The Pittsburgh Press (October 16, 1944)
Roosevelt and Dewey urge Jewish commonwealth
Atlantic City, New Jersey (UP) –
The 47th annual convention of the Zionist Organization of America was assured today of the support of both President Roosevelt and Governor Thomas E. Dewey in its efforts for establishment of a Jewish commonwealth in Palestine.
The President messaged the convention that if reelected, he would help to bring about the realization of a “free and democratic Jewish commonwealth in Palestine.”
Commenting on Mr. Roosevelt’s message, Dr. Abba H. Silber of Cleveland, chairman of the executive committee of the American Zionist Emergency Council, said “only 48 hours ago we received a similar pledge from Governor Dewey and it was equally clear and forthright.”
The delegates reelected Dr. Israel Goldstein of New York as president and chose Daniel Frisch of Indianapolis chairman of the National Administrative Council.
Reelected national vice presidents were: Dr. Silver, Dr. Solomon Goldman of Chicago, Dr. James G. Heller of Cincinnati, Edmund I. Kaufmann of Washington, Judge Louis E. Levinthal of Philadelphia, and Judge Bernard Rosenblatt, Louis Lipsky, Judge Morris Rothenberg, Robert Szold and Stephen S. Wise (all of New York). Abraham Goodman of New York was reelected treasurer.
In a message from London, Dr. Chaim Weizmann, president of the World Zionist Organization and of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, called on manpower from the United States to pioneer in the building of the Jewish commonwealth.
Dr. Weizmann urged the cooperation of young men and women from America in the commonwealth movement.
Building of the commonwealth, the message said, “will call for a vast outpouring of energy, of money and of manpower.”