The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-25
MANITOBA
Doukobor Women Admit They Pull Wag.
TRUTH OUT AT LAST

Doukobor Women Admit They Pull Wag.
CONS and PIow3.
Special to The Journal
Winnipeg, Man.. Sept 25.-Ever since
the government commenced the Douko-
bors into Canada there has been con-
trOVersy as to the chara cteristics of these
people, their friends maintaining they
would soon assimilate Canadian ideas and
customs, while others, who had studied
their beliefs, asserted they would never
make good Canadians.
The controversy has been set at rest
in part, as following upon the action of
the communities in driving their stock
into the wilderness, the Doukobor women
themselves have admitted publicly that
they act in the capacity of beasts of the
field voluntarily, making this part of their
strange creed
About the middle of this month the
Doukobors stated they could no longer
conscientiously keep stock that had been
presented them by the government and.
acting in body, drove every horse, COW
and sheep from their settlements in the
northern part of the province. When this
information reached Winnipeg it was at
first discredited, but the government in
vestigated and found it true.
Steps were Immediately taken to re-
trleve the losses and men were sent TO
gather in as many OF the scattered herds
as could be found. Advertisements in
local papers, and official proclama tons
announcing an auction sale of stock soon
appeared. Following upon this. severe
criticism appeared in several papers, in
which it was held that the Doukobors
were forcing the women to do the work Of
animals. 1t was said in government
quarters that this was not general con-
6ition of affairs, but late developments
have exposed a most surprising state of
ffciy nd y-hi y1-oc of ncfo
by the most severe critic OF Doukobor
customs.
This comes in the form of a letter, writ
ten by three Doukobor women, evidently
authorized by the entire ''Sisterhood.''
and published in the Swan River Star.
stating that they are not forced to do
hard work of pulling wagons and plows,
but do SO because they feel they should do
their part in all the work Of the conlmun-
ity, carrying the idea of equal suffrage TO
it's logical conclusion. The letter, with
all it's uncouth language, is as follows:
Dear Brother: In answer to a com
munica ton printed in your respectable
newspaper, the Swan River Star, in which
! it was written that our brethren in re-
| lgion oblige US to work, women and
| girls, sisters of the Christian community
of Universal Brotherhood Ooukobors)
ask you to print in the same paper. for
explaining of the truth. that we. without
UNFAIRLY act as beasts of burden. We be-
lieve that it is good, when we are sharing
with our brethren in the use of food,
clothes and home, to share with them in
the labor, too. It would be useful for
all women to work themselves and not be
supported by some other ones. We think
that it is Illegal to work with the help of
cattle. as well AS to make any other action
! Of violence. Also, if our men would make
| most difficult work of pulling the wagons.
but we would be content of the easy one,
| this would be for our part not totally
good
| Respectfully yours.
(Signed) Anna Doubassova,
Eliza Veta Bloudova,
- DomaDya Trofimenanov.
| SISTERS of the Christian Community OF
Universal Brotherhood (DokoborS).'
This leaves no doubt upon the question.
| The only problem that remains is wheth
err or not the government will allow this
| community, with its almost hea then ideas,
| to continue its practices in North Mani
| toba and elsewhere in the Canadian west.