The morning call., 1893-10-13
How an Alliance Assists
Russian Refugees.
A soRE-OPPREssED PEOPLE.
The Influx of Helpless Humanity
Causing the Issuance of More
General Appeal.

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noble work to the community at large.
An enormous amount Of quiet work for
these unfortunate refugees has already
been accomplished by the Jewish ALI
ance of California" which is composed oil
over 1000 of the elite among the business
and soriety people of this city. 1t Is
aided by a "Women's Auxiliary" CON-
prising nearly a thousand benevolent
ladies.
The officers of the alliance are: P. N.
Llienthal, president; M. 5. Eisner. a.
Anspacher and Marion Leventritt. vice
presidents; B. Sheideman, treasurer; ;
Isaiah Choynski, secretary; f. /. Wolfe.
recording secretary; S. Dinkelspeil. finan-
cal secretary. The executive committee
consists of: j. H. Neustadter. Lewis
Meyerstein, Adolph Kntner. l. w. Gold
Blank. Samuel Polack. /. j. Aschheim. S.
NJ. Marks, FL. P. Bush. S. Sweet. Jules
Cert, Emanuel NJ. Heller, Julius Jacobs,
Joseph Kahn, j. Greenebaum, l.. Brown,
Herman Levy. Among the prominent
ladies in the auxiliary are: Mrs. A. 5.
Bettelheim. Mrs. DR.. ID. Cohn, Mrs. l..
Loupe, Mrs. Fl. Anspacher- Myers, Mrs.
w. Hirschfeld, Mrs. M. L. Grin baum, Mrs.
Ignatz SteiBhart
Secretary E. l. Wolfe gave the following
outline yesterday of the history of the
alliance: "The movement began two
years ago, when the Russian refugees be-
gan to arrive iD numbers in New Ork
and tens of thousands were expected. 1t
was proposed IN New York to organize
sympathy all over the country, so that the
distressed arrivals might be distributed to
places where they could be established
industrially.
First of all, Mr. Lubin of Sacramento
attempted TO organize colonization plan
among landowners. where the hapless
ones might be placed on small farms fully
equipped, to be paid for on long time.
The company was Incorporated and a few
families placed on farms, but the scheme
failed owing to a difference of opinion in
San francisco. which aft cted the subscrip-
tons. Some thought he colony would
attract more than Calfornia's fair share
OF refugees, and Therefore preferred to
contribute to the Eastern organizations
rather than directly invite the exiles TO
California, while at the same time being
willing to take care Of all who came here
In the natural course If events.
"But as the exigency became more ap-
parent the present alliance was formed
under the auspices of the Independent
Order of B'na Birth. The dues are only
30 cents month, but it was thought pref
cradle to do the best with the funds
thus realized rather than TO raise a large
sum by general appeal. There was time
for that when any paramount necessity
arose. AS the event showed this policy
was wise, for the influx diminished and we
were able TO handle all the cases with the
funds at our command.
But within the last few months there
has been hardly a week pass by without
our being appealed to by families in dis
tress. As the secretary says in circular
appeal for clothing:
Their infuy 10 nucb lar1ar th,p ,yos ortiot
pated. aud still they come, nearly all being
destitute. Though most of them obtain work
soon after they get here. their earnings will
barely procure bread for their families.
We are bound by the constitution OF the ALI.
anee 10 assist none but genuine cases of Rus
sian refugees Our objects are briefly ex-
pressed IN the constitution as follows:
The society has been organized in this city for
the purpose OF raising funds TO assist the Jewish
peopls in the East who are providing for and
helping the thousands OF our co-religionists who.
e1iies from Russia daily landing In the United
states, and for the purpose of preparing the
same for any of the unfortunate people who may
find their way to the Pacific Coast. so as to make
them sei-supporting and 20 fit them FOR the duties
There has been nothing in years past In this coun-
try or elsewhere. that so strongly appeals to the
titute and heartbroken people. who are compelled
by the tyranny OF Russian laws to seek homes
among strangers in foreign lands
We do what we can for these poor people
sometimes take little house for them or set
them up in trade, and we are nobly assisted by
the ladies'. he refugees are generally people
OF SOM little standing who have had money Ia
their own country and are willing to take any
work. Some have been put to picking fruit.
One man was assisted and has since aid back
all that was advanced and joined the society.
| hey are not class that Is likely to become a
buiden on the community; all they want. as
rule, IS a little temporary assistance.
AS the winter draws on task becomes
heavier and heavier and We anticipate much
d diffculty in providing for all the hearrending
cases which are certain TO come within the
scope of our work. If We find, as seems likely.
that We must appeal TO the public wo have no
doubt OF generous response.
Mrs. DR.. ID. COhn. one of the most inter-
ested embers of the auxiliary, gave
some interesting derails of the WORK being
carried on. Mrs. Cohn travelled recently
through Russia and her experiences among
the prosecuted and eylcted Hebrews OF
that empire have rendered her sympathy
peculiarly alive to the touching needs of
refugees to these shores OF liberty.
mo one can imagine the oppression of
which our poor people are the victims
in Russia" she said yesterday. 'Most of
them have quite or small holding, from
| they are liable 10 he Oustcd any day. They
sell out at loss rather than apostasize
| and are cheated en- route OF all their little
| capital, landing here with their little ones
absolutely destitute.
"rne auxiliary is quite enthusiastic. I,
D,
which is simply sample of how willing
we all are to work. Some of us drum up SUBJ
| scripti0ns and others old clotlies-the
cothe s-closets in this house are quite
empty Of anything available. Ii people
| only knew how welcome clothes were they
would ransack their wardrobes for us.
II could give scores of instances of as
| sstance rendered to these people where
| the event showed that it was deserved and
appreciated. One man we set up as
shoemaker. or rather cobbler, and asked
! all our friends to send him their footwear
that needed repairing. The result is that
! he has so much work that patrons and
patronesses have to wait upon him. His
work Is first-class. too, and he is thoroughly
grateful.
Another man arrived here with q wife
ana cartload of children-these people al
ways naye a big lot of children-utterly
destitute. They got little frutstore near
here. although one could have bought ont
the whole stock for a dollar. Ons day l
went there and the woman told me her
husband was i'll. l told DR.. C0hn, and he
found the man dangerously i'll, aud there
were the wife and children unable TO earn
cent or provide physician, literally
starving. Kind nelghoors interested them
selves. and the family is out of absolute