The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-23
Roumania and the Jews

The Vienna. Austria, weekly magazine,
Die Zeit (The Times). has In its issue OF
May an article on THE Trade Laws of
Roumania and Their Effect" which would
indicate that these laws may result In the
emigration TO a large extent of artisans
and mechanics OF the Hebraic race. That
such an emigration would be directed TO
this country may be expected, although
the article In question does not concern
itself with that possibility.
Ii appears that since the crop failure of
1899 koumania has been suffering from a
financial depression, out of which 1t has
not yet been able to RISE This depression
has been felt more by the residents Of the
cities than by the great landlords and the
peasants.
The latter have never been much better
off than they are now, while last year
fair-sized crop has aided the owners of
the great estates. But I'm the cities, in
the country seats, In the seaports, and in
the capital, bucharest, things are still
rather bad. Artificial values have coll
lapsed, one failure follows another, brick
layers are idle, and commerce is limited
TO the necessities of life.
1T is hardly surprising" says the mag
azine writer that under these conditions
I'm this seml-feudal country. the tradesmen
and mechanics. who are the most active
class in Roumania, have been and still
are demanding assistance from the gov
eminent in their heads there is not a
clear understanding OF the laws OF politi-
cal economy; they expect deliverance
from their present financial difficulties,
and the removal of the foreign element,
which in this case means especially the
elimination of the Jewish tradesmen and
mechanics"
Continuing, the writer says that this
idea was fostered by one Bratescu,
demagogue of the Conservatives, who
nourshed anti-Semitic instincts by holding
meetings and by organizing the labor
ing masses, and who succeeded finally in
getting for the demands of the laboring
classes the attention of the whole coun-
try. The present cabinet, which is a
Liberal one, decided that the best way to
defeat their Conservative enemy was TO
adopt his weapon, and consequently they
got the Roumanian Parliament 20 pass a
hastily conceived and ill-advised law for
the regulation OF trades and trades
unions.
This law" says the article has been
rightly referred TO as the alien law, for
every paragraph breathes charvinistic
ideas. and their sum total means simply
the concession OF all the demands of the
anti-Semitic party"
~
few OF the provisions OF the law. Accord
ing to these, foreigners. |. G., Jews, who
have practically no political rights. and
who are really 10 be classed as foreigners.
cannot organize trades unions. they can
not be trustees. directors or officers OF
unions. and they cannot act as arbitra-
tors Even their right 10 be educated
I'm the public trade schools has been
limited for only = per cent Of the total
number OF pupils may be Jews or for
eigners.
The law also provides that in all con-
tract undertakings OF the Eovcrnment-up
20 the sum of 10000 francs Cs60o0)-natlve
Roumanians shall be preferred. even II
their bids should be higher.
I'm order TO fully understand tho effect
which this law will have" says the ar
tlcle. 1T must be remembered that the
Jewish mechanics I'm Roumania are ex-
ceedingly able. While the Jewish me-
chanic from Galica. who emigrates does
not make much OF n success. his col
league from Roumania. who cxccls him
even physically. makes his way every
whefe.
In New York the Jewish mechanic is
well liked. and in Paris there are large
numbers OF them employed In the higher
trades. In numbers the Jewish mechanic
OF Roumania Is OF Importance. In Wala-
chia thcy cut little figure. Bucharest hav-
ing only 20.ooo Jews; hut Moldavia is full
OF Jewish workmen. In the city Of Yassy
Sscrc are 1853 Jewish mechanics. as
against SOC others In the town OF Bacau
there are 507 Jewish trsdesmen. as against
l75 Roumanians: in Dorohei f96 Jews.
against 2So others"
The foreign press Is said 20 have bit
tcrly attacked this law. hut without sue
cess go far This law " only the keystone
~ whole arch Of anti-Semitic laws. The
=.
tho hrt country: they have beru forced
out OF the higher schools. their number
has even been limited I'm the grammar
schools. They will probably be forced
I oemigrate. an effect of the law which
will he highly detrimental 90 Roumania.
which II even now so thinly populated
that there are not enough labcrers 20
till the soil 10 say nothing OF possible
developments 81 Its mineral riches and
Of its fndustriea-