Abject Despair--Avoided

I've been formulating an essay in my mind (what's left of it). I intended to describe an unnamed village in Mexico where violent criminals rule--they've bought the mayor and police chief. What's a sensible citizen to do but protect oneself and one's family? A high wall, concertina wire, guard dogs, weapons readily at hand etc. Reform? Forget it, there's nothing one can do.

This is, of course, an analogy for how most of us feel about corruption in DC. We see the problem. We see how it has destroyed our democracy. It is our nation's most serious problem, blocking effective action on all other issues. But what can we do? Complain? Get others to understand the problem and feel miserable as we do? Or, simply hunker down and live with it?

After supporting Lawrence Lessig for years and, more recently, Rootstrikers, I came to the conclusion that the organization is all about bemoaning the problem--defining it and following with details ad nauseam in the hope that by some, undefined, process this would lead to a solution. Recently, I conducted an informal survey of friends and acquaintances finding that, while they understood the problem and agreed on its importance, they had no idea of what to do (Rootstrikers approach seen as hopeless). Further, they tended to prioritize all political problems in accordance with their belief in an achievable solution to same. All of this led me to the 'despair' in the title of this piece.

But wait, there's a glimmer--not the end of the tunnel--not yet. My hero (I'm not kidding), Lawrence Lessig, has evolved a plan and, I'm hoping will build on it, which brings some of us to action. To understand, you'll need to watch the video of his interview with Bill Moyers (I'll provide a link below).

This (my) piece has a dual purpose: the first, to let you see that there's hope; there's some real action here--some movement. Maybe we should all get involved. The second purpose is to persuade Lessig that he needs to do more--give every voter a way to express their disgust at the polls-- a way to show support for the purpose of Rootstrikers-- for Lawrence Lessig and his campaign (write-ins, anyone?).

Don't give up. As a token of my continued support, I'm sending another modest contribution to ROOTSTRIKERS.

The link is to a Bill Moyers interview with Lessig. The first half deals with the NSA (Snowden) scandal. Here it is: WATCH THE VIDEO.

 

 

 

STRIKE, is now available in paperback. You can obtain it on Amazon, Barnes & Noble (use title and my full name). Or, from me $12.00 post paid.

 

Joe Bakewell

DOG DAYS

   Overcast, warm and humid. Air-conditioning broke down. Checking with the Cortland Travel Center, Travelzoo, Sherman's and Kayak for a vacation deal to Alaska.
   Only live things zipping around in this weather are flies and mosquitoes, and the birds who eat them.
   Right about now, the north pole may not be cold enough.   
   Don't know what's wrong with those morons in Albany. They recently passed a plethora of laws which affect all of us, but forgot the one to lower humidity. We hear it was introduced by Senator Sham, but the bill died in committee.
   Guess the campaign money wasn't there to support it.
   Speaking of political campaign contributions, our state legislature in session this year appeared unaffected by the heat of public opinion. Approving a four-casino measure for statewide referendum, they voted not to exclude casino operators' political campaign contributions which may influence the referendum.
   They actually bragged about it and called it government transparency.
   It is.
   
  
   

Train Hits Trolley Between Cortland And Homer

 Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, November 9, 1899.

AN AWFUL WRECK.

MILK TRAIN ON D. L. & W. R. R. AND TROLLEY CAR COLLIDE.

Miss Margaret Kennedy and Frank M. Newton of Homer Both Killed—Motorman

Chrysler Badly injured — The Trolley Car Smashed to Splinters—The Milk Train Derailed and Traffic Interrupted.

