Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-07-14
HARD ON THE JEWS
Their Plight in Russia Now
Worse Than Ever, Says
Author Bernstein.
CAR HELPS THE ATTACKS
He Is Declared TO Be in Sympathy
With the Attitude of the
Anti-Semitic Press.

Herman Bernstein, the author, has
Just returned from a visit to Russia
to study the condition Of the Jews in
that country. He said the condition Of
the Jews there now is worse than ever
before.
Mr.. Bernstein said that the entire
Russian press. headed by the Nova
vremya, the semiofHcial organ, is as
sailing the Jews. 1t is charging that
the recent murder Of a Christian was
done by Jews for ritualistic purposes
in celebration of the Passover.
The purpose" he said, is to Offset
proposed liberal legislation IN the
douma. such, for instance, as the re-
movaI of the pale Of settlement-that
is, the extension of permission TO Jews
to live in provinces outside of the IF
teen to which they are now restricted.
The newspapers say that If the Jews
were permitted to live outside the pale
the HIVES Of Christians in those prov
inces opened to Jewish settlement
would not be safe.
Such publications and all discus
sions of Talmudic laws were prohibit
ed in the reign of Nicholas, but now
the reactionary newspapers are given
free rein. The old libel of murders
OF Christians perpetrated by Jews for
ically disproved and disproved recent
~, but is still persisted in.
LIBERTIES DWINDLING.
"Ail the liberties extended TO the
Jewish race under the constitution of
1905 have been practically nullified or
abridged through inaction, subterfuge,
trickery and the revival of old and for
gotten laws. Russia is now building
up a second generation of illiterate
Jews, a dangerous proceeding. She
has her parliament and her constitu-
ton. but they accomplish nothing.
"The reformers of 1905 introduced
the public school system for all. but
now only 8 per cent Of the Jewish
children are permitted to attend the
public schools. Until recently Jewish
young men could study outside and
take the final examinations of the
gymnasiums for entrance to the uni
versities, the passing Of which would
also entitle them TO live outside the
pale Under an old law just raked up
the number is limited to or 10 per
cent of the Russians taking the final
examinations. Thus Russia is barring
her Jewish youth from a university
education.
Russia gives passports quite freely
10 those Jews who patronize Russian
steamship lines. The trouble is to get
into the interior of Russia. The Rus
sian consulates in America do not wise
the passports of Jews. Three years
ago the Russian consul in New York
vised my passport because he thought
| would write something to please the
Russian government. When l Went
back the second year he inserted IN my
application blank, What is your re-
lisionT
Il said that, being in America, l was
not obliged to answer.
He said. Don't you know that Jews
are not allowed to enter Russia?
But you let me through last year
l replied.
He then told the vice consul in Rus
sian that he supposed they WOULD nave
to wise my passport.
II had no difficulty in visiting KO-
kovtzoff minister of finance; Count
Witte. member of the council of the
empire, and Ambassador ROckhiu-
Count White said the government
would not be prepared to ameliorate
the condition of the Jew for years.
The Russian government will do moth
ing for the American Jews until the
Jewish question is settled in Russia.
There is no truth in the report that
Russia has made concessions to Amer
lea in the matter of passports All
the protests, resolutions and represen-
of this government were ig
nored.
Il think the prejudice against the jew
Is chiefly in the mind of the car. Tale
bearers find in the car a ready listen
er. They tell him that the Jews breed
revolution l know that the car per
sonally has been helping the anti-Jew-
ish press and has been giving money
to its vilest publications"