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The Nationa
ions
-A Summary and Analysis of the Section JReturns
irnrv Horner, after
[rving a* Judge of the
robate Court of Cook
>untv, the largest court
the world under one
>tlge, «,ince 1914, has
fen elevated by the
rtorate of Illinois to
|r position of Governor,
idge llenrv Horner is
[bachelor, 53 vears old.
laving attended the
[Diversity of Michigan,
graduated from the
|hicago-Krnt College of
[aw in 1S9S, and started
racticing the following
rar. He is a member
the American. Illi-
Ms and Chicago Bar
Associations. His hob
being Abraham Lin-
pln, he possesses one of
le most complete libra-
5es of Lincoln data in
America, and is a metn-
*r of the C'hicago His-
brical Society and the
jincoln Centennial As
sociation.
Arthur Seliginan has
been re-elected Gov-
ernor of New Mexico,
having hist served in
that capacity in Janu
ary, 1931. After a long
and active life of public
service, including a term
as Mayor of Sante Fe,
the Governorship proves
a just climax. Graduat
ing from Svvarthmore
College, Mr. Seligrnan
entered the mercantile
business in 1888. From
1903 to 1920 he was
president of Seliginan
Brothers; from 1920 to
1926 he was president of
the La Fonda Building
Corporation, and since
1924 he has been presi
dent of the First Na
tional Bank in Sante Fe.
Since 1920 he has been
a member of the Demo
cratic National Commit
tee, and since 1916 he
has nerved as a delegate
to the Democratic Na
tional conventions. The
Governor, Arthur Selig-
man, is 59 years of age
and is married and has
two children.
GOVERNOR HENRY HORNER
GOVERNOR ARTHUR SELIGMAN
I last America is giving to its Jewish citizens
a measure of the recognition which their
numerical strength and their individual abili
ties merit. The recent national elections which
wept into power the Democratic Party in the
ation. States and localities marked the begin-
mg of a new epoch for American Jewry. Today
here are four State Capitols where Jews are or
ill soon be the Chief Executives. In one other
[tate there will he a Governor of Jewish descent.
It must be said at once that in the case of the
H " new Jewish Governors it was not the Deino-
atic landslide which brought them unexpected
prtune. So outstanding was their ability, so in
dent their claims upon the recognition of the
lectorate that they would undoubtedly have been
the top of the heap even if the G. (). P. had
tilled the record-breaking vote of the Democrats.
Herbert Henry Lehman, in New York, and
ptnry Horner, in Illinois, demonstrated their
°wer by obtaining pluralities far in excess of
hose captured by the man who headed their party
leket. The Empire State gave I^ehman an edge
|t 150,000 over Roosevelt, Horner, in Illinois,
as ahead of the New York Governor by 120,000
otes. 1 he election of both men by such over-
helming pluralities, Lehman by 900,000 and
orner by 550,000, is irrefutable evidence that
petr victory comes at the hands of a non-partisan
"fistituency, from Democrats, Republicans and
£ cn Socialists who recognized in their program
soc| al vision and economic planning a type of
fadership essential not only for recovery but for
lumph over the forces of social disorganization
[ hich are now so threatening.
By Sidney Wallach
The elections of 1932 veere of special significance in
the annals of American Jewish History. Sever before
have Jewish citizens received such striking recognition
on the political stage of this country. Mr. Sidney It’al-
lach presents in this article a comprehensive survey of
Jewish political successes at the recent elections and
gives us a brilliant• interpretation of their significance.
Governor Julius Meier’s seat in Oregon was
not the subject of voting on November 8th. Ar
thur Seligrnan was re-seated in New Mexico. Dave
Scholz, whose Jewish parents came to America
and settled in Brooklyn, New York, fifty years ago,
had an easy triumph in Florida.
GOVERNORS
Herbert H. I^hman, Henry Horner, Arthur
Seligrnan, Julius Meier.
MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES
Samuel Dick*tein, Dr. William I. Sirovich, Sol
Bloom, Emanuel Celler and Theodore A. Peyser,
of New York; Uaac Bacharach, Atlantic City;
Mrs. Florence P. Kahn, San Francisco; Adolph
Sabath, Chicago; Herman P. Koppleman, Hart
ford, Conn.; Julius Klein, Chicago; Henry
Ellenbogen, Pittsburgh.
STATE SUPREME COURTS
Samuel H. Hof«*tadter and Aaron Steuer, New
York; Joseph Stadtfeld, Pennsylvania; Senator
Abe Zinn, New Mexico.
In the House of Representatives the Jewish con
tingent has been increased from seven to eleven.
The prospect that a Jew might sit in the Senate
was blighted when George V,. Medalie suffered a
crushing defeat in New York and Gilbert Brtt-
mann made a vigorous hut not quite successful run
in Ohio. There was more than the usual quota
of Jews in the various State Legislatures, in State
Supreme Courts and local courts and a variety of
minor offices.
But what is extremely significant about the 1932
elections was not merely that many Jews were
given authority but the type of Jew that was
lifted to high office. The day of the subservient
ward-heeler, the Jew who affiliates himself with
the community merely with an eye to the ultimate
goal of political preferment had waned. There is
surging toward the front the type of American
Jew who is deeply concerned with the fate of his
people and also devoted to the interests of his
country. Herbert Lehman and Henry Horner are
men in public office who stand head and shoulders
above the average established by other State Chief
Executives. Experienced in social problems, gifted
with an unusual understanding of the needs of
the people, equipped with knowledge, insight and
experience, they are pre-eminently qualified to pro
vide leadership and guiding vision.
To get the overwhelming force of Jewish
achievement in the political arena, it must be added
that at the present writing, at least eleven Jewish
Congressmen will be members of the new House
of Representatives: Mrs. Florence P. Kahn, of
San Francisco; Samuel Dickstein. New York; Dr.
William I. Sirovich, New (Please turn to page 18)
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