The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1906-07-12
FAMlNE IN RUSSIA.
In Many Provinces Rains Came Too
Late to Save the Crops, and
People Are Desperate.

st. Petersburg, July 10-A corresponds
emit of the Associated Press has just
completed a tour OF the provinces OF
Samara and Saratov. He reports that
the drought Is finally broken, but the
rains have come too late to saw the
crops and help the peasants, who are
in a pitiable condition. Their cattle
have either been sold or are starving in
the fields.
The government relief %granaries We're
completely emptied during last years
famine. The present agrarian condi-
uons, which can be expected to grow
worse, are due largely to the necessity
of the peasants selling food and forage
to preserve their lives and save from
starvation the remainder Of their cat
tie.
These disorders have reached the
highest pitch in the province Of
Voronezh, where the troops and Cos
sacks, although in considerable force.
are practically helpless and on the de-
fensive. Many peasants have been
killed or wounded in desperate attacks
on the military patrols and the rural
guards.
According to a telegram received
here from Tamboy peasants on the es-
tate of Princess Barlatinsky attacked
a commissary and a posse of rural POI
lice. The commissary and four po-
licemen were seriously wounded.
In another section Of the province
of Tambov a body Of peasants, armed
with p1tchforks and spades, resisted q
squadron Of dragons. Because Of this
resistance the troops fired, killing three
peasants and Wounding many others.
AT Kadabey, southeast Of Ti1is, a
hand to hand fight has occurred be-
tween Cossacks and an armed band
Of peasants, with the result that sew
eral men were killed on both sides. The
poor men Were incensed because the
rich men had sent a telegram to the
lower house protesting against the pro-
posed distribution of land.
In the fighting one of the wealthy
peasants killed four n seriously
wounded several of the poorer men.
There have been grave disorders on
the estate or the minister of agricul-
ture, Stichinsky, in lula province.
The representative of the Associated
Press at Rostav reports that the crop
conditions in the Don district are above
the average.
Agrarian disorders among the Co.'S
sack agricultural population are not
expected, although there has been some
ferment among he military levies over
having to do police duty.
The first paragraph of the proposed
agrarian law, viz, The augmentation
Of the lands Of the peasants by the
appropriation Of all state and crown
domains, and church and monastery
lands" has been accepted by the COM
mission of the lower house with prac-
teal unanimity. The commissions
have now locked horns over the mode
Of appropriation and the method Of dis
posal OF private estates, and the end
is not yet In sight.
The determination to appropriate
church lands, which In contradistinc-
ton to the great estates owned by the
monasteries lie scattered like the lands
of the onrno schools In America in
small tracts throughout the country,
and support the local clergy, will cause
complications. Such action would de-
prive the parish priests Of the princi-
pal part Of their scanty emolument and
necessltate the equivalent from some
other sources.