The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-12-28


~ (special)-"since the Cars mani
~ festo of October, 1906 promising lib
erty to the people of Russia over 10000
persons have been sentenced for political
offenses. OF these 5000 weer executed
and more than 10000 thrown into the hor-
rble 'Katorga (hard labor prisons.
Packed in overerowded rooms which
are devoid of the simplest hygienic equip
ment and cleanliness, the underfed pris-
oners are almost deprived of any medical
assistance, and become the victims Of all
kinds of epidemcs. Survy, typhus and
tuberculosis decimate their ranks. In
some prisons the death rate has reached
u per cent. Very often these prisons
become a center of infection for the sur
rounding district. Those sentenced TO
long terms of imprisonment, chiefly politi-
calls are in actual fact condemned to
cruel form Of slow death.
Most tragic is the fate of those tens
of thousands of political exilcs of whom
most are deported to Siberia without trial
but simply by the arbitrary action of tine
administra ton. Most of them are sent to
{, frozen waste, where. unable to obtain
the necessary food, clothing and housing.
they perish.
The above is a quotation from the re-
cent international protest against tf'
treatment of political prisoners in Russia
signed by many of the most prominent
men in France. Germany and England
In the minds of many people such state
ments SAVIOR of exaggeration, and a receit
issue of prominent English quarterly
actually printed a long article to prove
that Siberia is nothing worse than an
other Canada plus several advantages
which the dominion would be delighteu
to possess. =.
Do prison horrors really exist in Russia,
or are the thousands of otherwise well
informed men and women who claim so
simply soft hearted and soft Drained
humanitadians, led astray by designing
ogitators In the Cars realms? Listen to
this fresh crop of prison reports. They
have all been In the Russian press during
the past few weeks. The editors of the
papers hold enogh to print them are do
ing time, or paying fines. The Russian
government is so fed up with these
printed illusions to horrors that it has
drawn up plan for stricter laws against
newspaper men. Minister Maslakoff, who
succeeded the assassinated Stolypin, nov
says he will put editors in prison without
option pe paying fines and see tha.
dummy editors (who do the time whilst
the real editors run the papers) shall be
no more. The dun1a Is expected to make
these new regulations law very SOON
Meantime, a few facts will creep out
AT the prison of tho ancient city or
Czenstochova. where IS the famous Pau
line monastery and tho miraculou picture
of tho Virgin. no less than 80 prisoners
are even now being kept on bread water
and frequent applications of the rod. The
tailers In charge are nearly always drunl..
but do not let their victims drink even
water. Tho cells defy description, s.
filthy Is their state. This sort of thing
has been going on since the mems arrest.
on October 4, when they were taken up
for joining in Il strike az protest
against the Beiliss trial at Kicff. One OF
the victims managed to pass n note
through the bars to an acduaintanoa, who
gave 1t TO skoheleff. socialist Dunn mcili-
Der. Skobslen sent complaints to Min
ister MalslakoT. whose only answer. s.,
Inr, has been 10 fine papers that reported
skobeleffs action.
There are now between 5000 and 1000 ex-
ileH In Siberia. under direct police SUPER
Vision. Thase do rot include the prison
inmates. The government has sent them
TO the very worst part of Siberia for va
riouH political offensos, sueh az keepins
schools where children and grown-urs
we're taught, for holding political meet