The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-05-14
IE WISH REFUGEES
COME TO AMERICA
From Russian Poland and Por.
tons of Western Russian
0verrun by Armies.
SEATTLE. WashlnEton, Man /:

SEATTLE. Washington, May 49,
Since July 15, last. $50 Jewish young
men and dozen Jewish women and
children. refugees from Russian Pc.
land and the other portions OF
western Russia overrun by the Ger
man armies have arrived in Seattle
inter journeyinE through Siberia by
railroad and crossing the Pacific ON
steamers, mostly Japanese freighters.
A few have come directly from Vladi-
Yostok, but most OF them took steam
or in Yokohama and Kobe. Many of
the young men are. graduates 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 We're wealthy
When II became apparent TO tho
Russians that they could not hold
Warsaw they shipped out by rail ma
chinery and supplies that would have
been of benefit to the Germans and
they sent away the young Poles,
the Germans might impress as sol
diors. These young men received
OF paper emitting them to travel
from the Russian commanders slips
eastward on the Russian railways
without charge. Tho Russian and
Polish young men stopped their trav-
81 when they reached districts which
we're not threatened with German In
vasIon. but many Jewish youths con-
tinued to travel eastward. They
rode free when they could, but often
they were obliged to pay the train
men.
Interesting Stories.
The stories the immigrants tell OF
their adventures In crossing Euro
pean Russia and Siberia are highly
interesting. Those who were we'll
provided with money arrived in Vlad-
ivostok first, made their way to ia
pan by freight or passenger steamers
and, in time, arrived in Seattle. Here
those who had the required sum OF
money entered without hlndrance.
but those who were without funds
were ordered deported. The dctain-
cd immigrants made their plight
known to philosophical Jews in
Seattle. who assisted the young men
to appeal to Washington against the
order of deportation. Then, when
the department of labor said tho
young men would be admitted II
bonds were furnished, guaranteeing
that they would not become public
1t. aH
the bonds and they are still signing
bonds.
When 1t was seen that the influx
of young Jews probably would not
end while the war lasted, the Seattle
Jews appealed to the Hebrew Shelter
ing Aid Society OF America, which
has headquarters in New York. This
society assumed part OF the burden
of caring for the refugees. 1t pro
vided funds, arranged to handle the
cases of the moneyless immigrants
at Washington and assisted in the
organization of branch Of the SO
ciety in Seattle, with Leo S. Schmab,
acher as president.
Are Cared For.
The Seattle branch looks after the
refugees from the hour they arrive
until they are self-supporting. 1t has
leased the former residence OF Unit
ed States Senator Squlres here and
equipped 1t as a home for the immi-
grants. Those who come with pock-
cts full OF Russian rubles need only
10 have their bills exchanged for
American money and to be assisted
to learn the language and communi-
cate with friends and relatives in
the United States II they have any.
The men without money are instruct
ed in the English language>and in
American citizenship. Most of the
immigrants do common labor at first.
Some have become merchants In a
small way. Others have been able
to get work at their own professions,
and few have done SO well that they
have sent to Russia for relatives.
These young men are now arriving
in Seattle at the rate Of 100 month,
One hundred and fifty, 1t 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 valua-
BILE that has ever come to America.
These immigrants are the first Euro
peans to come to our shores by way
OF Asia. They are in perfect health,
highly educated and intend to be-
come American citizens. This So
ciety 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.