The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-04-04
MILLIONS ARE
IN NEED Of AID
Famine the Greatest and the
Most Dreadful in His
tory of Russia.
Special to The Journal.

New York. Apr. 3.-The Russian
Famine Relief Committee, 135 East
Fifteenth street, has given out the fol
lowing facts relative TO the great
famine in Russia:
1t extends over twenty-one provinces
embracing an area of about 4 million
and half square miles Or half the
territorial extent of the United States
within this area is a population OF
3O.O0OO00, practically all of whom arc
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 re
ceived, the death list in that one
province will reach at least two hun
dred thousand
In the famine district agriculture is
the only occupation; when the crops
fail there is nothing to which the in
habitants can turn to gain a liveli-
hood
IN many provinces there was no har-
vest 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 10
buy bread. They have consumed the
grain held for seed. Thus they have
mortgaged their future by sacrificing
the means of future tilIage in order to
maintain life at present, and now they
have exhausted even these slender re-
sources.
Decayed grain and even the seeds
OF nOxiOus weeds have been used in
the attempt to preserve life, rsultinS
in disease from these poisonous
products. Even where help is now
being given, the peasants are forced
70 live on one-fifteenth 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.
In many places lack of fuel has add
ed danger of death from cold to that
of death from hunger In many vii
lagos 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 resi-
dent of the famine districts until the
next harvest.
The Russian Famine Relief Commit
tee has been organized, with head
quarters at 135 East 18th 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
secretary will be acknowledged and
reCeipted for by the Morton Trust
Company, which is acting as treasurer
of the fund.
All contributions received Oy the
committee VIII be applied and eXpend-
ed in the most direct and effective
way. They will not be turned over to
the Russian government.
The president has endorsed this move
ment and has personally contributed
to it So have Governor Hughes of
New York and many philosophical
citizens. But to make the relief effec-
tive, public support must be wide
spread.