The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-06-05
THE RUSSIANS OF KANSAS.
MENNONTTEs ANXIOUS JUST WOW
ABOUT THE WIR.
Twioe They Have BSlErnted to Avoid MILITARY
servioe-TheIr UnesAsInE Industry. Pros-
perltS, ana FruEalitS-schIaH AmonE Them
-N1tataks OF n kanlhs Bartender.

-
Twioe They Have pSiErnted to Avoid Wmtary
servioe-TheIr UnesAsInE Industry, Pros-
peTlty, and FruEalitS -schIaws AmonE Them
-MtstaEe OF = kanshs Bartender.
MCPHERSON, Kan, May 2S.-The Mennonites
OF western Kansas are subjects OF a good deal
of public interest In these days because of their
intention to do everything possible to escape
military duty for the United States. For a
month they have been holding meetings In their
churches to discuss what their rights are, and
for the first time In their twenty five years in
KANSAS they have let farm work 60 for a few
days to find out what the chances were Of
their being forced to fight against Spain. Tho
County Clerks in a'dozen counties in western
Kansas have reported that for days they have
been kept busy In taking and filing the follow.
Ing affidavits from Mennonites:
l do solemnly, sincerely. and truly declare and
anirm that l am a resident Of county, state
OF Kansas, aud n member OF the religious 30 ,iety
or Church known and called by the name OF Mennon-
ties, and that, according to the creed and discipline
OF said society, the bearing Of arms is forbidden, and
this i do under the pains aud penalty Of forgery.
the Russian Mennonites are as strange a set
OF people as may be found anywhere in the
United States. Between 1872 and 1873 they
camo in colonies of hundreds from Russia.
Now they number in Kansas and Nebraska
about $4,000. Practically they arc Germans
and not Russians. Their religious teachings
OF non-resistance and therefore their adherence
OF anything warlike have caused them to make
three migrations In the last 100 years. The
sect 10 descended from the great band of Pietists
or Separatists Of Bavaria and Wurtemberg at
the beginning of the eighteenth century. When
tho Pietists withdrew from communion with
their less spiritual and puritanical brothers
they were subjected to petty prosecutions. In
1Z1n Nhn t,Arpan,,t,~, - A.
Pietists became so general that they accepted
offers of refuge in the province of Count CASH.
mer Of Wittgenstein. That province became
involved In warfare in 1893. The sect, by that
time known as the Mennonites ESQ called after
Simon Mennol. emigrated to Russia, under a
treaty with Catherine ii. She wished to have
certain tracts Of her domain settled upon and
improved by the thrifty and peaceful Germans.
Moreover. she was led to believe that the emf
grafton Of thousands OF Mennonite farmers
from Germany would cripple the agricultural
production of the latter country at a time when
farmers were needed to sustain tho armies in
the field. The treaty made by Catherine grant.
ed the German Mennonites and their descend
ants exemption from military duty for 100
years from 1870. The terms of the treaty were
faithfully kept and when 1t expired the sect ex.
erted all its endeavors to have 1t renewed for at
least twenty-five years. Alexander II. dc.
clined to renew 1t and the Mennonites looked
about for a new country in which they might
dwell with least chance for military service.
They sent agents to the United States and
found that immense tracts of land in Kansas
and Nebraska, on the great American desert,
were to be had for q mere song. So the migra-
ton began in 1872. In 1875 alone 1000 Men
nonites came West. The largest colonies .of
Russians are in Ellis county: other colonies are
scattered through Marion, Mcpherson, Ford,
Harvey and other counties in central and west
ern Kansas.
or course, the filing OF the afidavits does not
exempt them from military service. Many of
them believe that because their ancestors es.
capped draft into the German and Russian
armies by similar statements, they may avoid a
soldiers life in the same way now. The New
ton Kansas) Republican recently said:
The United States has never waived the
right to call every able.bodied citizen to the de-
fence of tho common country, and a man can
not escape military duty on tho plea that he
does not believe military duty to be right. A
have religious scruplcs from service in the
militia. but State laws are of no effect in
off with this kind Of legislation in behalf of her
Quakers, and Connecticut and other States fol.
lowed her example. Early in the history Of
military, service who had religious scruples
against 1t, but 1t was afterward repealed. Still
later the Mennonitcs petitioned the LeRisla-
ture to re-enact the law. and 1t was done and
still stands. 1t provides that on or before June
scrnples against bearing arms may exempt him
self from service by appearing before the
County Clerk and making the required affirma-
ton. 1t is under this law that the Kansas Men
nonites are now proceed nR.
The Russians of Kansas have demonstrated
more than any one else how an arid region
may DO made productive Of wealth. Nowhere
in the United States will you find farmers who
have learned how to make wheat and corn
grow with so little of natures encouragement
as these Russians. Generations OF struggle
with intractable soil and battling climatic con-
ditto ms have taught them marvellous patience
and extraordinary fruRality. and given them
constitutions Of iron and habits of indefatiRa-
Bile industry, Work, work. and work. and a
been the rules OF conduct of every Russian In
this region; More than l,2oo,o6o acres OF
have been converted from a dreary waste into
productive farms. Where. there was nothing
Of a century emit I ago, the Russians hayes made e Su fieids
Of wheat and grain UNSURPASSED any where.
While some 200, 900 Americans have boon
drought in Kansas and Nebraska, the Russians
OF this, region have not only stayed by their
farms, put nave made and saved enough to buy
A large number of the practices in vogue
have been introduced by the Russians. They
have taught the lessons of narrowing where
others ploughed, OF keeping the wheat stubble
in the ground to held moisture and of selling
the grain, no matter what the market. as soon
as IL was threshed; When tho hardest times
and the ,Krimmest d~rouEhts Kansas knew came
on, the Russians soberly drew their belts about
their shabby blouses and went to work and put
IN another crop, When another failure came
the Russians drew their belts tighter and put
In still another crop. They are a very uncom-
muntcative and solemn race. They saw their
American neiRhbors move away in caravans of
prairie schooners for several years, but they
seldom spoke and never let up on work. They
lived on next to nothing and never spent a cent
without long considering the expenditure.
Last year their reward came. Many a Russian
sold 1000 and 5000 bushels OF wheat at 81 a
bushel from a quarter section farm. Still the
Russians never eyinced any satisfaction over
their sudden prosperity. They pocketed their
money without u word and started back ITO
their farms to prepare for another crop. The
Russlane as q rule have no use for American
banks. The fate Of Kansas :and Nebraska
banks has not encouraged their confidence.
They avoid the Western money lender. The
average Russian either carries his money in a
leathern pouch about with him or secretly
bqries II In q jar on his farm until he decides
more acres or new stock for his farm. The
merchants In the regions where the Mennonites
ahnuuA that IN mood ahana Of Tho ,ntn aud