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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)