Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1916-06-14
SINCE FRONT DOOR IS CLOSED,
Russian jew Immigrants Now Conn
ing In at the Back.

Seattle, Wash, June 9.--Since
July Is last, $50 Jewish young men
and a dozen Jewish women and chill
dren, refugees from Russian Poland
and the other portions Of Western
Russia over-run by the German ar
mics have arrived in Seattle after
journeying through Siberia by rail
road and crossing the Pacific on
steamers, mostly Japanese freight
ers. A few have come directly from
VladiSostok, but most of them took
steamer in Yokohoma and Kobe.
Many Of the young men are gradu-
ates of the Gymnasia, which ranks
with the American State university.
All are well educated and belonged
to the better classes in their native
land. Some were wealthy.
When it became apparent to the
Russians that they could not hold
Warsaw they shipped" out by rail
machinery and supplies that would
have been OF benefit to the Germans,
and they sent away the young Poles,
Jews and Russians whom they feared
the Germans might impress as sold
ierS. These young men received from
the Russian commanders slips of pa
per emitting them to travel eastward
on the Russian railways without
charge. The Russian and Polish
young men stopped their travel when
they reached districts which were not
threatened with German invasion. but
many Jewish youths continued to
travel eastward. They rode free
when ~ y could, but often they were
Obliged to pay the trainmen.
The stories the immigrants tell Of
their adventures in crossing Euro
nl III inh
interesting. Those who were we'll
provided with money arrived in
Vladivostok first, made their way to
Japan by freight or passenger steam
ers and in time, arrived in Seattle
Here those who had the required
sum Of money entered without him
drance, but those who were without
funds were ordered deported. The
detained immigrants made their
plight known to the public-spirited
Jews in Seattle, who assisted the
young men to appeal to Washington
against the order Of deportation.
Then. when the department Of labor
said the men would be admitted if
bonds were furnished, guaranteeing
that they would not become public
charges, these Seattle Jews provided
the bonds, and they are still signing
bonds
When it was seen that the influx of
young Jews probably would not end
while the war lasted, the Seattle Jews
appealed to the Hebrew Sheltering
Aid Society OF America. which has
headquarters in New York. This So
ciety assumed part of the buruG- Of
caring for the refugees. 1t provided
funds, arranged to handle the cases
OF the first class immigrants at Wash
ington and assisted in the organiZa-
tion Of branch of the society in
Seattle, with Leo S. Schwabacher as
president.
The Seattle branch looks after the
refugees from the hour they arrive
unit! they are self-supporting. 1t has
leased the former residence of Uni
ted States Senator Squires here and
equipped it as home for the immi-
grants. Those who come with poclI-
cts full OF Russian roubles need only
to have their bills exchanged for
American money and to be assisted to
learn the language and communicate
with friends and relatives in the
United States, If they have any. The
men without money are instructed in
the English language and in Ameri-
can citizenship. Most of the immi-
grants do comomn labor at first. Some
have become merchants in a small
way. Others have been able to get
work at their own professions, and a
few have done so we'll that they have
sent to Russia for relatives.
These young men are now arriving
in Seattle at the rate Of 100 a month
One hundred and fifty, it is said, are
now in Japan seeking passage to the
United States.
Abraham Spring, an attorney who
is directing the work of the Seattle
Aid Society, in speaking Of the immi-
grants, said: "This immigration is
the most remarkable and most valu-
able that has eyer come to America.
These immigrants are the first Eu-
ropeans to come to our shores by way
of Asia. They are in perfect health,
highly educated and intend to be"
come American citizens. This society
wishes the immigrants not to gather
in one quarter Of the city, and we
located our new home long way
from the Jewish settlement that has
lately grown up here.
WINTHROP COLLEGE