Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
FUND FOR THE FAMINE
Organization Perfected in New
York for Russian Sufferers.
IN OTHER STATES ALSO
Conditions Are Terrific in the Land
of the Gear.
EIGHT DOLLARS FOR ADULT
That Sum Will Keep Man Until.
Next Harvest and S. Main
tains Child.
EIGHT DOLLARS FOR ADULT

NEW YORK, February pa committee
was organized yesterday to appeal to all
Americans for contributions to fund. for
the relief of the millions of Russians who
are suffering and are threatened with star
walton because Of the failure of their crops.
The work Of raising this fund will be begun
Immediately and will be prosecuted, through
various agencies. in the several states.
The meeting was held at the United
Charities building, in East 22d street. Prof.
George w. Kirchwey of Columbia Univer-
sity called it to order, and then r. Fulton
Cutting was elected chairman. Interest
centered in the story which Nicolas A.
Shishkof told of the conditions in his ma
tive country. M. Shishkoff is not a revolu-
ZIONIST; neither is he a government repre-
sentative. He came to America as an I'M
official famine ambassador.
He explained the conditions In the TWEEN
ty-seven stricken provinces, using as an
illustration the situation in the province
of Samar, where there were about 5000,
600 persons. samar. he said, was about
the size OF the average American state.
OF the 3, 100000 there, 800, 600 were peas
ants, and depended entirely upon the prod
ucts of the soil for their livelihood. From
April Is until the end of June there was
not drop of rain in that province; grass
did not grow more than two inches high,
and the grain came to a head when 1t
was hardly above the ground; thousands
Of acres were not harvested at all, and on
thousands of others the peasants were able
to gather not more than seventy-five pounds
of wheat to the acre.
Three Severe Famines.
Then the famine was imminent. The peo-
pie were in no condition to live through it.
Within fifteen years there had been three
"a min ha Ia OF throa
ago, which ate up the savings and reserves
Of the people and left them quite unpre
pared for the privations that they are now
compelled to endure. -.s.as.-- go. ~. -...,.
The government was appealed to. The
first reports Of the famine that were sent
to st. Petersburg. M Shishkon said, were
not regarded seriously, the officials evil
IDENTIFY believing that they were exagger-
ated
Then the truth came upon them, and
they began providing some FUNDS. but they
were entirely inadequate. ..Alt9Eether about
ment for relief, but NJ shishkon Said he
could not be certain that from 10000 to
200 900 persons would not die IN each prov
ince unless more relief came than was now
in sight. Eight dollars. he said, would keep
an adult person alive until the next harvest,
and S. child.
II was honored yesterday. said the Rus
sian. by reception by the President Of
ed by his kind cordially. He assured me
of his sympathy with the work wllfciN1 nm
doing for my fellow countrymen, and said
that he hoped 1 would succeed"
Distribution Of Relief. -.
Then NJ. shishkon explained the methods
Of distribution of relief and assured the
persons who had gathered to hear him that
everything that was sent from the United
States would be properly used.
Organization was then completed by the
adoption Of this resolution, which was pre-
scented by Prof. Kirchwey:
Whereas we have heard with horror
and profound sympathy Of the famine
which is desolating a large portion of the
Russian empire, and which threatens the
lives Of millions Of our fellowmen;
Resolved, That we hereby declare our
sympathy with those suffering millions, and
pledge ourselves to assist by every means
in our power in the relieving Of their suf-
ferings; and to that end we hereby consti-
tute ourselves general committee under
the name Of the Russian famine relief COM
mittee for the purpose of calling the atten-
ton Of the American people to the dire dis
tress of their brethren in the famine strick-
en- province Of Russia, and collecting funds
and distributing food and other necessaries
of life to the sufferers from the famine.
Resolved further, That the executive
committee to be appointed shall have the
power to enlarge this committee to such
NUMBER as Stall, III us judgment renOeT II
most effective for the task which it has this
day undertaken"
Mr.. Schif a Worker.
Jacob H. Schiff had been one Of the most
| active workers for the organization Of the
committee, but was in Washington yester-
day. While the meeting was in session this
| telegram was received from him:
Chairman, Russian Famine Meeting, School
of Philanthropy, United Charities Build
| ing, 1O5 East 22d Street, New York, N Y:
| I greatly regret that absence prevents my
| attendance at your meeting. The American
| people, while abhoring the action and meth
| DDS Of the Russian government have no
| grievance against the Russian people, for
| whose suffering, SO fearfully increased by
| famine affecting 80 large part of the popu-
4 lation, the Americans have the warmest
| sympathy; to which 1 am sure If properly
| appealed to, they will give practical express
| sion. JACOB H. SCHIFF.
| Other kilograms and letters came from
| these men, all Of whom assured the COM
mittee of their sympathy and support: John
Bassett Moore, Eugene Philbin, Henry Holt,
| 8. 8. Mcclure and others. - -
| NJ. Shishkoff, who was one of the first
| Russian liberal leaders and member of the
| council Of the empire during the session of
| the last duma, was asked fer his opinion on
| the reports Of the intention of the Russian
| government to end the duma by fomenttng
| internal disorders and massacres.
| II am out OF politics." he replied IT am
| here on mission Of mercy and must not
| let anything else, however interesting it
may be to me or important to my people,
interfere with it,