The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-07-05
RUSSIAN COSSACKS IDEAL MEN FOR AMERICAN FARM
John G. Uhrlaub Says
Literacy Test Would
Stop Strea am of
immigration Of These
Industrious Peasants
Who, He Believes,
Could Be Put to Good
Use Here---How They
Live in Russia

q HoULD the literacy test for immi-
grants be adopted 1t would. ac-
~ cording to John G. Uhrlaub. who
recently returned from tour
through portions of Russia. prevent
scores of thousands of desirable Cos
sacks from becoming American citizens
in future. Mr.. Uhraub thinks the Cos
sack is a very much misunderstood in
dividual. so far as the average American
Is concerned.
I'm my opinion" he said in discussing
the matter for readers Of THE SUNDAY
SUN, "it would be a great mistake to
exclude otherwise desirable people sim
ply because they cannot read and write.
II we had done that in past years,
where would we be now as a nation?
Who would have performed the enor-
nous amount Of heavy toll which has
been necessary in conquering the physi-
cal problems of this country? Why, one
Of the Presidents Of the United States,
Andrew Johnson, 1t is said. did not learn
to write until after he was married.
For generations We have welcomed
men and women from all over Europe.
regardless Of their ability in reading
and writing. Not literacy. but character
should be the test. this to includ,, of
course. a mental and physical condition
that Is normal.
II am especially interested in this
phase of the matter, because already
has set in toward this country stream
Of immigration which | should like to
see continued, that of a race OF strong,
forceful, hard working men, the Cos
sacks. IL is not generally known. l be-
l!eve. that these are of two classes, the
Don CoSsacks, living along ;he river OF
that name. and the Dneiper Cossacks.
They are tall. strong. hearty fell
lows accustomed to the hardest kind Of
work. familiar with agricultural conCi-
tions corresponding to those in the
Northwest. versed especially in wheat
growing and breeding cattle. Most OF
those who would come here have lived
for generations in a country like that of
our rolling prairies. They are frugal,
industrious, and as a rule have large
families. 1t not being unusual to find a
household where there are a round dozen
or even fifteen children.
ALREADY many of these fellows ha
settled along the 500 line, between st.
Paul and Winnipeg. and l have seen
the progress they have made there in
a comparatively few years 1t was not
long ago that the Cossacks began to
migration was owing to a curious and
interesting circumstance.
Under Peter the Great and Catherine
II. enormous grants of land were made,
with certain restrictions to each of the
two classes Of Cossacks. Communities
were established and miles of land were
given to them. but to each community
as a whole, not to any Of the individuals.
Then by a system of allotment every
few years the fields We're divided or
subdivided among the peasants, who
were not allowed to own the land. but
merely TO till 1t. They had the right to
grow crops and make what living they
could. but the community alone held
title To the real estate itself.
Under these restrictions the Cossack,
barring very exceptional cases. was
never able 10 get far enough along in