Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-03-02
Meeting Held to Organize for the
Aid of Members of the Faith
Banished by Alexander Ill.
STORY OF A RUSSIAN REFUGEE.
Compelled to Move to Town Where He
Would Starve to Death or Else
Leave the Country.
RESIDENCES SACKED BY SOLDIERS.
Only Fear Of Public Opinion Prevents More ViO'
lent Methods

take action in forming a branch of the He
brews' Alliance, which held convention
at Philadelphia few weeks ago.
The object OF the Alliance is TO help their
people who have been banished from Russia
and come to this city and also to colonize
them in the West, thus keeping them from
becoming peddlers, ETC., and putting them
into more gentle occupations.
Mr.. Siegel presided at the meeting and II.
Molacbosky acted as secretary aud treas
urer. P. Sademire was the Pittsburg dele
gate to the Philadelphia convention aud he
made a long and exceedingly interesting
address to those present. He recited the
history of the Russian Hebrews for the past
century; how they have been oppressed
by the rulers and the final act of Danish
ment
Feared by the Gar.
They were ambitious to colonize in Rus
sa, he said, but were unable to do so, the
Gar fearing that they would grow too much
in strength. He then reported the work
done in Philadelphia, which, be hoped, was
the beginning of new era for the Hebrews,
as they will receive better educations and
be better prepared to become good citizens.
N. Robin, a member Of the United
Hebrew Relief Society, spoke in favor Of
the formation of the alliance, and declared
that it is not more than right that the
Hebrews of the United States should or
ganize into one body for mutual protection.
Mr.. Robin further stated that the United
Hebrew Relief Society will hold meeting
the fourth Sunday in this month at the
Standard Theater, when it will take action
on becoming a part of the Alliance. This
will either be a consolidation of the two
branches in Pittsburg or both will work d.
rectly with the central society at Philadel-
phia. The Relief Society has for its objects
the helping of immigrants who come direct
to Pittsburg, but the Alliance is national
organization.
About 10 or so men signifed their inten-
tion of becoming members of the Pittsburg
branch, and if the Relief Society goes in
that will add $50 more. Temporary organi-
cation was effected by eIscting the following
officers: President, P. Sademire; Vice
President, J. Click; Secretary, S. Mola-
A Victim of Russian Persecution.
Among the many uniortunates who have
suffered from the persecution of Hebrews by
the Russian Government, is Louis Dlogitz,
a young blacksmith, who is now living with
relatives at 23115 Fifth avenue. His Amer
ican name corresponding to the Russian is
Cohen. and as he is pleased with America and
intends to remain here. he has adopted the
latter coSrOnen.
DloGitz Is 4 young man of about 80 and has q
wife aud four children. He can talk German
and Russian. and a DISPATCH reporter yester-
day secured the story of his eviction from the
country He lived for The greater part of his
life at Bagne, a small town near Poland, where
he built himself a house and followed his trade.
Not many moons ago he was informed by the
local people that he would have to move into
the city with the rest of his fellows, and stay
there He replied that the city was over
crowded with blacksmiths and he couldn't
earn his living The people then threatened u
burn his house over his head and he was forced
To sell his home, which had cost him l50 roubles
to build, for So 4 heavy sacrifice, and with this
sum in his pocket he started for America.
Trying to Freeze Out the Hebrew.
The plan of the Car to get rid of the
Hebrews is not to use violent measures except
in extreme cases, where the people positively
refuse to get out. The most common method
is to deprive the Hebrews of license without
which they are not allowed to carry
on any business or trade. The officials
decline to issue license in a name which they
claim is not Christian, and on this ground all
Hebrews are excluded. The soldiers and
police arc careful to see that this license law is
ricidly enforced, and with all means of liveli-
hood cut Off these people are compelled from
sheer want to inimigrate. They are placed in
a position very much like that of the man who
wished that everything he touched wonld turn
TO gold. His wish was granted by the fairy,
and he starved to death.
The bitterest opposition to the Hebrews ex-
lists in country districts but this is only part
of the deeplaio scheme to drive them from the
territory. They are forced into the large cities,
where they are huddled together in such num-
bers that il is impossible for all to make liv-
irE. CerIain lines are drawn, beyond which
they dare not trade or venture.
The unfortunate Hebrews are practically
prisoners IN certain limits. The Governors of
the various provinces are cold-blooded men. The
country denzens petition these under-rulers to
remove the Hebrews from among them. For
what cause" the Governor asks, with an ap-
parent show of fairness. because they are of
no benefit to us" the Russians reply and with
this short colloquy, tile order is issued.
Afraid of Public Opinion.
In former years these poor people we're sub
jected to untold physical cruelties, but the
Russians have learned that it is best not to go
far. for fear the balance of the civilized world
would not stand it.
Dlogitz states that any number of Hebrews
have left the country, many leaving behind the
earnings of lifetime. Many Russians buy
their property at costly sacrifices. and the
Hebrews take what they can get rather than 90
penniless, for they realize they must move any,
how The richer classes fare better because
they are able to buy off the police. but they feel
that they are being robbed. and life in tine coun-
try is buruCnsome to them.
America he
Russian climate is better. He says it is a fine
country il the inhabitants. Gentle and Hebrew
alike. were allowed 70 live without being mo-
Tested hy the civil authorities The feeling
among the Russians against the Hebrews is
strong. and they show no mercy. Alexander
H. the father OF the present Gar was friendly
TO the Hebrews. He made no distinctions be-
tween classes and at his death the Christians
cried, The Hebrews have lost their papa"
Alexander ii. Mourned by the Hebrews.
When he visited town or city in his tours of
the country he was always careful to receive
the Hebrews with the same courtesy he be.
slowed on his Christian subjects. He was
dearly beloved by the Hebrews and at his as
sassinaticn they wept and held sad and mourn
full services IN their synagogues.
The present Gar, Alexander Ill, has in
more ways than one shown that he lacks tine
he commenced his reign with little sympathy
for the Hebrews. whether from in
nate personal prejudice or forced to
assume such position out OF fear of powerful
mobiles, has not been determined by this perse-
cuted people. A year after ne was in power
the Russians broke into Hebraic houses and
relative OF DlogiiZ states that they took lhe
leather ticks from the beds and tore them into
pieces. scattering the contents into the streets.
The people robbed them of their liquors, got
drunk IN their houses and abused the families
of the Hebrews. The country was full of
soldiers whose business il was to stop such out
RACES, but they stood coolly by and allowed the
work of sacking to proceed unchecked. Since
then these people have been more OF less perse-
cuted, and eviction is the latest cruelty perpe-
trated.