The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-01
Not Allowed to Work at Their Trades,
but Are Drafted Into the Army
in Great Numbers.
THOUSANDS TO GO TO CANADA
THE BARON HIRsCH AGENCIES
TAXED BEYOND THEIR POWERS.
Interview with the Prime Minister,
Who Promises to study the
Jew Question.


BUCHAREST, May 15.-The anti-foreign-
ers law soon to be put into operation will
drive three hundred thousand Roumanians
from Carols and Carmen Sylva's kingdom
these natives will be sent across the from
tier like so many barbarian invaders be-
cause their religion differs from the &C
copied faith.
For the anti-foreigners law is really an
antl-Jew law. This legislative act, approved
by the government and signed by the King,
forbids Jews TO engage in manual labor
of any kind They are neither allowed to
be artisans nor to till the soil.
Russia excused her persecution Of Jews
on the ground that they refused to engage
in observation-disclosures goes the big Sis
ter empire one better and says Jews shall
not engage in any honest work whatever.
1t is like binding a man hand and foot and
pushing him out of doors to starve. But
that it not all: in addition to being robbed
of the use of his limbs, he IS muzzled. For
the government pledged 10 destroy the
Jew, mas suspended the constitution as
far as he is concerned; the right of free
speech is taken away from him, and re-
spectful protest against the contemplated
outrage is styled high treason" Wherever
In Roumania Jews come together in peace
full assemblage to talk over the dread sit
uation confronting them, they are liable
to arrest and punishment by court-mar-
tial
American readers may we'll doubt that
such is possible in a civilized country in
the heart of Europe. l would doubt it
myself had not Prime Minister Stourdza
tIa far NJ Nv, inf
below.
Yesterday a troop of 279 native Jews
passed through this capital en- route for
Hamburg and smaller troops, bound for
German, Italian and Belgian ports, may
be met daily on the railways and roads
leading to the frontier.
ENFORCED EMIGRATION.
Your correspondent was permitted to ex-
anime the papers of Hamburgbound emil
grants. With one or two exceptions every
man in the company was Roumanian
citizen by birth and education. Some had
grandfathers and great-grandfathers lv-
ing or buried in this country long before
the present dynasty emigrated to Rouma-
mia from Sigmaringen. AS to their occupa-
ton the majority were artisans, brick lay
ers carpenters and jolners, tailors, bakers
and the like, thirty or more were small
farmers $50 had worked on farms-not
saloon keeper, horse dealer or petty banker
among them.
The troop of badly frightened and heart
broken men and women said they hoped
to reach the Baron Hirsch colonies in Can
ada by the middle of June. Numerous
friends and copatriots of theirs are also
going there before and after the law
against Israelites takes effect. All car
ried testimonials of their former mayors
or village elders proving good conduct.
None had been fined for a misdemeanor
even.
Further written testimonials by the
thorities showed that the average wage of
these people was about 20 cents a day; the
women got to cents for twelve to four
teen hours work In the fields at harvesting
time.
ION this we could live, as we had
homes; we even added to our savings year
Iy," said a patriarch who acted spokes-
man. But the government in Bucharest
thought we were getting too rich. AS
matter of fact, we were no better off than
our Christian neighbors, though we were
compelled to work harder. And so they
sent us away"
The poor people had to sell their huts and
furniture for a mere pittance, of course;
you know how il is when one is forced to
sell. Only the most weIl-to-do of each
community carried their household linen
along. The rest had to part with that also
TO pay their debts and obtain travelling ex-
penses They looked like a badly nour-
ished crowd; their clothes are the most
primitive. The women were even more
emaciated than the men.
I asked the rabbi if they had been al
lowed to carry away the ARK OF the Cow
enant," an imitation of which is kept in
the synagogues.
Poor we've never possessed the blessed
ark" he answered, "all we ever had is this
Thora, supposed to be a thousand years
old" The Thora, a copy of the Old Tesla
ment written on parchment and rolled on
a staff of ebony. is probably the most an
cient now in existence outside of the muse
ums. If these poor devils would only part
with it, they might sell it at a price that
would start every one of them in business
on the other side. But when your cOrre-
spondent suggested it to the rabbi, he
turned away disguised. They robbed us of
our livelihood. our home, our country" he
said, shall we now give up our God. too?
Never! This Thora speaks TO us in the
tongue of our Lord. There is even a say
ing that one of the prophets indited it with
his own hands"
PRAYING TO BE TAKEN ALONG.
The agent of the Baron Hirsch Associa-
ton accompanying the emigrants told your
correspondent that he had to travel ahead
and under an assumed name TO avoid meet
ing the crowds of poor Jews who desired
to be taken along, though entirely desti-
tute. Take us as servants" they cried;
I'VE will work for you in America until our
passage money is paid. if ii takes ten
years.
Don't leave US to starve," walled women
and children; there will be nothing left
for US but that when the new law goes
into effect"
The agent says: THE situation cries to
heaven. II the great powers who confirmed
Roumanian independence at the Berlin
congress allow this outrage they will for
felt their claim TO civilization and Chris
tianity.
Though 1 travelled all over Roumania. I
have yet to find project. mayor or police