ABSTRACT
By fully utilizing a broad range of nation-wide contacts, both Jewish and non-Jewish, the American Jewish Committee sought to persuade President Wilson and Congress to resist the demands of the restrictionists and, in particular, to protect the Russian-Jewish immigrants. In fact, Marshall failed to understand the normal workings of the House, underestimating the power of the committee system whereby a committee usually shapes the essential features of a bill. In December, Thomas agreed to introduce the exemption clause in the Senate despite his reservations about it-reservations that he expressed to Marshall. After the anti-restrictionists suffered major defeats, the skillful and pugnacious James A. Heed started to make trouble for the restrictionists. He added new restrictive clauses to the bill by which he intended to make it offensive to Mormons as well as certain Republicans, especially Missouri Republicans, who had negro constituents.
