The Washington times., 1906-05-13
BITTER FIGHT FOR
JEWISH FREEDOM
Battle For Race Equality In
Russian DOuma.
HEBREW LEADER is HOPEFUL
maxim Vinaver Declares Peasant Mem
bers Will Support Claims of
His People.

ST. PETERSBURG, May 12-"JepIsh
Emancipation will be one of the first re-
suits Of our capture of the country. The
triumph of the constitutional Democratic
party means immediate equality for all
Russia's hundred races and religions.
and in particular it means the removal
of the exclusive laws directed against
the Jewish population
Maxim Moseivitch Vinaver. the first
and most influential Jew elected TO the
duma, expressed this opinion in a long
interview today in the intervals OF read
ing congratulatory kilograms from War
saw. where he was born; from wilma. of
whose large Jewish population he is the
old-time champion, and from St Peters
burg, which he represents in the parlia-
rnent of all the Russias. He is a little
man Of middle age. eloquent and plausi-
bic in speech, gifted with uncommon
mastery over the Russian tongue, and
Teputed 10 be one of the hardest work
ers In St. Petersburg.
Can Be No Compromise.
Jewish emancipation is one of the
questions upon which there can be no
compromise" he continued. 'The cadets
ere pledged 70 it to the last man They
are pro-Jewish. not out Of tactics, but
out Of principle My own case IS suffl-
Client proof. I was nominated, although
the number Of Jews here is very small
and they made no claim to a seat. The
cadets are prO-JcWish because they are
against all racial and religious distinc-
tons. and because anti-hemitism is here
associated with oppression and official
corruption. The cadets will demand the
total abolition of the Pale of Settle
ment, which prevents Jews living where
they choose, and they will insist also on
the right Of Jews TO travel without let
or hindrance in every part OF the en-
pire- They Will claim that Jews shall be
admitted, equally with the orthodox. to
the higher schools and universities and
have equal rights with them in the gov
ernment service Every exclusive law
must be abrOgated. The exact tactics
by which these measures will be carried
have not been decided upon. But il Will
come up soon, if il is not over by the
manifesto Of October II, which prom
3sed freedom 10 all Russian citizens The
realization Of that promise is the
douma's first objective.
Will Cause Bitter Struggle.
The Jewish question will lead to a
struggle with the government. The
bureaucracy have really no interest in
continuing Jewish oppression, for,
though tEe Jews are anti-governmental
recent events show that the Gentiles
are equally so. But by raising an anti
semitic agitation. they viii attempt to
destroy the unity OF the progressive
party. The cadets VIII. on general ques-
tions, be supported Dy the majority OF
the peasant members To detach the
peasants from the cause OF freedom by
raising the anti-Jew cry viii seem an
obvious trick. In my opinion this at
tempt Will fail, as the peasants from
most parts of Russia are not naturally
anti-Jewish, and most of them have
never seen a Jew. But there is bound
TO be a struggle. The government has
used the Jewish questions as a snare
In its financial operations. Indeed. after
NVitte at Portsmouth gave reassuring
promises to the New York Jewish bank
ers he returned here and proceeded to
play for the support Of the anti-J ewish
party by giving interviews in con-
trary sense.
IF the government defies the demo-
cratic majority Jewish emancipation
may be delayed until the central ques-
ton. whether Gar or parliament. is SUI
preme is thrashed out The recent loan
and the fundamental law projects indi-
cate that the Car is determined 20 fight
for his privileges. II so We shall have
no special legislation for a time. for all
the douma'S energies Will be swallowed
up In destroying the autocracy.
Jewish freedom may. therefore, have
20 walt, but IL is only question of
time"