Seattle's Jewish Community Votes Down a 'Jewish Independent Political Club'

The call for the organization of a Jewish Independent political club made for yesterday afternoon in Red Men's hall was attended by about fifty men, the majority being there to protest against the movement and to suppress it as unjustifiable and not in accord with the desire and wishes of the representative Jews of the city. The call had been made by means of an anonymous dodger sent under cover generally to prominent members of that faith. It was signed 'The Committee,' which, as subsequent events proved, appeared to have been a self-constituted one.

At 2 o'clock no one appearing to take the initiative, a general call was made for Mr. E. Morgenstern to assume the chairmanship of the meeting. He refused and Mr. I. K. Moses accepted the position. He announced that he was one of the committee responsible for the circular and its distribution, but he could not give a clear idea of the objects of the club or the intended benefits that might result from such an organization. In reply to pointed questions, he answered that the sole idea of such a club would be to secure the nomination and election to office of 'good people' only, not necessarily Jews, but 'good people,' irrespective of party or creed.

Mr. Morgenstern answered him, saying if the Jews of this community had any complaint to make in relation to politics they were privileged to enter those complaints, or voice their sentiments as American citizens, and not as Jews; that religion had absolutely nothing whatever to do with politics and should under no circumstances be brought in connection therewith. The Jews of this city had at all times received recognition at the primaries, conventions and the elections, and had been treated in the same manner as all other citizens; therefore they had no complaint to make as to their right of suffrage. They had been recognized in politics and were today filling responsible offices in several departments of the city government. The movement was an absurdity on the face of it, and it would be about as consistent for Roman Catholics or Protestants to organize a 'Roman Catholic Political Club,' or a 'Methodist Political Club,' and so on through every religious denomination.

The speaker further stated that if there was anything that would tend to create a prejudice against the Jews it would be the formation of such an organization as is contemplated by the callers of this meeting.

Mr. Morgenstern was supported in this by I. Kohn, M. P. Grinbaum, Julius Kahn and Abe Spring, the latter making a vigorous protest against the movement.

It having been clearly demonstrated that the entire proposition was out of order, a motion was made that it be the sense of the assembly that it was unwise and injudicious to form any such political organization. This motion was adopted by a unanimous vote and the meeting adjourned sine die.