Newspaper Page Text
The Southern Israelite
Page 9
Jews Be Americans!
An Interview with George Washington Ochs-Oakes, Editor of Current History
By ROBERT STONE
George Washington Ochs-
Oakes, editor of Current His
tory. very closely resembles his
elder brother, Adolph S. Ochs,
publisher of the New York
I imes. Both are well known
in newspaper circles for their
persistent and generally success
ful efforts to keep out of the
public prints. It is easier to
obtain an interview with the
President of the United States
than with an Ochs. This is a
fact which every city desk man
throughout the land knows.
It happened on a stifling
July afternoon that the writer
called on the editor of Current
History in his impressive edi
torial sanctum and, contrary to
his expectation, was cordially
received by the man who co
operated in building tip the fam
ous Chattanooga Times, brought
to the fore the Philadelphia
Times (which later merged with
the Public Ledger) and now
directs a monthly magazine re-
■d as the most authoritative and impartial platform for the discussion of inter
national jHilitical and social problems.
Mr. Ochs-Oakes, whose sharp, eagle-like profile recalls the popular conception
Ltorge Washington, listened carefully to the request for his views on the Jewish
roliltin in this country. Comfortably seated in his editorial chair, looking straight
it the interviewer, emphasizing his arguments vigorously, George Washington Ochs-
1 takes began:
"As a rule I don't like to give statements. Wc like to keep in the background. It
t' because I have very definite view’s on the subject that I consented to this interview.
' "hat phase of the question would you care to discuss?”
1 interviewer: “Anti-Semitism is on the increase and discrimination against
lew is rampant, according to the information which reaches us. Is that your
"I'uii- u also?”
fhis is the first interview that
he Editor of Current History
ever granted on Jewish
I nest ions. Mr. Ochs-Oakes,
brother of Adolph S. Ochs of
<he New York Times, has had
■j distinguished career. He has
been a noted publisher, two
times Mayor of Chattanooga,
I enn., and now is the Editor
of the foremost current historical
magazine in the world. Trac
ing his ancestry hack to the fif
teenth century, Mr. Ochs-Oakes
comes of a renowned Jewish
lineage. The views that he ex
presses in this interview are
hound to arouse discussion every
where.—The Editor.
Mr Ochs-Oakes: “Nobody can deny that. There is discrimination in the busi-
‘Oirld. I am informed that the Guarantee Trust Company doesn’t employ any
n principle and that Lord and Taylor, the large New York department store,
e percentage of its Jewish employees down to a very small minimum. Nu
'tores and offices are doing the same. Preparatory schools and universites
rictly applying the numerus clausus. Discrimination against the Jew can be
1 verywhere, in clubs, hotels, apartment houses, in every sphere and activity of
'ion. Having followed the current of the economic, social and cultural life
country, I should say, without fear of contradiction, that the Jew’ is the tar-
t concerted discriminatory onslaught.
' discrimination makes itself felt in the continual deepening of the line of
it ion between Jew and Christian. It is a division that has been growing more
■re acute since 1900, when the influx of East European Jewish immigration hit
mark. It startled me when, in 1901, I came to Philadelphia. Down South,
I came from, anti-Jewish feeling was entirely unknown at that time. Perhaps
there were not enough Jews to make it an issue? Perhaps because the cultural
of the Jews there was higher? I will not go into this just now.
’he South I, personally, never encountered anti-Semitism. Our familj was
•‘s a Jewish family. My father was for many years the lay-rabbi of his
tty, delivering a sermon every week. I myself sang in the choir of our con
n in the South until several years after I had reached by majority. I am gi\
this personal history as a background. It w’ill help you to understand m>
n what you call the Jewish problem. My father’s family comes from Euerth,
1 • A long line of my ancestors can be traced as far back as 14(X). My father
«d me of the family history. These ancestors were sturdy Germans of un-
mising Jewish faith. This my father's father—you will excuse this going
nily history—was a most devout Jew. He enjoyed a reputation as a clear-
honest business man even outside the boundaries of his native region. As
a result he was very much in demand as an arbiter in disputes; and, not being a man
of means, he of course charged a fee for his unofficial judicial activities. One day
he was invited to referee an important dispute, for which he was to receive a relatively
high compensation. But he refused the offer—because the arbitration session was
scheduled for a Saturday.
It may surprise you that this grandfather of mine permitted his son, my father,
to study for many years in a German Catholic seminary. It was the best institute
of learning in the district; and I supjxise that my grandfather, precisely because he
was so devoutly religious, felt that a true Christian religious atmosphere is not
dangerous for a young Jew in his formative years. His views were vindicated, for
my father never sacrificed an iota of his Jewish religious faith. You see that my
grandfather might be called a precursor of the Christian-Jewish good will movement.
“When my father came to this country—he was almost twenty then—he accepted
a position as an English teacher at a girls’ school in Kentucky. He had mastered the
English language during his years of study at the Catholic seminary. He threw
himself wholeheartedly into American life. At the outbreak of the Mexican War in
1H4K he volunteered, and was made a top-sergeant. When the Civil War broke out
in IKol lie volunteered in the U S. Army and became a captain, and later was Provost
Marshal at Cincinnati. You must excuse all these details—I am simply enlarging
on the background which is responsible for the views I hold. But to cut it short:
My mother, who had come to this country at the age of fifteen—she was compelled
to leave Germanay because of her activities in the revolutionary ranks—never was
converted to the political views of my father. To her last day she remained a partisan
of the Gray forces here; yet—and I cherish that memory—my parents lived a wonder
fully harmonious life, notwithstanding their opposed affiliations, for which they
fought unrelentingly. A marvelous example of tolerance and humanism. On their
death beds l*>th requested that the colors of their political affiliations cover their
coffins, the stars and stripes for my father, the Confederate banner for my mother.
Thus they lie buried, side by side.”
George Washington Ochs-Oakes paused. Silently lie led the interviewer to a
picture that hung on the wall; it i>ortraycd his father, an imposing, impressive figure
in military uniform. Then lie continued:
“I told you that lengthy, rather intimate family history just to emphasize that I
look hack on an American family tradition, that I feel myself an American in every
fibre of my being. My ancestors were participants in Germany's history, and my
father an actor in the great American drama of the past century.
“My own life in Chattanooga was intimately intertwined with the destiny of that
city. Twice my co-citizens elected me Mayor. The third time I had to decline the
honor despite their generous insistence, for I was planning to move to the North.
“I cannot stress sufficicnMy that I, personally, never encountered anti-Semitism
in the South. I did not know of its existence.
“When I reached Philadelphia and, later, New York I was appalled at the con
ditions I found.”
The interviewer: “Have you any explanation for this wave of prejudice?”
Mr. Ochs-Oakes: “Don’t be shocked if I tell you, speaking to you as a represen
tative of Jewish publications, that wc Jews are very much to blame.
East European Jews often have
certain characteristics and man
nerisms that provoke discrimi
nation. It is a lack of cul
ture, an absence of tact. Many of
those who shout against social dis
crimination are of a type that 1
myself would not care to associate
with. And I am a Jew—sure you
cannot accuse me of anti-Semi
tism. But take the pants-maker
who has made money, a lot of
money. He made his money so
fast that he did not have time to
integrate into American life. For
that matter, when I say he did not
have time I am generous. Most
probably he made no effort to be
come part and parcel of America.
He has gone on speaking Yiddish—
he flaunts his Yiddish newspaper
in the subway and on the street.
He remains a foreigner by his own
free will. By (Con’t on page 54)