The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-01
KAHN ON THE RUSSIAN SITUATION

KAHN ON THE RUSSIAN SITUATION.
Representative Julius Kahn OF Cali
fornia, was the principal speaker last
night at the watchniEht celebration OF
Rimmon Lodge. B'nai Birth. held In
the Sunday school room of Both
Ahahnh Synagogue. The main part OF
his eloquent address dealt with tho
conditions In Russia. which led to the
recent abrogntion OF our treaty with
Russia on account Of the unreason-
able and indcfensihlc discrimins ton
made by the Russian government
against the American citizens OF Jew
ish faith. II was graphic picture
that this gifted jewish law-malser
drew-a picture OF the thorny- path OF
the religious martyr. of the over
whelminE sorrows ana the gricvous
wrongs OF the jewish people in Rus
STA, who have done no evil and whose
innocent blood cries out against the
cruelty and the barbarity OF an inFa
nous government. There was revealed
the story of the preconceived plots
against nroftendinG Jews and their
slaughter like cattle by the armed as
sussins OF an atavistic crown With
Machiarcliian ingenuity, said Mr..
Kahn the great body of tho Jews are
compelled 10 I've in that part of Rus
STA known as the "palc," tho very
section mos, exposed 10 the sword of
the invader anu the fiery scourge Of
the foe
In View OF tho atrocious harbarities
which have been heapcd upon the
Russian Jew, Mr.. Kahn said very
truly that II is unimaginabla that the
Russian lew should even want to live
again in Russia. The Russian govern
ment advances AS reason for it's
position against jewish passports the
contention that the Jew wishes to
come back, under cloak of tho pass
port, and take up his residence anew
I'm tie old country. The very condi.
lions which made him an exile would
prevent him from yielding his Ameri-
can citizenship by Russian residence.
no. the Russian Jew wishes a passport
back TO the land of his fathers simply
because he wishes to see the old folk 5
at home his aged father or mother,
his brother Or sister. his old neigh
bors. lie goes back TO offer a prayer
over the grave of his loved ones or 10
do some kind and neiGhborly act OF
charity. Mr.. Kahn told about q Rus-
IL >. IF,,
20 back FOR Tits reason alone: when
this Jew had been n lad in Russia.
the rich people on Fridays Went 70 the
markets carly and bought up all the
/ flslt, SO that the poor people could get
! none and Ii WAS the ambition OF the
! ricn :nan wlu had been that bov TO
. 80 back and buy all the lsh on q Fri
! day, so that once IN their lives tho
| Jewish peasants could have fish ahead
/ % the purse proud. Little things like
I these. which affect in no way the RUS
/ sian government. are the sole objects
! Of The Eussian Jews desire for RETURN.
! The Russians argue that Tie United
! states prohibits the immigration here
! OF certain classes Of undesirable PEG
! plo--Asiatics and Oricntals-and that.
} such being the case. Russia has an
| equal right to close It's doors to a class
! which II considers undesirable AIR
Kahn showed that the motive of the
United States in preventing the migra
ton OF coolies and like people is
wholly economlc-thesc people pro
vide such cheap labor that American
labor would be deprived OF chance
| 10 earn decent and honest living.
! Not for racial or religious reasons
does this nation bar certain classes;
Russiass reason is racial and religious.
AS. Dr.. Caiisch added in what Nc
called ''postscript to Mr. Kahn's
address. by the abrogat.on Of the
treaty with Russia tho republic mas