result in their breaking up. There were others, on the contrary, who were of the opinion that such a plan would only serve to concentrate the efforts of the Knights of Zion and decrease the work of the secretary, and make for greater efficiency generally. The result of the discussion was in favor of the affırmative. The Wisconsin delegates stood out strongly in favor of the plan; they had already formed a State League several weeks previously. Those who opposed the plan originally came to a realization that Mr. Brandeis was right in advocating the formation of State Leagues. The resolution, therefore, in favor of State Leagues to operate under the auspices of the Knights of Zion. was carried.

Besides the resolutions that characterized the intimate phase of the Convention, the Convention was interesting and encouraging from another standpoint. The delegates of the different towns came well prepared with a report of their doings, an account of the activities up to date. Clearheaded men faced the problem of Zionism in a clearheaded way. They did not let their enthusiasm carry them away in a cloud of words. Those that came did not come merely to look but to act. to do their share in making the Convention a memorable one. Business men left their places of business for an entire week to devote themselves with business-like zeal to the work of the Convention. An example of clearheadedness was the report of the President of the Knights of Zion, Mr. Nathan D. Kaplan. He gave facts in addition to sentiment. He showed that “The Chicago Zionists alone, within the period of two weeks or less, and while the committee for relief of Jewish war sufferers was in progress of formation, gathered and sent approximately 175 toms of food stuffs, this achievement being accomplished without interrupting the efforts of the committee for the relief of Jewish war sufferers, in whose work the Chicago Zionists participated with unstinted energy.”

The report called forth the applause it well merited, and it was voted that it be published and distributed among the different afhiliated societies. The reports of the different chairmen of the executive committee also met with the approval of all the delegates.