The Denver Jewish news., 1925-06-25

4oiileI CuTttTS as lntTCHtihlS, pEOltS7
sionals and petty traders, and become
farmers, according to David A. Brown,
president of the General Necessities
Corporation, of Detroit, who arrived
on the "Mauretania". Mr.. Borwn, who
was the chairman of the National
Appeal for S14,OOO,OOO" for Jewish
war sufferers, conducted in this coun-
try in 1929 in which about Sl7,-
100000 was raised, visited Russia
recently, as the last lap Of six
months trip around the world, during
which he visited, among other coun-
tries, New Zealand, Australia, South
Africa, China, and Palestine.
"There is n tremendous movement
back to the soil on the part of Rus
sian Jewry," Mr. Brown declared. at
is so vast as to be historic in char
acter. A whole people is transform
ing itself both physically and psy-
chologically. They are being forced
to it by the social upheaval following
the war, and by the anti-capitalistic
regime in Russia which is setting up
state monopolies, encouraging the
founding Of consumers cooperatiVes,
and levying onerous taxes on mer-
chants and traders. All of these
factors have conspired to cut the very
foundations of existence from under
the feet of Russian Jewry, and render
them pitifully destitute in spite of the
millions of dollars that were poured
into that country since the outbreak
Of the war, by their American core
ligionists.
Russian laws are not directed
against the Jews, as such, but are part
OF its general anti-capitalistic policy.
But the Jews are the chief sufferers
from these laws, because the bulk of
them belong to the merchant class.
On the other hand, the Russian Gov
ernment looks with favor on the idea
Of Jews settling on the land, and is
cooperating as far as lies within its
power. 1t has gone so far as to set
aside large tracts of land in the
Crimea for specific Jewish settlement.
while l was in Russia investi-
gated the work of settling Jews on
the soil which is being carried on by
Dr. Joseph A. Rosen, an American
citizen, who is the chief representa-
tive in that country of the Joint Dis
tribution committee or 'Agro-Joint' as
it is called there. 1t is excellent work,
we'll planned and well executed. About
10000 Jews are already settled on the
land, and the American tractors,
American seeds, and American in
structors, are doing wonders in the
way of making this settlement sue
cessful and permanent. Credit IA
cilities established by the Joint Dis
tribution committee enabling these
new Jewish farmers to obtain loans
for the erection of houses and barns,
for the purchase of implements, seeds
and livestock, are a tremendous factor
in this new settlement. Over 10000
acres have already been cultivated by
the Jewish farmers in the section l
visited, and this will be increased to
100000 acres shortly.
"The work of American Jewry in
helping to place the Jews of Russia
on the land is one of the most con-
structive pieces of social work accom-
plished during the ten years of Eu-
ropean relief" added Mr.. Brown.
Through no fault of his own, the
Russian Jew finds himself out of
economic balance and in his desire to
provide for himself and family, grasps
ut the opportunity presented of going
on the land in true pioneer style.
81 have Travelled by motor thou
sands of miles through the old and
new Jewish colonies and these people
prevented from owning or working
land during Tzarist days, give evil
dence of real love for the land.
cover twenty-five thousand fam
lies have already made application
to our organization for land settle,
ment, and it is only a question OF
having sufficient funds to make ii
possible. The Russian Government
looks with favor on this movement
and has apr 'opriated considerable
money to help in the work. 1t is the
Governments contention that it is
through no fault Of the Jewish popu.
lation that the land had been denied
them during the years of Tzarist Gov.
ernment, and it is only justice to the
Jew to help him in his endeavor tc
become an agriculturist.
an my trip through the Ukraine