The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-03-20
SEES new. ERAFOR
HEDREWSN RUSSIA
Simon Wolf Predicts Republic
will Be Final Outcome of
Russian Revolt. +.

THE greatest thing Of the century.
should not wonder II Russia proves
to be . republic, and that q great
number of Hebrews living In the
United States. those who have not
become absolutely In love with the
country, viii go back.
This was the statement Of Simon
Wolf. one of the leading Hebrews Of
Washington, to . Times reporter this
morning.
Mr.. Wolf, who Is past eighty years
old, has spent more than nifty years
In the campaign for Hebrew freedom
In Russia He expressed the opinion
that nothing In this war will contrib
ute more to bringing about q speedy
peace than this great movement In
Russia
Making Of Citizens.
1T will make citizens out Of sub
Jscts," said Mr.. Wolf, his eyes shin
ing as he thought of the new free
dom for Hebrews. at will give them
an equal chance with their neighbors.
It will throw open the pale and al
low them liberties in all parts Of the
empire, and not restrict them to the
Ghetto. It will give them the same
degree of opportunity to which every
man IL entitled.
'It will materially lessen immiKra-
ton to this country. The immigra-
tion from Russia to the United States
has been an enforced immigration.
and not voluntary. 1t Is natural
that they would want to stay there
L.. DW,. a., haF ~
own language and have their own
customs.
= This IL something for which I
have worked for more than fifty
years. I advocated abrogation of the
treaty between Russia and this coun
try, and have helped obtain the re-
peal OF many measures which were
so cruel to the Jews.
"a large number OF the people in
connection with. this reform are
Jews, and are Intelligent, scholarly.
and many of the members of the
Duma are members Of the Jewish
faith.
Hebrews Faithful Soldiers.
There are no better and more
faithful soldiers In the army of Rus
STA than the Jews, even though they
are oppressed.
THE whole world Is free over
there for once, and everybody calls
everybody friend: friend mechanic,
friend soldier, and so on. II Is the
greatest and the most human thing
in the century.
mo, I do not believe that this will
mean the establishment of another
Jerusalem. or anything of that kind.
/ believe that every country In the
world should be q Jerusalem.
The underlying reason Is the luke
recently shown in the war
by the autocracy. The liberal ele-
ment OF Russia has been in sympathy |
with the democratic principles OF |
France, ana Italy.
THE moment the election and con-
vening OF the Duma was conceded the |
was doomed, because revo- |
lutions never go backward There Is |
one significant thing that I cannot |
too much: that 1000, 900 |
Russians and Roumanian Jews In this |
largely forced to immigrate,
have contributed to the education of |
their relatives at home. This, to my |
mind, Is the biggest factor OF the new |
revolution.
Responsibility For Jews.
There will be representative Jews
in responsible positions there as
everywhere else. and they will do
their duty there as everywhere else,
in the best interests OF the state.
This should have come long ago. |
Twenty years ago a representative of /
the Russian government in this coun-
try said to me that the great fear
the Russian government had was of |
the peasant people.
"Of course. the Jews will help in /
every way possible. Already we have
sent s25,0o0.Oo0 to the Jews in Eu-
rope, and intend to 81 ID SIS. 900, 900
more this year. As citizsns of the
United States. we have no right to
anything but sympathy for these
people But II Congress would pass
\ resolution recognising the new re-
public, the Jews would be those who
would be the most joyful"