   The first fatal accident that has happened at the crossing of the D., L. & W. railroad tracks and the tracks of the Cortland & Homer Traction company between Cortland and Homer, since the opening of the electric road, occurred at about 11:15 o'clock this morning and two persons were killed and one injured.
   The killed and injured are:
   Miss Margaret M. Kennedy of Homer, 53 years old, killed instantly.
   Frank M. Newton of Homer, aged 36 years, both legs cut off, died at the Cortland hospital in twenty minutes.
   Olney P. Chrysler of Homer, motorman of electric car, injuries about head and knees, probable internal injuries; lies at Cortland hospital in a semi-conscious state; may recover.
   At a few minutes past 11 o'clock this morning when electric car, No. 20, left Homer for Cortland, it had three passengers: Miss Kennedy, Mr. Newton and Charles Taylor of Baltimore, Md., a representative of Sperry, Jones & Co. of Maryland, a firm dealing in investment securities. Its conductor was Orson B. Smith of Cortland, and the motorman was Mr. Chrysler who was injured.
   At about the same time southbound milk train, No. 198, on the D., L. & W. R. R. consisting of the engine, five milk cars and caboose, left the Homer station. At the junction of the two roads a collision between the milk train and electric car resulted as above stated, the electric car was literally smashed into kindling wood and the train was thrown from the track, and ran south over the ties and came to a standstill with the engine 35 rods from the point of contact at the crossing without overturning either engine or cars.
   A number of people were in the vicinity at the time of the accident.
   A STANDARD man was at the scene within twenty minutes from the time of the catastrophe and found lying in the center of the highway the bruised, broken and mangled remains of Miss Kennedy covered with some blankets. The body of Mr. Newton, and the injured motorman had been brought to the Cortland hospital in an electric car sent up from the carbarn for that purpose. Mr. Thomas H. Kennedy, the dead woman's brother, with whom she lived on the Scott road four miles north of Homer, soon arrived and identified the remains as those of his sister. He said to The STANDARD man that he had brought his sister to Homer on her way to Cortland to attend the funeral of Mrs. H. A. Bolles. Just as they drove into the village of Homer, a car was leaving, and she made the remark that she would wait for the next car as that would bring her to Cortland in plenty of time.

MR. TAYLOR'S STORY.

   Mr. Taylor, the only passenger to escape with his life said that when he boarded the car in Homer he noticed Mr. Newton sitting at the front end of the car. He was acquainted with him but, saw that he was busy reading a paper and did not go forward to speak to him, but sat down just inside the rear door on the east side of the car, facing the D., L. & W. tracks. He noticed also the one lady in the car, Miss Kennedy, sitting about midway on the opposite side. After leaving the business portion of Homer, he noticed the milk train and wondered which would reach the crossing first, the car or the train.
   The conductor was standing on the rear platform except when he came in to collect the fares. Mr. Taylor says that train and car approached the crossing at the same time, and that the car seemed to slacken its speed a little as it struck the curve leading to the crossing, but not to any extent. He positively affirms that the car did not stop.
   Seeing that a collision was imminent, he rushed out of the rear door and leaped from the platform, landing squarely on his feet without injury. He was followed, he says, by the conductor, and then the crash came.
   The car and engine seemed to him to strike the crossing at the same time, corner to corner, and the car was dashed to pieces, the body of Miss Kennedy being hurled forward out of the debris and falling limp and lifeless between the tracks in the highway. The train went on and after it had passed he saw Mr. Newton lying on the track about 40 feet south of the crossing, with both legs cut off just above the knees, and the blood coming forth in gushes from the portion of the limbs remaining. He did not know whether the whistle of the railroad engine was sounded or not and added that if it was blown he might not have heard it, owing to the noise of the electric car.

THE FLAGMAN'S VERSION.

   Andrew Filer, the D., L. W. flagman at the crossing, said to the reporter that he stood on the track in the highway flagging for the milk train, and also saw the approaching electric car. He heard the train whistle, and says that the car did not stop for the conductor to go on ahead to flag as is the usual custom. When the two came together he ran to the north and east side of the track and highway to avoid being caught in the wreck, and saw the conductor and Mr. Taylor jump from the rear platform.

MAN ON A WHEEL.

