Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-08

Ing capital at their expense. In order
the get an authOrative statement from
the Russian Jews | went to the house
of jew who is probably the foremost
man of his race in St. Petersburg. He
is man of wealth, wide experience and
answering loyalty 10 the Jewish faith.
He Is also the most important member
OF the st. Petersburg congregation and
stands at the head o. the builders OF the
colossal new synagogue. was accom-
panied by DR.. Crawford, the United
States Consul General, who at my re-
quest courteously assisted in bringing
about the meeting. This representa-
tive OF the Jewish people made this
statement in the presence Of the Consul
General, speaking freely, on the under
standing that his Lame was not To be
used
THE Jews of Russia wish no outside
appeals in their behalf, ," he said. They
do more harm than good. Protests from
England or America are unwarranted,
because there is nothing in the situation
that cannot fairly BE- considered the do
nestle business OF RaSSia. The eXagger-
ations OF the Times have greatly injured
our cause, and the Guildhall memorial
to the Gar is generally regarded by
those who have the interests Of the Jews
at heart as a foolish, although well
meant piece OF Interference.
is it fact that the special treat
ment of the Jews in Russia is due TO 4
spirit Of religious persecution"
"Of course religion has something 10
do with it, but on the whole that is not
the explanation. The grounds upon
which those who are in favor Of the spe-
cial laws relating to Jews proceed are
not religious so much as economical.
They point to the fact that the Jews are
keen business people and well educated
as a rule, and that they are increasing
by births three times as fast as the rest
of the Russians"
"IS it true that the Jews are increas-
ing so rapidly in Ru 'sia?"
at is true, and the ant-Semites de-
clare that unless ,lre is taken to hold
back our people they will overrun and
overwhem the Sla race. They fear
that the Jews viii get such control
that after while, by natural increase,
they will put the Slays in a second place
and reduce them to bondage"
"And IS 1t that idea that generally in
spires the repreSsive laws Of which the
Jews complaint"
THAT is it,"
"Do you think the Car has any feel
ing Of hatred for the Jews?p
Not at all. The Car is kindly
natured, honest and manly monarch.
He aims TO raise his country very high.
We would be willing to leave our cause
in the hands Of the Car"
"How could help be extended to you
practical help?'
"None can come from the outside.
The agitation must begin among the
Slavs, right here in Russia. My own
idea is that the best way to deal with the
Jewish question is for the Russian Gov
ernment to repeal all the restrictive
laws and then triple or quadruple the
penalties for all crimes that are sup
posed TO be specialties of Jews. For in
stance, the crime of uSury might be
punished by 10, Is or 20 years imprs-
onment."
matter what laws are made, the Jews
manage to get around them in some
technical way and plunder the ignorant
and stupid peasantry."
"Well, assuming that to be true, let
the government deal only with those
who are guilty Of such practices. There
must be some way of framing laws that
will catch the guilty"
"Is it not true that thousands OF Jews
are living undisturbed in Russia with
out any legal right to do SOP"
"Yes, ! admit that is quite correct,
but these people are nominally mer-
chants of the first guild or artisans. On
the other hand, the police frequently
expel from st. Petersburg artisans who
really have right here, on the thin
charge that they were not found work
ing at their trade when the police in
vestigation was made
"Does the Central government indorse
such acts?"
Il suppose not. They are the acts of
subordinates.
"And is it at all true that the policy
OF the government is one OF brutal per-
secution?"
NO"
"Is it true that any positive cruelty is
shown in the actual enforcement OF
these special laws?'
Here and there. Last year for in
stance, the Governor Of one Of the 10
provinces where Jews are permitted to
live nut an anti-SemitiC official in con
troll OF a town on the frontier. You
know that Jews are accused OF being
such mcurablo Smugglefs that they
are not permitted TO live within
80 versts OF the frontier This
official discovered that the
town had gradually grown until
o 900 of It's inhabitants were living on
the wrong side Of the restrictive line.
In other words these people were living
on the ground forbidden to the Jews.
or the 5000 something like 5000 were
Jews. The official gave this enormous
body OF people notice that they must
move out and get on tie right side oil
theiine in two weeks. Ihlnk Ql such
situation. Think OF the ruin and suffer
ing and OF the outcry from these be-
wildered unfortunates.
And so they were all turned out OF
house and home?'
"Well, no"
How did it end?'
"The central government interlered. p.
"That official was too zealouS?'
at appears so, but think the central
government must have winked at the
proceeding in the beginning
"What makes you think SOP
1T is simply my suspicion.
WHY are Jews not permitted to he
onicersin the army
because it Is Russian othcer's duty
TO see that his soldiers pray every morn
ing. 4 jew could not very well COM
mand his Christian subordinateS to do
that-at least that is what the Russians
say"
'Is the land in the Jewish pale good
or bad2 Is it productive and pleasant
10 live in or otnerw!se2
1T is the finest In tie Russian kn-
pire: noone will deny that.
Can you suggest any movement that
viii really help the cause OF the Jews
at present.
"Yes. II some great siav would