High Lights of the Jewish Congress
Review of the Proceedings of the Second Session of the American Jewish Congress, held in Philadelphia, May 30 and 31, 1920
The question on which there was a sharp division among the delegates to the American Jewish Congress was not the permanency of the Congress. All were agreed that the Congress should be made permanent. Those who held other opinions were, with one notable exception, absent from Philadelphia. It was the question of method to be used in bringing the permanency of the Congress about which for a time seriously menaced the object which everybody sought to accomplish.
Although the Call for the Congress, put forth as the main business to come before the delegates, the report of the delegation to Europe, that item of the Agenda was not uppermost in the minds of most of those who came to Philadelphia. First of all, it was an old report which was to be rendered, and it had been rendered numerous times, and on sundry occasions, by the various members of the delegation in their unoflicial capacities. Then again the pre-Congress agitation of the press served to center the interest of the Congress chiefly around the question of permanency. Aside from the importance of the question, the anticipation of a lively contest concerning it, easily made it the paramount issue at the Congress and attracted not only a large attendance of delegates, about 275, but also filled the visitors’ gallery at all sessions.
At the delegates’ caucus, Sunday morning, the initial skirmish took place between the factions who held conflicting opinions as to the method to be employed in making the Congress permanent. The Call for the Congress, embodying an agreement on the basis of which the various factions agreed to convene the Congress, specifically prohibited the introduction of a resolution tending to make the Congress permanent. One group of delegates headed by B. Zuckerman, and other leaders of the Poale Zion; Judge Gustave Hartman, Grand Master of the I. O. B. A., Abraham Schomer, and others argued in favor of disregarding the agreement on the grounds that they had never been parties to it, and that the overwhelming sentiment in favor of a permanent Congress warranted such action, the acreement havine lonxe become obnoxious as well as obsolete.
On the other hand, delegates headed by Louis Lipsky and other Zionists, argued against the violation of the agreement, insisting that such action would only precipitate unnecessary bad feeling and jeopardize the existence of any Congress that might later be formed. They proposed that the Congress should be allowed to run its course until the end and that after it had been adjourned sine die, the delegates would be asked to remain for the purpose of organizing the nermanent Congress. j
No plan of action was agreed upon at the caucus and the fight was carried to the floor of the Congress.
The test came sooner than was expected. Hardly had the Congress been organized and without waiting for any opening speeches or formal ceremonies, Judge Hartman startled the delegation by introducing a resolution for a permanent Congress. Judge Mack, who presided, immediately declared the resolution out of order on the grounds that it violated the agreement. Judge Hartman appealed from his decision and the issue was then put squarely before the delegates whether to uphold the agreement until the end or not. Judge Hartman's explanation of his appeal seemed to echo the sentiment of a large majority; his remarks were greeted with stormy applause. But the matter assumed an entirely different complexion when Judge Mack began to explain his decision. The seriousness with which he emphasized the moral issue involved, made a deep impression upon the delegates. It became apparent that the cheering in favor of the abrogation of the agreement came mostly from the visitors in the gallery. He pointed out, what very few delegates realized, that a decision to allow the question of permanency to be
considered, would inevitably carry with it his resignation as President of the Congress. Judge Mack was interrupted at this point by shouts on the part of several delegates who interpreted his statement as a threat intended to influence the delegates in his favor. Dr. Wise, who was then presiding, was unable to restore order for several minutes and he threatened to close the Congress before Judge Mack could continue in peace. The Chairman's decision in ruling the resolution out of order was sustained by a large majority, and while the question of permanency was postponed, it was nevertheless felt that a permanent Congress was assured.
The Congress then proceeded to official business and Mr. Louis Marshall began reading the report of the delegation. He was followed by Bernard G. Richards, the secretary, who read the office report. The session adjourned.
Few delegates realized that the storm was yet to come. The discussion of the report presented by Mr. Marshall was the order of business at the second session. Mr. Lipsky moved that the Congress express its appreciation of the work done by the delegation. Mr. Zuckerman then took the floor and in the name of The National Socialist Bloc he delivered a scathing attack upon the delegation of its work. In language which was, to put it mildly, intemperate, he indicted the delegation on numerous counts of omission and commission. The delegates listened attentively. They were indulgent with the speaker rather than interested in the attack itself. Judge Mack answered the charges in detail. That the sentiment of the Congress was entirely against Mr. Zuckerman was evidenced by the fact that his attack, which was characterized by Judge Mack as "damnably outrageous," was expunged from the record, and several delegates went even so far as to demand his expulsion from the Congress.
Before the Congress adjourned another attempt was made to introduce a resolution perpetuating the Congress. This time it was Mr. Abraham Schomer who tried his luck. Judge Mack ruled his resolution out of order and Mr. Schomer emulated Judge Hartman by appealing from the decision of the chair. In contrast to the previous occasion when the appeal was taken and the Congress was imbued with the seriousness of the matter before it, the delegates considered Mr. Schomer's appeal as more or less of a farce. It was a foregone conclusion that Judge Mack would be sustained in his decision. And so it was, even with a larger majority than before. Each several formal resolutions the Congress adjourned sine die.
No sooner had Judge Mack declared the Congress adjourned than Gedalia Bublick took the gavel from his hand and declared the session for the permanent Congress open. Only one delegate left the hall. He was Mr. Louis Marshall. Dr. Wise's address on Jewish Democracy recalled his memorable speech at the Preliminary Conference. But this was a more happy occasion. [Extracts of his address are printed elsewhere in this issue.] The Congress was now unfettered and free. Its friends and its enemies were known to all, and the friends were determined that it should exist and allow no one to arrogate to himself the right to speak for the Jewish people when he is not delegated to do so. The bad taste left by the previous unpleasant incident disappeared and the assembly was again raised to its proper level of dignity.
Election of a temporary chairman was an occasion for a little relaxation and a few speeches of the "democratic" variety, but finally, after mutual compliments were paid there were two nominees left, Mr. Lipsky and Mr. Schomer. Mr. Lipsky was elected. As he took the chair, the Congress assumed a familiar aspect and the manner in which he immediately plunged into business impressed the delegates that nothing but business was in order.