RUSSIAN JEWISH REVOLUTIONISTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7998, 29 April 1904, Page 2

RUSSIAN JEWISH REVOLUTIONISTS.

BUSY CIRCLES IN NEW YORK.

Among the Ilussian Jews in New York are several circles of the General Jewish. Workingmon's League of Russia and Poland, generally known as the Bund, and since tie beginning of the war in the Orient they have shown renewed interest in revolutionary projects dn Russia.

There are also many East Side Russian Jews who hwve relations and' friends engaged in the revolutionary work in Russia, and letters are constantly passing between them. Tha correspondence is carried on mainly through third parties. Ever since the war oloud began, to grow black these letters have increased in number.

Often a letter from Russia sent by a friend of the writer to a friend in New York who is not down in the black list of the Russian police first tells the story of the arrest and imprisonment or exile of some revolutionist. Then the news is spread and the friends and relatives of the prisoner at oncer begin- to make up a fund to help to get him out of gaol, or out of Siberia. Sometimes the American branches of the Bund carry on this work. Again, the American relatives and personal friends of the arrested man take the matter into their own bands and themselves raise money to send to Russia for his aid-

When a Russian revolutionist is imprisoned or executed, his family is often provided for by money raised in America^ or the family is tyrought to America, and placed dn the way' of making a living. When revolutionists fall ill they are often doctored and nursed and their families axe supported oj American money, for American Jews are more prosperous than any other class of the race.

One of those who can thank the American Bundists for aid is now living in New York, and supporting herself. She is Mrs Hirsch Leckert, wddow of the man who shot the Governor-General of Wiina some time ago, nearly killing him. After the May Day procession of workingmen and Socialists in Wilna, the Governor arrested a great number of them end flogged them. Leckert was one of the victims. He swore that he would revenge himself and his comrades, and he shot at the Governor as the latter was leaving a. theatre.

His arrest soon followed. When word reached New York money was raised for his defence, but soon there came the tidings that Leckert had been hanged. On the evening of the day when the news reached New York there was a remarkable demonstration on the Easrtv Side.

The working people, just out of the factories and sweat shops, assembled) in New Irving Hall, in Bropme Street, and held a memorial meeting. The hall was nof -able to hold a third of the crowd that assembled, and the- people in thousands stood oa the street, weeping and wailing as the speeches were made. Leckert's widow and children were brought to New York. The widow was established in a little laundry business, and the ' Bundists and their friends saw to it that she had plenty of patrons.

It would be a great mistake to suppose that all the Jews in Bussia, or even the greater number, are in sympathy with the revolutionists. The Bundists attract most attention, simply because they are active; ■but there is a strong and deep feeling among the orthodox and the business classes of the Jewish people against their ideals an<i their methods of work.

Many orthodox Jews look upon the Bundiste with hate and fear. They believe that if left alone the" orthodox and the business classes would in time prove by their peacefulness'and industry and devotion- to the fatherland that they axe cTesirable subjects, and would" obtain their rights and secure respite from persecution. They see the result of their peaceful (methods of life destroyed by the Bundists' bold work. They know that it is the young men that are attracted to the ranks of the revolutionists, and they send their young men out of the country, to America, rather than have them fall under the influence of the Bund. But their sons often find in the East Side of New York the Bund actively and zealously at work, and many an orthodox son of an old family escapes revolutionary ideas in far away Russia, only to be inoculated with them in the cafes and meeting halls of the New York Ghetto. Therefore the present activity of the revolutionists has not failed' to arouse protest from conservative East Siders.