The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-11-17
TTME TO ACT AGAINST RUSSIAN DIS
ELIMINATION.

true craftsmanship dictates that those charged
with the affairs Of government should approach
The discussion and adjustment Of international
Seiations soberiy and with the determination
that they viii both do justice and that they wifi
likewise insist upon having justice done the In
tere<ts committed to their
q No great nation may samefy submit TO in
Justice and discr minaton and retain either it's
sen-respect the respect OF others With this
IN view The Richmond virglnian urges upon the
executive and legislative branches of the United
states government that existing treaty with
the Russian government be abrogated uness and
until the discrimination practced against
Azaex4caa- citizens az the Hebrew faitA-fe dts
ccntinued.
# In 1881 the reactlonary elements in Russia
inaugurated a reign Of terror against the Jewish
DApple.- Thousands OF the have lost their
lives at the hands of fanatical mobs whose
terribie crimes have either been connived at or
ignored by the Russian officials. The Hebrews
ware persecutd in every conceivable fashion and
those who were not slain dispossessed OF
thear property and driven from their homes and
country by the thousands AT the same time the
Russian government began its discrimna ton
Against American citizens OF the Jewish faith.
This people who constitute a large. influential
progr essive and respected element of our popu-
laticn: whose activities touch every department
" our social financial. business and political
structure; who have fought and died for this
their country every battlefield from Bunker
Hill to Santiago. whose attachments compel the
respect Of every right-thinking man--this por-
tton OF citizenship is Disseminated against
And insulted by tho bgoted autocracy at St.
PetersburY.
M Should one OF our prominent Hebrew citizens
desire TO visi, Russia we are advised that he
would be unable even to get his passport sised
~ the Russian embassy consulate, When
m American citizen desires TO visit the domains
" the Car no applies TO his government for a
passport, which document Is evidence that tho
person bearing 1t and therein described il a
citizen OF the United States and is entitled to
the rights and privileges OF American citizen
ship He then takes this passport to the Rus
sian consul for his visa. which is equivalent TO
\ certificate from such official that the person
bearing il is fit person to enter Russia
And here is where the discrimination comes
The citizen must FIJI out 81 blank for the Rus
aian representative stating his religion. IL he
cert1es that he is Jew his passport Will not
he vised OF course of great political in
nuence get by but no Jewish American
with three grains Of sef-respect is willing to
avail himself of privilege OF which equally
deserving but less influential brethren Of his
faith unjustly deprived
For a generation Russia has been procrasti-
mating as to this question. She has repeatedly
promised set foot such reforms will
cause this discrimination TO In every
4 instance she has deceived the American govern.
\ ment- In the name Of common sense and com
mon justice our government must now act Tina
in this twentieth century of enlightenment a
clean. upright, decent man should be discrimi-
mated against because he does not accept our
own tenets is well-ngh unthinkable Such
Digotry is from the devil though parading in
the of religion. II is perhaps the privilege
OF Russia to continue to live in the dark ages
AZ it would. but America has no right to submit
tamely to a discrimination Of this character.
Early congressional action should be pressed
In the matter
its literature sent out discussing the question
says:
A IF International congresses were held In
Russia many of the most distinguished Ameri-
scholars could not attend for the simple
reason that their American passports would not
he good enough. The Russian consuls would
refuse 10 wise such passports
Thus for instance. pr. Albert Abraham
.Adsehelsen. a ~n1asiaz,, ~Jea,. citizen OF the
United States the only American who ever
awarded the Nobel prize for scientific attain
meHlS Eoul0 mol go 10 Russia. ne Ut eatf rights
would not protect him. Russia would refuse TO
wise his American passport.
Jacques Loeb, the distinguished scientist !;
Simon T7exner. the president of the Rockefeller
Institute; Samuel James Meltzer. the great
Il american Psychologist. and many other scientists
~ note who rendering great services To all
mankind, would not be admitted to Russia. even
Y though they came with their American pass
ports. The Russian consul would not wise their
passports. .,..
2 III David Warheld were invited to give a
\ serfes OF performances at st Petersburg. just as
" Russian players come 10 New York, he could not
pass the frontier. His American passport would
NOT help him. III David Beasco were invited ia,
\ etAge q production in Russia his America n
u cttixenship could not aid him to enter Russia
q simply because Russia chooses to violate her
Streaky with the United States. by discrirninat-
II Ing against Americans religious grounds
within few months. Oscar Hammerstein. de-
A Mf1ng to visit St Petersburg in connection with
\ 6iS new operate enterprise In London. was re-
4uoed passport because he is Jew.
M Louis J. Horowitx a naturalzed American