The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1911-12-14
And If We Are to Seek Re
lief We Must Do Ii
at Once
S ULzER DECLARES
Abrogation Of the Treaty with
That Country Seems
Certain Now.

the treaty of 1892, she must do 1t
now. There can be no arbitration
no delay. So declared Representa-.
tive William sulzer, chairman Of
the House committee on foreign re.
latiohs, in addressing at Carnegie
Han mass meeting called to pro
test against Russia's policy toward
American citizens of Jewish faith.
Russia has acted boldly and shame
lessly, he said, and he concluded
with a prediction that legislation
abrogating the treaty will soon be
enacted.
Mr.. sulzer said in part:
The treaty with Russ a says
American citizens are entitled to the
same rights in Russia that Russian
citizens are accorded here. II these
rights are not granted them then
the treaty is violated. Russia does
not deny that she dlscriminates
against certain classes of our clt4
liens, and when complaint is made.
figuratively speaking, she shrugs
her shoulders and asks: What are
you going to do about it,
I'VE have carefully lived up to
our treaty obligations with Russia.
Every Russian coming to this coun-
try has been granted all the rights
stipulated in the treaty, irrespective
of race or religion. This is our
conception of the treaty OF 1892.
What are we going. to do about
it? Our answer is: Abrogate the
treaty.
This is not Jewish question.
1t is an American question. 1t in
wolves great principle. 1t affects
the rights of all American citizens.
Russia not only refuses to recognize
American passports held by Jews on
account of their race, but she also
refuses to recognize American pass
ports held by Baptist missionaries,
Catholic priests, Presbyterian di-
vines, and others on account of their
religious belief.
Behind the movement which has
crystalized under the auspices of
the. National Citizens Commit
tee, are the big men of every
race working as brothers in a com
mon interest.
The Russian treaty must be alb
rogated ere the adjournment of this
. session of Congress. The people
are aroused as they never have been
before over the question, and the
time for action has come.
"There can be no arbitration, no
delay; the matter must De settled
once for all time. and new treaty
arranged in which Russia can find
no loophole to enable her to DIS
eliminate against any class of
American citizens.
We are patient and long-sut-
fering people where the question in
volved does not touch our tenderest
spot-our pocketbooks; but the
awakening has come, and with It a
keen realization of the afYronts We
have sGffored at the hands of gov
eminent notorious for its lack OF
human sympathy.
Freedom of religious belief is
one of the cornerstones of our in
stitutions, and the fathers wrote in
tho federal constitution, that Con-
gress shall make no law respecting
the establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise there.
Of We must maintain this great
principle inviolate forever.
Not the religion, nor the race
OF a person, but his American citl-
zenship is the true test of the treat
ment he shall receive, and the rights
he shall enjoy, at home and abroad.
This is fundamental. We must adj
here to it tenaciously
Russia's affront to us has not
been unlntentional; she has gone
about It boldly, deliberately and
shamelessly. breaking her given
word ignoring the fundamental
principles which mark the relation
ship between nations at peace with
enc another
Diplomatic attempts from tins
to time have failed TO secure from
the Cars government even a prom
Use that it would try to give US less
cause for complaint BY her mac
ton Russia has openly refused to
give the matter any consideration,
confident that Americas financial
ipterests in her country would pre-
ytnt us from taking any radical
step,
Il am in this fight for justice ia