Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-22

other session in March next. Nor IL there
any doubt Of Mr.. Winawers re-eiectlon.
He was nominated as one OF the six repre-
sentatives from the city Of st. Peterso9re
BY the constitutional democrats. not be-
cause of his race OF his religion but pc
cause of his ability and character. Thefs
are very few Jews in st. Petersburg. ano
from q numerical point of view they are
not entitled to representation. 1t Is en-
tirely probable. however. that he Will AGAIN
be nominated and elected by an overwheim-
ing majority. go,
Speaking of the scope of his bill Mr..
Wfnawer said that 1t was as broad and
general as possible, and was INTENDED 70
repeal every one Of the almost tnnumer-
able petty laws and regulations that nav
from time to time been adopted to Cypress
and keep down the Hebrew citizens OF Rus
sia Details were omitted and the terms
of the bill were made as sweeping as pos
sible Every exclusive law or regulation
was abolished.
Predujice Against Jews.
''The so-called pale of settlement law.
which prevents Jews from living where
they choose, will be abrogated." he said.
"and they will be given the same right to
travel and live In any part Of the empire
that is enjoyed by other subjects of Russia.
The bill provides that they shall be adj
mitted to all the schools and universities.
to the civil. service Of the government, and
to the army and navy. just the same as IL
they were members OF the Siav race anu the
Orthodox Greek Church
81 have taot expected struggle" con-
tinued MT Winawer, although am con-
WINGED that there Is an intense prejudice Tor
economic and religious reasons among the
members of the ministry and the bureau
cracy against our race do not think the
council of the empire will refuse to ratify
the proposed law or that the car will with
hold his approval. 1t cannot be expected
that oppression or prejudice against the
members of our race will entirely disappear
by legislation. A certain element OF the
community will always have anti-Semitic
tendencies. such as appear in other coun-
tries where the laws are favorable to the
Jews; and 1t may be that police officials
will still encourage the hooligans and dis
orderly classes to plumber our homes alnd
beat and kill our people, but am confident
that such agitatiOns will gradually cease
and that after a time the Hebrew race will
be restored in public estimation when the
government removes the ban that has been
placed upon us. There will be no difficulty
from the peasants. While local troubles
may occur here and there growing out OF
business matters and the reluctance OF
money borrowers to pay their debts. the
peasants throughout Russia, generally
speaking. have no religious prejudices, and
most of them have never seen a Jew.
There are fanatics in Russia. as they
can be found anywhere, and certain classes
more so than in other countries where the
Jews are undisturbed. Sometimes ignorant
and narrow orthodox priests preach and
talk against the Jews. and In certain places
there Is a belief that the blood of Chris
tian child Is shed as q sacrifice fndispen-
sable to the Jewish celebrations of the feast
of the passover. That has been the cause
of great deal of trouble in cases where. by
Gil unfortunate coincidence a Christian
child has disappeared about that date"
dpnia hot &c
Is one OF the most unimportant reasons for
the anti-Semitic prejudices.
Massacres Exaggerated.
His views are confirmed by members OF
the United States embassy who have in
vestigated several Of the massacres under
instructions from our. government. OF
course, our ambassador and consuls are
poweriess to do anything but to secure II,
formation for the satisfaction of the De-
partment of State and citizens of the
United States who have friends and rela-
tives In the disturbed districts. They have
learned that in several cases this passover
story has been used to excite the passion
Of the people. but they tell me at the en-
bassy that It is also true that in several
cases, as In Odessa the other day, the mas
sacres followed provocations by reckless
and thoughtless young Jews. In Odessa q
Cossack was killed in a quarrel with q Jew
by some young men who came to the res
cue OF their co-religfonist; at another place
bricks and other missiles were thrown by
Jewish boys and other irresponsible per-
sons upon passing religious procession
from the roofs and windows Of a house. In
a third case Jewish teamster attempted
to drive through Greek funeral process
sion and provoked a brawi Again a regi-
ment Of soldiers was fired upon by several
young Jews concealed behind the chimneys
of a house. In these instances the religious
prejudices Of the people were excited, but
in almost every other case the investiga-
lions show that the massacres were unpro-
voked and were inspired by political rea-
sons.
l am told at the American embassy that
the number of persons murdered in these
massacres has been greatly exaggerated by
newspaper reports. The total number OF
Jews killed within the last three years
does not exceed one thousand. although
the general impression in the United States
and elsewhere is that many thousands OF
reports from Bialystok are illustrations OF
others. We were told by the newspaper
dispatches that several hundred lives were
lost and millions Of dollars worth Of prop
erty destroyed. whereas the investigating
committee of Jews from the duma report
ed eighty-hve people killed and property
damages to the amount Of $4,000. But
although 1t Is fortunate that the loss OF
life has not been greater, the atrocities that
have been committed are beyond descrip-
ton and are almost incredible.
Prosecutions Began in 1881.
There was really no persecution Of the
Jews until the reign of Alexander III, al
though restrictions began to accumulate IL
the time Of Catherine II, who acquired the