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World President of the Zionists is Nahum Sokolow, scholarly, goateed journalist who was elected last summer (TIME, July 27). Currently President Sokolow is visiting the U. S. Last week in Manhattan, before starting on a tour of the Midwest, he spoke at the opening of the American Palestine Campaign. Nahum Sokolow speaks twelve tongues (he politely corrected Louis Wiley of the New York Times who, at a dinner, credited him with only nine). He addressed his audience in Yiddish last week, departing from his set speech to eulogize the late Boris Schatz, head of the Bezalel School of Arts & Crafts in Jerusalem, who had died in Denver during the week. Boris Schatz had appealed for funds for his school and museum. He died in poverty. Said President Sokolow: "Today, all that we can give to Boris Schatz is our pity. . . . It is my hope that American Jews will not permit the fate that befell Boris Schatz to overtake Jewish upbuilding work in Palestine. . . . Let us act before pity is called for."
Milk Man's Son. Last week Nathan Straus Jr., 42, son of the late Charitarian Nathan Straus, assumed leadership for the first time in fund-raising activities of any sort, as chairman of the Greater New York section of the American Palestine campaign. Presiding at the meeting at which Nahum Sokolow also spoke, he said: "I like a difficult job . . . I accept the responsibility of leadership at this hour, not merely by right of name or kinship with any man. but by right of my conviction of the supreme importance of the success of Palestine. . . . The Passover week is near at hand. . . . Millions of Jews all over the world will say Leshona Habo Beyerushalayim.* To the fulfillment of that prayer let us dedicate ourselves."
Nathan Straus Sr., who made a fortune in R. H. Macy & Co. and other metropolitan department stores, spent most of his time and money on milk stations and propaganda for promoting pasteurization. His interest in Palestine came comparatively late in life, and all his strictly Jewish benefactions (including the Jerusalem Health Centre) totaled less than the $5,000,000 which the late Julius Rosenwald gave for Jewish colonization in Crimea. Nathan Straus Jr. did not take part in Zionist affairs until comparatively recently. Educated at Heidelberg and Princeton (as a graduate student under Woodrow Wilson), he became a cub reporter for the New York Globe, bought Puck in 1914, built its circulation from 18,000 to 105,000. The anti-Semitism which Life then featured he fought hotly. Publisher Straus was a pacifist, earned the thanks of President Wilson for an anti-War editorial. But he went to War himself. Serious, sardonic, rather shy, today he says: 'T was just as bad a lunatic as anyone." In 1921 Nathan Straus Jr., a liberal, almost Socialistic Democrat, was elected to the New York State Senate, storming Manhattan's "Silk Stocking District" during a Republican landslide. He kept his seat until 1926. He has long been in the crockery business. His company, Nathan Straus & Sons Inc., is the biggest U. S. maker of hotel & restaurant equipment. He is an Elk, a Moose. Most Manhattanites regard him, chiefly for his long-time interest in city parks and planning, as one of their most civic-minded men.