Potash and Perlmutter Settle Things

In Short

This observational novel captures the immediate aftermath of the First World War through the eyes of two Jewish cloak-and-suit merchants, Abe Potash and Morris Perlmutter. As they debate the intricacies of the Versailles Peace Conference, the League of Nations, and the political survival of President Wilson, they strip away the era’s high-minded rhetoric to reveal the absurdity of global statecraft. It has lasted because it remains a masterclass in using vernacular humor to humanize the distant, complex mechanisms of history, making the monumental feel as local and manageable as a shop-floor negotiation.

The Story

The narrative begins shortly after the armistice, as Abe and Morris return to their daily routines in their New York office. While they attempt to manage their clothing business, they find themselves increasingly preoccupied by the news arriving from Paris. They follow President Wilson’s journey to the peace table with a mixture of skepticism and genuine confusion, frequently lamenting the presence of "experts" who, in their estimation, only serve to complicate simple matters. Their dialogue functions as a running commentary on the headlines: they dissect the territorial claims of Italy—likening them to the trivial neighborhood rivalries of the Bronx—and express disbelief at the secret-keeping of world leaders.

As the months pass, the partners turn their attention to the fate of the Kaiser, whom they prefer to see punished by the social indignity of being an outcast rather than through martyrdom. They shift their focus to domestic American concerns, specifically the Victory Liberty Loan, which they view through the lens of a relentless, necessary sales campaign. They remain keenly aware of the political theater occurring in Washington, where they watch the Senate debate the League of Nations. They view the senators not as statesmen, but as high-grade lawyers eager to twist the covenant into as many conflicting meanings as a disputed will.

The story culminates as the partners process the eventual signing of the Peace Treaty and the subsequent political fallout. They weigh the shifting reputations of statesmen who seem more concerned with their eventual statues on Main Street than the actual welfare of their countries. They move from topic to topic—from the boxing match between Jeff Willard and Jack Dempsey to the retirement of the Crown Prince in Holland—always grounding these disparate events in their own shop-worn cynicism. They conclude that public figures, much like the clothing trade, are subject to the same fickle market forces. They see the entire post-war era as a series of negotiations where, regardless of the high-flown language of leagues and treaties, the underlying motives remain stubbornly human, flawed, and motivated by self-interest. They do not arrive at a grand solution, but rather an acceptance that the world, much like their office, is a place where one must simply keep working despite the "tzuris" of the day.

How It Unfolds

The post-war realization Abe and Morris gather in their office to digest the news of the armistice and the President’s departure for Paris. They immediately establish a pattern of debating international politics as if they were discussing the markup on a coat.

The frustration with experts The partners mock the entourage of college professors and specialists accompanying the President. They conclude that when a leader relies on experts, he is destined to be talked into a state of paralysis.

Debating the map Morris attempts to explain the Dalmatian territory claims to an incredulous Abe. The conversation devolves into a humorous comparison of international borders with the neighborhoods of Manhattan and the Bronx.

The question of punishment The duo discusses the Committee for Fixing Responsibility and the decision to spare the Kaiser from execution. They argue that letting him live as a social pariah among the wealthy is a far more poetic justice.

The Senate’s legal games As the Treaty moves to the Senate, the partners predict a circus of legal maneuvering. They view the upcoming debates over the League of Nations as an inevitable exercise in obfuscation by partisan lawyers.

The final tally The book concludes with a reflection on the fleeting nature of political fame. The partners observe that today’s heroes are tomorrow’s forgotten names, leaving them to return to the only thing they trust: their business.

The People

Abe Potash is the emotional, often reactionary partner. He is prone to dramatic sighs and grand, sweeping generalizations about the state of the world. He represents the voice of the skeptical layman, constantly looking for the "catch" behind every news story. He is defined by his deep-seated mistrust of intellectualism and his preference for plain, common-sense solutions over complex bureaucracy.

Morris Perlmutter acts as the voice of reason and the unintentional teacher. He is more patient, though frequently frustrated by Abe’s stubborn lack of knowledge regarding world affairs. He acts as the conduit for the news, feeding Abe details about the Peace Conference and international treaties, though he is often just as cynical as his partner.

Together, they are inseparable. Their relationship is characterized by constant bickering, yet their bond is unshakeable. They do not change or grow in the traditional sense; rather, their shared perspective serves as a constant anchor. By the end of the narrative, they remain exactly who they were at the beginning: two men trying to make sense of a chaotic world, finding comfort in their long-standing partnership and the familiar, if flawed, rhythms of their trade.

In Its Own Voice

"Ai, tzuris!" Abe moaned in reply, and for at least a minute he continued to rock to and fro in his chair and to make incoherent noises through his nostrils in the manner of a person suffering either from toothache or the recent cancelation of a large order.

Abe’s characteristic reaction to the mounting pressures of post-war uncertainty.

"It seems to me that before the President gets through he will be looking around for an expert which is expert in choking off advice from experts, otherwise the first time the President consults one of them experts, if he's going to wait for the expert to get through, he will have to be elected to a third term and then maybe hold over, at that."

Morris offers his cynical prognosis on the President’s reliance on academic advisors during the Peace Conference.

What It's Really About

The central argument is that international diplomacy is not the rarefied, noble endeavor that politicians claim, but rather a messy, transactional process driven by the same ego and opportunism found in the garment district. The book posits that the "big" questions of war and peace—the League of Nations, the fate of empires, the legitimacy of treaties—are fundamentally human problems, and therefore prone to the same inconsistencies and petty squabbles as a disagreement between business partners. It suggests that there is no meaningful divide between "high" history and "low" commerce; both are governed by the same fickle public appetite. Ultimately, it is a plea for clarity and a warning against the dangers of self-important, over-complicated rhetoric in a world that requires practical action.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the sharp, rhythmic cadence of early 20th-century immigrant literature will find much to admire here. The book is written in a distinct, vernacular dialect that captures the flavor of New York at the time; while this may require a moment of adjustment, it provides an authentic, immersive window into the period. It feels like eavesdropping on a conversation that has been preserved in amber, offering a view of the post-WWI world that is devoid of the usual hagiography surrounding the era.

You will love this if you appreciate political satire that refuses to take itself too seriously. It is not a textbook, but a character study that highlights how history is processed by those who are not in the room where decisions are made. It stays with you because it exposes the timelessness of political cynicism; Abe and Morris’s complaints about "experts" and "secret treaties" could just as easily be heard at a coffee shop today. The book is honest about its own era’s prejudices and period attitudes, which serves as a blunt reminder of the limitations of the time. If you seek a reading experience that is both intellectually grounded and deeply human, this is a rewarding, if challenging, journey.