Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-10-26
UkRAINIANS REGARD
AMERICA AS SAVIOR
Believe United States Will Help
Them Gain Independence from
Rule of IntcrIopcrs.

'S 'hIdIHIdHS OF RUSSIA are
race of many contradictions. They
are poor people in a rich country.
Although strong and healthy. they
have a high deatH rate. They are
artistically inclined, but often il
literate. Tey have the firmest belief
IN popular government. but until re-
Gently they were wholly unrepre-
sented in the Russian parliament
They have a rich and distinctive lit
erature. but the Russian government
forbade the use OF the UkTainian Lam
guage even, in the common schools {
They are good farmers and garden
ers, but they have no soil to till. Be-
fore the war they produced one-half
or Russia's iron and coal, but II was
all owned by, foreign capital
The reason for these inconsistent
cies is not hard TO find. Ukraine has
been an appendage OF the Russian
crown ever since the great rebslllon
OF the Ukrainian Cossacks in 1854
and since the partitions of Poland
which succeeded II. And since about
two months after the treaty OF Brest-
Litovsk II has been ruled by Ger
man generals. AS a result the Tx
rainians know the meaning of op-
preston.
Their Trust In America.
The Ukrainians were among the
first of the Slavs in this country to
pin their faith to America as the
great friend of subject and dependent
peoples in Europe. As long ago as
1915. they were sending appeals to
fresidenr Wilson and to the press in
behalf not only of Ukraine. but Po-
lana RnhaV,,ia
oppressed nationallties. 1t was nat
ural for the Ukrainians to turn hope
fully to this country. because they
are absolutely antimonarchist and
very democratic in spirit. Their ira
ditions and their whole history have
made them. one Of the most demo-
cratic peoples OF eastern Europe
They wefe tho first among the Slavs
to rebel against serfdom and to strive
for republican institutions.
Until 1917. the Ckrainians were
scarcely known to the American peo-
pie. even by name. although they
number 10000, 900 in Russia. About
100000 of their kin tthe Ruthen-
ians) have been the subjects Of tho
Hapsburgs. More than 1000. 900 are
in the province OF eastern Galicia.
100000 are in Bukovina, and about
half million are in northern Hun
gary The Austrian constitution
promised the Ruthenians liberty and
equality before the law, but to a
large degree this was an empty
promise. Education In the schools
was mostly directed toward the end
of denationalizlng them. Their To-
cal administration was'in the hands
of narrow and powerful caste
hiRh M -
Ruthenians as possible from voting
and exclude them from the control
OF their own affairs. A far-reachinS
system OF electoral corruption and
gerymandering made II impossible for
so per cent of the population to gain
more than 10 per cent OF the seats in
the legislature. In fact, the Aus
trian officials have treated the Ruth
enians as foreign interlopers. II Is
because OF this that the Ukrainians
wish for the dissolution Of Austria
Hungary and an organization OF ~
free peoples under their own rule.
Such reorganization will result In
the racially allied Ukrain-
ians and Ruthenians.
Immigration to United States.
The oppression in Europe has
driven many Ckrainians and Ruth
enians to this country, II Is said
that there are about half a million
tkrainians In the United States, but
the exact number cannot be deter
mined, since many OF those who
came from Austria In earlier DAYS
were identified with the Poles, while
those from Russia were usually re-
corded as Russians However, they
sharply differ from both of their
Slavic neighbors and constitute dis
tinct nationality in language, charac-
ter, and political aspirations.
The largest Ukrainian colonies In
America are around Boston, Hart-
ford, Conn. New York, Philadelphia:
Pittsburgh. the mining towns ot
Pennsylvania. Buffalo, CleSeland'
Detroit, Chicago 'and Minneapolis.
There is a colony Of them in the city
Of Ukraine, North Dakota. Large
are to be found In the
Canadian northwest. where they re-
tain their own culture and customs
to a large degree. and have plenty OF
good farm land on which to exercise
heir agricultural skill.
In the United States. the Ukrain-
ans are usually laborers. miners,
factory workers. and artisans. They
are all eager to learn. They are so
in political sciences ana
history that great crowds OF them
ire willing to go, after a hard day
)f work, to sit in the evening in
packed hall and listen to a lecture
On the French revolution, politicai
economy. or even Roman history
Last year the Ukrainian federation
an extensive system Of lee.
ures during the winter throughout
he Ckraihian settlements OF ths
This venture Is to be re-
peated again this coming winter.