The Denver Jewish news., 1919-12-03
Terrible Situation Of Po-
lands Jews
ECONOMIC CONDITION INDES-
CRIBABLE : IMMIGRATION Is
ONLY SOLUTION.


The .Israeltiscles Wochenblatt" of
lowing description of the conditions in
Poland, furnished by u man whose
nsme is given merely in the initials
DIR. H. F. probably on the ground
that naming him would bring peril to
the Jews whom he met while in Po-
land. He says:
The most impressive picture Of tire
sid condition of the Jews of Poland
is in the fact that when standing in
line at the office of the distribution
o agencies, there is Jewish and Pol
isl line This is clear evidence of
the bitterness of the antiSemitic feel
ing and of the impossibilty for the
Jews to exist under these conditions.
The whole population is infected with
an implacable hatred of the Jews
which is famed daily in the press.
lcu cannot compare the present sit
uation with the former one existing
under the Russian regime. In those
days anti-Semitism was bred by the
government under the leadership of
IL handful of acitators. representing
the Black Hundred. Now the whole
population is so thoroughly infected
with the anti-Semitic virus that "A cure
seems out of the question. You VIII,
for example, not find in the whole
city of Lemberg one single Pole. either
in the intellgenzia or in tie dregs of
the population who is noe firmly con-
yinced that the Jews poured boiling
water on the Polish troops when they
entered the city.
The economic situation is indescrib-
ably bad. In addition. nothing can be
obtained without brihe. The prevail-
ing corruption has no parallel in the
whole world. and this fact paralyzes
sll activities. The commerce of the
Jews suffers from this condition more
than any other activity. The streets
are crowded with beggars crouching
in groups on the corners. and these
beggars have become experts ut their
business. The leaders of the nation
are engrossed in politics and take no
interest whatsoever in the economic
situation of the people. The ''Bund,'
began of late to take more interest ~
the public kitchen. Relief comes eN-
clusivcly from America. and every po-
litical party uses and squanders 1t to
serve its own purposes.
The situation in eastern Galicia is
the worst of all The country is un-
der military control. Every lieutcn-
ant conducts himself like a ear and
the Jews are made to feel his imper-
ialistic aspirations more than others.
II jew wishes to carry any mer-
cl,andfse from one village to another
he has to have an expert permit
If he wishes to travel. he has to have
n passport. and these are very difficult
for n Jew to obtain. Raids in Jewish
homes are matter of daily occur
renee. The prohibition against the
sale of grain has resulted in an un-
precedented increase in smuggling and
I,roiiteering with fabulous increase
of prices for all commodities. All Jew
ish officials who served under the
on the charge of treason because
they had continued in office during the
Ukrainian administration y jew
travelling by rail is under martyrdom-
Many Jews travel with their faces
swathed in towels in order TO avoid
having their boards pulled out. While
travelling the passengers are searched
any number of times. and one can
easily imagine how gently the Jews
are handled on such an occasion.
When transport or food from
America arrives. half of it is stolen
ON the way. but the Jews to whom the
packages are addressed are compelled
TO sign Il receipt that they received
everything in good order. should one
refuse. he gets nothing at all. The
Jews of Galicia are pining for the day
vhcn they will be permitted to emf
ctate. no matter where. us long us
they can get out Many are looking
towards Russia, where they hope to
bc permitted to exist, rs soon as con-
ditions shall have become settled. All
of them would prefer Palestine. but
they are afraid that they will he I'M
able to make livelihood from the
start Anyone can appreciate their
desire to emicrate who has seen their
inhuman treatment. The Poles have
not the slightest regard for religious
or national sentiment. When labor
is needed they pick the people up in
the streets without regard for age or
condition | saw how Jews were cor
rallied in the streets on Saturday.
were packed into an automobile and