THE DOUKHOBORS

Evening Star, Issue 20312, 22 October 1929, Page 6

THE DOUKHOBORS

CANADA'S PEACEFUL REBELS MORE THAN 100 lIHSOHED UNDRESSED IN STREET. Resorting to nude parades after having burned schools in opposition to sending their children to school, more than 100 Doukhohors—members of a peculiar religious sect which emigrated to Canada in 1916 —have defied the Canadian Government, with the result that they have each been sentenced to serve six months in a penitentiary for indecent exposure. Of all the immigration problems with which the Government has had to contend, that of the rebellions Doukhohors is proving the most delicate. Stncu vegetarians, residing in several colonies in British Columbia and Saskatchewan under a rigid community system, they have flatly refused to send their children to school, asserting that they would he taught to glorify war and to kill.” Killing of anything is abhorrent to a Doukhobor, which to a large extent accounts for his vegetarianism. There are no cows, sheep, or chickens on the Doukhobor colonies. SUCCESSFUL FARMERS. Skilled farmers and highly industrious, they have established in southern British Columbia , splendid fruit ranches, sawmills, and jam factories. The men do the harder tasks in connection with fruit-growing; the women grow all tho vegetables, and the children are employed to pick the fruit and to work in the jam factories. At Brilliant, 8.C., they purchased from the Provincial Government when they first arrived a large section of land, which had been generally _ regarded as worthless from an agricultural standpoint. But the Doukhohors cleared the tract by remarkable industry under the communal system, built roads and bridges, and made their fruit ranches the envy of growers. Under the rule of Peter Veregin, “King of the Doukhohors,” who, after a stormy career in Russia under the Tsar, had come to Canada with the immigrants, they prospered and lived peaceably enough. But since the mysterious death of Veregin a few years ago, through a bomb explosion aboard a train, the Doukhobor colonies have been seething with discontent. A son of Veregin was brought from Russia and named to rule the colonies. This in itself created some dissension, as not a few Doukhohors favoured the claims of Anascrasia, tho dead leader’s widow, ns his successor. REVOLT AGAINST LEADER. Determined to force' tho Doukhohors to send their children to school, the Provincial Government prosecuted several parents, and heavy fines were imposed. in every case they refused to pay, and were imprisoned as an alternative. Then came tho mysterious burning of no less than ton schools. The Government declared that tho schools would be rebuilt, and the cost charged against Doukhobor lands as taxes. Peter Veregin, jun., tho 'new loader, openly deplored tho burning of the schools, urged his people to send their children to school, and assured the Government that the school law would be obeyed. Shortly afterwards a section of the colonists, including more than 300 heads of families, revolted against Veregin’s rule; another school was burnt; three suspects were arrested, and then followed the demonstrative tactics which have proven characteristic to the sect. MARCHED TO CENTRE OF CITY, Declaring that God wanted them to live just as they had been born, and chanting hymns in Russian, the rebellious faction of the sect which had been driven from tho Brilliant community by Voregin began to march on Nelson, where tho three suspects were imprisoned. Absolutely opposed to violence of any kind, they planncl, not an attempt to release their gaoled brethren, but a demonstration of religious frenzy outside the goal. Nelson police met the marchers outside the city and warned them that they would not be allowed to enter. For several days the demonstrators camped by the" roadside, existing on raw vegetables which they carried with them. Eventually, by a ruse, they eluded the police guards, reached the centre of the city, and, when confronted by firemen with hose laid, policemen, and massed citizens, they all—men. women, and children, more than 100 of them —disrobed on the street.

By use of the fire hose many were forced to don their clothing, while others were wrapped in auto blankets or any other covering that offered itself, and all were thrust into motor cars and driven to the police cells. _ All were sentenced to prison terms of six months, which they arc now serving. Convoyed to Vancouver from Nelson on a special train, the Doukhobors gave their guards ho trouble, spending their time mainly in chanting Russian hymns.

NUDE PARADES ELSEWHERE. At Canora. Saskatchewan, three days later, the Nelson demonstration was duplicated, with the result that there also fifty-nine Doukhobors were imprisoned for indecent exposure through the holding of nude parades, and ninety-six were held in police barracks until they agreed to cease their demonstrations, and wore permitted to return to their wheat farms. The Doukhobors have been too Jong in Canada to bo deported under the Aliens Act. In addition, even if they were deported, it is extremely doubtful if, after the experiences in Canada, any. other country would admit them. In an effort to enforce compliance with school laws, the British Columbia Government has taken six children away from parents and placed them in provincial child welfare institutions, with the understanding that they will bo returned to their parents when the latter agree to obey the school laws.