The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-07-18
MIGRATION OF JEWS
FROM EUROPEAN LANDS
Work Of Jewish Colonization Society Of America Helping Oppressed
Hebrews to Throw Off Their Aided Escap
ing America Australia and South AericaWhy
More Favored Than in Russia.

meet, the members Of the B'nai Birth
devote themselves to succoring their
troubled brethren in Roumania
A Large, Genuine Charity. i,
Until two years ago, the order made. it
its business to transport oto this country
any worthy Jew who sought home here
or who wished to joirk his people in this
country. The greatMekpense incident to
this work, however, led to change in
policy and in the past two years the Jew
ish colonization society and the B'nai
Birth have furnished but half the travel
money, the applicant for transportation
furnishing the other hat. There is no at
tempt to secure repayment for the money
advanced to those wha are brought over
and no expectationof Skecuring it. The
money given for Transportation is regarded
as a Contribution, . pure and simple, and,
is 50 described and referred to. s4
The 25,000 members of the B,nai Birth
in America-the order has lodges in many
L foreign countries-are assessed, without
any, hope of financial return for the sole
purpose of bringing; to this country men Of
their own race and of caring for them aft
erward. This, care is confined, principally
to seeing them established in a livelihood
altho two great, charitable institutions.
the National Jewish hospital for. consump-
| tivess at Denver and an 1imm enset orphan
order. ~ rs
How Emgrants Are Handled.
The perfection Of the system by which
the refugees are brought to this country
is illustrated by the, following interview
with Jonas Well, president Of the local
lodge Of B'nai Birth
Several years ago. says Mr.. Well
1--WE used to bring over, only able-bodied
men, who were received at the, New York
= 4
| moval committee. At that time we had a
Run1anian relief committee consisting Of
five members of the B'nai Birth and five
non IN embers which saw the emigrants
established in some occupation. When a
man had established himself we would
send for his family, paying all the ex-
penses.
About three years ago the policy Of
this lodge was changed and we refused
to import any one not having relative or
| close friend in the city. This rule still
obtains.
If any Rumanian Jew of Minneapolis
wants a friend or relative brought over
| he brings to me a personal letter adj
dressed to this friend or relative in which
the Minneapolis man guarantees to sup
port the new conner upon his or her ar
| rival here.
! This letter also instructs the emigrant
to obey all the orders of those in charge
OF his shipment, to answer all questions
honestly and to be sure of being in per-
feet health, under penalty of being sent
back If discovered in a, falsehood
| 81 forward this letter, after proper in
vestigation, to the Rumanian committee
Of New York, which in turn forwards it
to the Jewish Colonization society in Paris.
and that society in turn forwards It to
| the agent in the place where the emil
grant lives Either the person sending
Tor the em1grant or the emigrant himself
must furnish half the fare-about s35-
before the beginning Of the journey.
The emigrant's case is then inyesti-
| gated by the agent, a physical examina-
! ton is made, and the journey to this
country begins. We never lose sight of
an emigrart once he is started. The agent
or committee in Rumania notifies Psris
that so and SO has been forwarded.
Paris notifies us and New York. We have
an agent at Ellis island and as soon as
the preliminaries are gone thru with New
York notifies us that the emigrant Is en-
route to Minneapolis. When he or she
I gets to Minneapolis we see that the friend
or relative Is on hand and keeps his part
1 OF the contract. II there are any misrep-
reservations, back the emigrant goes,
i altho, as matter of fact, the siftins
4 process weeds out any undesirable ones
before New York is reached.
Most of the Rumanians who come here
are tladesmen and many of them have
already brought their families while
about 100 refugees are on the way"
4 A sample of the business methods EN-.
ployed by the importers is found in 8
letter to Mr.. Well from the Paris office
OF the Jewish Colonizati on society Il
simply says:
Il We beg to inform you that the nephew
OF Leon Solomon has been forwarded tt
your. city,
| 80 y : Is i
It's all business with the society alth,
the refugees are brought here for senti
mental as well as material reasons.
Begging Is Discouraged.
It is common saying that no maj
ever saw Jew beg of Gentle, ant
this saying Is founded on fact, but Their
is plenty of begging among the Jews, an.
It is one mission of the B,nai Birth t
discourage and If possible prevent this
!, So successful has the local lodge been ii
this work and SO careful have its officer