Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-04-18
RUSSIAN FAMINE
EXTENDS TO n PROVINCES, COW
FIRING 10000 SQUARE MILES
AND 10000, 900 PEOPLE.
COMMITTEE IN NEW YORK, HEAD
ED BY BISHOP POTTER, so
LicITs AID.

New YOrk. April 17.--The Russian
Famine Relief committee has been or
lganized for the purpose of carrying on
| in this country, in the cause of hui
fmanity the collection of funds for the
relief Of the starving millions in Rus
| sia's famine stricken provinces. The
committee believes that the one thing
essential to the success of its work,
with consequent saving of hundreds
lof thousands of lives, is an under
standing on the part Of the American
people of the almost incredible con-
ditions of want and suffering in Rus
STA.
The famine extends over twenty-one
provinces. embracing an area Of about
a million and half square miles or
half the territorial extent of the Unit
ed States.
| Within this area is a population Of
10000, 900, practically all Of whom are
dependent upon outside assistance to
maintain life until the next harvest.
/ The famine is the greatest and most
dreadful in the history Of Russia In
the famine of 1912, 10000 persons
persisted in a single province This
year, unless speedy assistance is rem
dered, the death list in that province
will reach at last 100000.
1 In the famine district agriculture is
the only occupation; when the crops
fail there is nothing to which the in-F
habitants can turn to gain a liyeli-
hood.
i In many provinces there was no
harvest whatever last year: even the
seed put into the ground was lost. The.
/ peasants have sold their horses and
cows and have used the proceeds to
buy bread. They have consumed the
grain held for seed. Thus they have
mortgaged their future by sacrificing
the means of future tillage in order Ia,
maintain life at present, and now they
q have exhausted even these slender re-
sources.
Il Decayed grain and even the seeds OF
noxious weeds have been used in the.
attempt to preserve life, resulting in
disease from these poisonous products.
Even where help is now being given.
the peasants are forced to live on
one-ffteenth Of the average ration.
Families have been brought to such
sufferings that parents have sold their
daughters into slavery and degrade
ton in the harems and brothels of
Turkey in order to maintain life in
the remaining members of the family.
II In many places lack Of fuel has
added danger of death from cold to
that of death by hunger. In many
fvillages part Of the houses have been
torn down to provide fuel for the in
habitants huddled together in the
homes still standing.
Outside assistance is absolutely
needed. 1t is the one means of relief
left. 1t is dictated by the demands of
humanity. To be effective it must be
Immediately forthcoming. Five dol
lars will maintain the life of resident
of the famine districts until the next
harvest.
The Russian Famine Relief commit
tee has been organized, with headquar-
tiers at 1876 East Fifteenth street, New
York. Bishop Henry C. Potter is
president of the committee. Samuel J.
Barrows is the secretary. All contri-
buttons, large or small, sent to the sec
rotary will be acknowledge and re
ceipted for by the Morton Trust com
pany, which is acting as treasurer for
the fund.
4 President Roosevelt has Endorsed
this movement and has personally con-
tributed to it. So have Gov. Hughes
of New York and many philosophical
citizens. But to make the relief effec-
4 tive, public support must be wide
spread