The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-09-20
THEIR LOT IS HARD
Moritz Wunderman Tells of the Con-
ditions That Govern the Jews
in Roumania. "
Not Only Are Laws Severe on Them
but the Richer Glasses Fo-
! ment Persecution.


that the recent diplomatic note of Sec
rotary Hay, however vigorously it may
be acted on by the great powers, will do
little to ameliorate that condition, was
furnished this morning by Moritz Wun-
derman,. prominent Roumanian Jew OF
Minneapolis. He was a prosperous to-
bacco dealer in his native land before
persecution compelled him to enigrate to
this country sixteen years ago. He Is
we'll known to the 900 Roumanian Jews of
the local colony, and is respected by them
for his intelligence and good Judgment.
Eyes, I've read about what the govern
ment is trying to do for the Jews in Rou-
mania,'' said Mr.. Wunderman at the
Washington public school. Of which he is
janitor, land like the rest of my people,
thank the United States for trying to help
our friends and relatives who are still in
Roumania. I suppose the United States
will have a good deal Of influence with
Roumania, especially If the great coun-
tries of Europe will try to help US, too.
But even If the Rounanian government
changes the laws which give the most
trouble to the Jews there, things won't
be a great deal better. 1t isn't the laws,
you see, that really cause the trouble
It's the way everybody looks at the Jews
in Rounania."
r.. Mobiles Back Persecution.
Mr.. Wunderman then made clear that
rather social than political, and that it is
encouraged for double purpose, both So
cial and political. The oppressive laws are
merely the reflex Of public sentiment.
Yet it is not the majority Of the 6,O00,-
600 Roumanians that are the most vio-
lently opposed to the 100000 or 500, 900 Of
their Jewish neighbours. The real enemies
| of the Jews are the nobility, the rich land
owners and merchants, that is, the more
powerful classes. They unite in overtax-
ing and plundering the populace. But in
order to stihe discomfort, they are con-
stantly insisting that the Jews are the
| cause Of the widespread poverty, the in
dustrial depression, and the semi bank
| rupt condition Of the government. Hence
| the populace is encouraged to vent its
discomfort in persecution of the Jews.
| The small farmers are especially praised
by Mr.. Wundern1an. Although ignorant,
they are just and kind-hearted They
sympathize with the Jews, and would be
| glad 70 see a return to the conditions that
| prevailed few years ago when these
| farmers used to borrow money from the
Jews instead Of from the present state
| banks.
| Ihe banks were established on the plea
that they were needed to save the farmers
| from the merciless imposition of the Jew
tsh money lenders.
| But that wasn't true,' says Mr.. Wun-
derman THE Jews never asked honey
for their loans and didn't expect it. They
accepted farm produce instead. The,
would take almost anything that the
farmer happened to raise They would be
always willing to extend loans. But the
government banks will take nothing but
cash. If the loan isn't paid when it's due
the security must be sold. This is encour
aged by the big land owners, because the
small farmers are getting poorer ever.
year. They can't make a living on thei,
own farms, and so they work the bis
| farms for no pay except a winters supply
of food, what is, Of wheat. corn, etc. The
rich land owners pay out no money at al
and run their farms for almost nothing.
:9>' Some onerous Laws. 80 .~- -.
"But the laws are bad enough there. 4
Jew can't buy land or houses. He can onl!
get a lease for ninety-nine years. HI
can't send his children to the publi
schools that are free to Gentle children
He must pay the teacher and even thel
only 20 per cent Of the Jew children ar
permitted to go to the schools, even |
i: their parents pay. When we tried t
start schools of our own the government
, made too many conditions and we couldn'
| do it.
"A few year ago about half Of the Rou
! manian Jews made living as agents fo
farmers and others who wanted to sci
, their grain and goods in the towns. Blu
The government banks have cut us of
from the money lending that used to sup
port a good many of us. We can't taxi
up any trade in Roumania. The trade
unions wouldn't have us and we'd b.
stoned to death If we happened to get {
job. And If we went out to work on an!
farm, the big farmers would get thei
=, men to steal all our grain and. propert!
and beat us or kill us, if we tried to stay
= In the little towns a great many kinds O
goods can't be sold by Jews. It's only il
the cities that they let us sell anything
; So that's the way the Jews there get
, living now-by keeping little stores il
the towns, especially the big towns. Blu
, my people are cry poor and badly edu
Gated.
, ''Of course, the government might d.
, something. It might repeal the law!
against the Jews, and it might give US
chance in the Roumanian courts. AS i
is now, when a Roumanian, that Is, al
orthodox Greek Catholic, Is tried for kill
ing a Jew, the Gentle is set free. Some
times he gets six months or one year i,
' jai.
""But the government would have t,
; make the nobes and the rich men beiev,
| that it would be better for them not t,
, punish the Jews for anything that goe
!. wrong in Roumania.''
, Mr.. Wunderman added that the dislik
to agricultural work shown by Roumanial
: Jews in many countries is the recent re
i t1of their comma triots' ayporfopc