previous to the breaking out of the war was 52 men, but we were forced to reduce to 25 men, the reduction due, not to the lack of work, but entirely to lack of raw material. In fact the plant has even today enough work for at least a year, but owing to the impossibility of getting raw material, it may be necessary now to shut the plant down altogether. From a report of the American Consul, dated December 31, 1915, it is clear that not only did the company not lose money, but a profit of 11,614 Frcs. was made and twenty-five families other than the two families of the two managers, were kept up, paid mostly in gold and food supplies which were purchased at the beginning of the war. The company, at the beginning of the war, put all its available cash into food supplies and commenced a policy at that time of paying its employees partly in cash and partly in food.
The stockholders have made a dividend of 10 per cent. The company has been the means of saving many of the colonies.
The fuel for most of the engines used for the pumping of water throughout the country was derived from anthracite coal and petroleum, but as at the beginning of the war these two elements were not obtainable, our company developed the system of deriving the fuel from charcoal, to be obtained from the Arabs in the interior of Palestine. In this way, Tel Aviv and the other colonies had been able to run their engines and obtain water.
One other fact should be called to the attention of the delegates. This enterprise has not received help from any institute whatever. It is run entirely uopn its own capital and I offer it as an example of what American methods, American ideas and American energy can do for the industrial development of Palestine.
The report of the special nominations committee was called for. Mr. Avner reported that according to the instructions of the Convention, he and his committee had held a session until 2:20 P. M., to receive nominations from the floor. He reported the following as the complete ticket, omitting the officers elected at the morning session:
Nominees for Resident ExecutiveThe following represent their organizations:
For Hadassah
Miss Sophia Berger Mrs. Jay C. Guggenheimer For Orders Sons of Zion Joseph Barondess Joshua Sprayregen For Young Judaea Dr. de Sola Pool
Brought in by the Nominating Committee
S. Abel Charles A. Cowen Abraham Goldberg Benjamin Perlstein Dr. Max Raisin Morris Rothenberg Edward Spiegel Lawrence Steinhardt Dr. Meyer Waxman
Nominated from the Floor
S. Frankel R. D. Kesselman M. W. Norwalk B. G. Richards B. Shelvin Moe Werbelowsky David Schneeberg E. Rabinowitz Dr. S. Melamed
Mr. Geist, of Brooklyn: In the name of the New York delegates, I would like to be informed as to the records of the nominees.
The Chairman: I believe that would not be in order.
Mr. Neumann, of Brooklyn: I think the New York delegates have a right to express their views in order that out-of-town delegates may know of the activities of the nominees in Zionism, especially as all of them are New York Zionists.
The Chairman: It does not follow that because a Zionist delegate lives in New York, therefore he knows what is going on in the movement. There are Zionists of Philadelphia who come more frequently to the Federation office than many New York Zionists.
Mr. Neumann, of Brooklyn: It is the feeling here that many of the out-of-town delegates should know whom the New York delegates are going to support.
Mr. Werbelowsky, of Brooklyn: At the caucus Mr. Geist refers to only ten or twelve delegates were present. He does not speak for the New York delegation.
Mr. Kesselman, of Bath Beach: Have we any provision in our constitution providing that members of the executive committee must be American citizens?
Mr. Levenson, of Boston: Most of the delegates come from out of town. They would like to know something about the nominees.
The Chairman: Mr. Rosenblatt will inform the delegates who Mr. Steinhardt is.
Mr. Rosenblatt: Mr. Steinhardt is one of the organizers of the University Zionist Society of New York, and is one of its governors. He is a new recruit, but is a young man of unusual ability, and has a large influence upon a group of men who may become valuable to Zionism. He would represent a new element on the committee.
Mr. Kesselman declined the nomination, all others accepted.
Mr. Geist, of Brooklyn: How many of the nominees are paid officials?
The Chairman: I welcome this question. Every one here knows who the paid officials are. The question has been asked in order to give expression to a sentiment which ought not to find a place in a Zionist convention. The man who is a paid official is entitled to credit for having thrown his personal fortunes to the winds in order to enter the Zionist government 'service. It is no discredit to the patriotism of a man to say that he occupies a position of trust and usefulness in the United ‚States government. On the contrary, it is regarded as an act of patriotism for a man to give up his personal affairs and to take his chances with a democracy as to his future. So it ought to be in the Zionist movement. A man who gives up a legal career in order to serve Zionism, cutting himself off from opportunities for advancement, is not a paid ofhicial, but a servant of the Zionist cause, whose service,should be respected. It is to their credit that they have been willing to make the sacrifice involved, just as it was to the credit of members of the Inner Actions Comite when they decided to accept salaries from the organization for giving up all their private interests and making the Zionist interest their sole concern in life.
A Delegate: Has Mr. Richards been attending executive committee meetings?
The Chairman: Not only has Mr. Richards attended meetings but he has been a valuable member of the committee in many directions, contributing his advice and direct personal service to the solution of many of the practical problems of the organization. He has been constantly in touch with the oflices and the officers.
On motion, the list of nominations was closed.
Dr. Alexander Wolf, of St. Louis, for the Budget Committee: I have the honor to present the following report for the Budget Committee:
Report of Budget Committee.
Owing to a pressing engagement, the Chairman, Mr. Louis E. Kirstein, of Boston, had to leave the city on July 3rd, and we regret very much that we could not have the