Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-29
VICTIMS OF SIBERIAN
RIGOR SKEPTICAL OF
CZAR'S CLEMENCY
Members of Relief Society
for Political Prisoners Of
Russia Do Not Believe the
News of Promised Am
nesty.

The news that the Car contemplates
the liberation of all political offenders
now confined in the prisons of Russia and
in Siberian exile is being received by Rus
| sian revolutionary refugees in this city
with doubt and distrust.
At meeting of the Relief Society for
! the Political Exiles and Prisoners in Rus
sia, held at Sixth street and Fairmount
| avenue this afternoon the news received
only slight consideration.
1T is impossible to conceive that the
Russian Government, the most despotic
and tyrannical and merciless on earth,
has suddenly realized the evil of it's
ways" said Samuel Zukerman, of Ais
Stiles street, secretary of the society.
THE Russian Government, ever since its
strangling of the manifesto of October
II, 1905, granting the people certain
amount of freedom, has constantly been
seeking the death and destruction OF the
thousands of political prisoners and ex-
lies who have dared to commit the crime
of working for the liberation of their coun-
try from absolutism by peaceful and edu-
cational means. The acts of the Govern
ment. the manner in which these prison.
ers and eXiles are treated would put the
crueltes of the Middle Ages to shame.
seen the evil of its ways and wants to
atone by proclaiming Il general amnesty.
/ believe that this sodnds like n travesty
and a joke-unless the days of miracles
are not yet over. Nothing short of a
miracle, or, perhaps, grave danger, such
as this war holds out, could induce the
Government of the Car to free it's VIC
tins, who for years have been tortured
and mstreated in a way which puts the
Government of the Gear under eternal
condemnation and places the anathemn
of history upon the heads of those re-
sponsble."
ESCAPED FROM SIBERIA.
Mr.. Zukerman, II young man of about
23 recently escaped from Siberia, where,
after being confined in prison. he was
sent into exile to remote point on the
River AnGara, 700 miles from the city of
Krasnoyarsk. lie made his escape one !
year ago, after walking for is days |
through the Siberian wilderness, until he |
reached the city of Yenisseisk, whence, |
..rr being supplied with money by |
friends who had been awaiting him in !
that city. he made his way by train to
Cheliabnsk, in the Ural Mountains. Elud-
ing number of gendarmes who were
sent to recapture him. he finally, after
two months travelling, landed in south
ern Russia, made his way across the
German frontier to a German port and
sailed for America.
Equally as sceptical about the inten-
tions of the Russian Government were
a number of others, former eNiles and
men who have served long terms in ST.
berian prisons, called "katorga." Among
these We're julius Lighter, of 92O North
Sixth street. and Ephraim Lerner, of
his Stiles street.
Lighter, who has undergone an unusual
amount of suffering while in prison and
exile, said that the Russian Government
must be contemplating some other bitter
Joke on the thousands OF unfortunates
who have had the misfortune of falling
INTO It's hands because of their political
1t Is needless to talk about the nten-
lions Of the Russian Government The
government is trying to stIhe the enmity
and opposition Of the Russian people
against the rule of the Car by making
mother promise, which will most prob
Loiy be broken at the nearest opportu-
lity. We have nothing definite to say
'n the matter; only that even il the
tussian Government does free its poll
zeal victims, its act will by no means
.bsolye 1t from the responsibility which
.
md destruction Of scores of thousands I
Il the best sons and daughters Of Rus
ia The Car and his Government will
,ay for their crimes, even il II be with |
heir own heads, The people af Russia, I
I least the intelligent part Of the popu-
alton, have an awful debt to exact from
he despots OF their country. and they
'ill exact II when the time comes 10
% So"
AWFUL RECORD OF CRIME.
Mr.. Lerner, young man who has also
Uttered great deal while confined in
iberia and in exile. was even more Bit :
'r IN his comment on the intentions of n
he Russian Government
Nhatever the Car and his advisers
'ay do In this matter, they cannot free
lelhselSes from the horrible crimes that
,st upon their heads. said L.arncr
w nen the true story OF Russian prisons II
ma the treatment of political prisoners
ee rmes Ea1wn tg tEe world the ,.ord 4