Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1901-06-13
ExILEs GROWING IN POWER.
Political Leaders In south Dakota
Who Were Once Russian Peas--

Political Leaders In south Dakota
Who Were Once Russian Peas
nnts.
The story OF the Transformation Of
subjects OF the CA of Russia from
peasants along the shores of the far
away Black Sea to state officials in one
Of the great Northwestern states, is
one Of more than ordinary interest.
The primary cause which led to the
Russo-German immigrants of 1873 to
dominate the politics OF South Dakota
is known to few.
In 1873 the czar OF Russia issued an
edict %annulling an agreement made
three generations previous, exempting
from military duty certain immigrants
whom the government induced to move
from Germany to the vicinity OF Odes-
sa. As these Germans were of a relig-
ious belief which opposed war, they ac-
cepted Russia's invitation and emil
grated to that country in great num-
bers, where they formed themselves In
TO colonies, with a community Of inter-
ests and one central head to each coll
ony.
When the edict OF the car was made
public, exacting military service from
them as Russian subjects, regardless OF
their religious belief, they counseled
and sent agents to America TO find
suitable locations for them. With few
exceptions their wealth was divided
among the members of each communi-
ty. They made no noise about their
intention to leave Russia, fearing a
check might be put upon their move
ments by the government, 80 that when
their agents arrived in the West the
land sharks were OF II.
Dakota Territory at that time con-
tanned more unoccupied public LAND
than any other Western state, n they
naturally drifted there. The population
was less than 10000 in the t7rritory.
and Yankton, besides being the capital.
was the only town connected with the
outside world by railroad. Fou men
from Russia. representing the wealth.
est train load of immigrants that ever
came to the United States. and, Incl
dentaly, many thousand more who fol-
lowed later, reached Yankton late one
| Saturday night. Fortunately for them
, and for the territory, an fnquisitive
Yanktonian was aboard the train, and
so large a party as four strangers GO
ing TO his town excited his curiosity.
The range could talk little English,
and the Yanktonite could speak but lit
tie German, but he managed to learn
that they were ia search OF land, with
q view to locating.
Now, at that time every man In the
West constituted himself a self-ap-
pointed real estate agent, and IL he
could get a purchaser for land held by
some real estate agent, he was sure OF
a commission. With his idea, the
Yanktonite brought the strangers In
| contact with a German who knew the
country we'll. A short conversation
with the agents OF the Russian colony
convinced him that he had struck a
gold mine. He learned that not a man
of the whole train load that was ex-
pected within a month possessed less
than $4,000, and many OF them had for
tunes above 500, 900. The strangers
tarried a week. and were delighted with
the country They would go back to
New York and bring their friends out
to Yankton.
The change in these people has been
marked in many ways. Largely an ag-
ricultural class, they yet take an in
tense interest in county and state at
fairs, and are certainly making the
most of the land of the free. 500