   Fred Fisher, of Homer, was coming to Cortland on his wheel, and reached the crossing before the train, alighting there for the train to pass. He was standing in the angle formed by the junction of the two tracks, he says, and saw the two coming together. It looked to him as though the electric car was lifted several feet in the air and then dashed down to the ground a broken, splintered mass. He says the car did not stop before reaching the crossing, and the train did not slow up.

WHAT THE ENGINEER SAYS.

   The milk train was in charge of Engineer S. S. Carpenter, and Conductor I. B. Preston. The fireman was Wm. Hunt. To The STANDARD man Engineer Carpenter said that they left Homer about ten minutes late and were running at a lively rate. He saw the electric car approach the crossing and he blew the whistle and rang the bell as usual but did not slacken the speed as he supposed he had the right of way.
   Just before the collision he saw the motorman turn to the right and look out from his platform up the track at his train, which was then but a few feet away from the crossing. He had already set the brakes suddenly and reversed his engine. The sudden setting of the brakes snapped them in two and the train plunged along for 35 rods, tearing up some of the rails and loosening the ties, but not overturning any of the cars.
   The pilot is gone from the engine, and also the headlight and number at the end of the boiler. Both the latter lay in the ditch near the engine on the left side of the tracks. The steps of the forward milk car were torn off. The road bed was so badly torn up between the two tracks that the rear cars were sunk to the axles in gravel.
   None of the train crew was injured. The wreck blocked traffic on both tracks of the road temporarily, but a wrecking train from Syracuse is at the scene this afternoon righting things up and traffic will be resumed tonight.

SEEN AND HEARD FROM THE HOUSE.

   Mrs. William A. Smith, who lives just north of the crossing and east of the highway says that just as the crash came she was passing from the kitchen to the sittingroom In the front part of the house. She heard the crash and ran to the window. As she reached this she saw Conductor Smith standing east of the trolley car track and north of the D.,L. & W. tracks about two rods from the flagman. She distinctly remembers hearing the conductor of the street car shout to the flagman, "Why didn't you flag that train?" and the flagman replied "I did, and I hollered for you to stop." She says that at that time the flagman was vigorously waving the flag and shouting at the top of his lungs.

MR. COPELAND SAW IT ALL.

   Mr. Frank Copeland, of Homer, was on his way to Cortland and was at the crossing when the accident occurred. He drove down on the west side of the track some distance ahead of the electric car. As he crossed the street car track he saw the flagman at the railroad crossing and knew that the train was approaching. He stopped opposite the driveway just south of W. A. Smith’s residence to let the train cross ahead of him. He says that the flagman was waving his flag and that he heard him shout to the motorman to stop the car before it reached the crossing. He also says that the street car did not come to a stop and he did not see the conductor get off the car before it reached the railroad track. The electric car was right at the middle of the track when the milk train struck it.
   Mr. Copeland jumped from his wagon, hitched his horse and was the first person who reached the wreck. As he expresses it "the streetcar was all smashed to splinters." It was knocked clear off the track and the main parts of it lay in the roadway north of the railroad track.
   The first person he saw was Charles Taylor, the man who jumped from the rear platform just before the crash came. Miss Kennedy was dead when he reached her side. The body lay between the north and south bound tracks in the midst of the debris of the street car. He next came to Motorman Chrysler who lay south of the track and who was unconscious when be reached him. While bending over the motorman he heard a groan from another person, a little further down the track. He crossed over to where he was lying and turning the head so that he could see the face, recognized  Mr. Newton. Both legs were cut off and he does not think that Mr. Newton recognized him. He heard him say. "My God, this is awful." Mr. Newton was lying between the north and south bound tracks close to the rail and the whole train must have passed over him.
   As soon as Mr. Copeland discovered who the injured man was he hastened to Homer as fast as his horse could take him to convey the news of the accident to Mr. Newton's father, Mr. Charles O. Newton. "It was the most awful sight I ever saw," said Mr. Copeland, "and I hope I may never again be called upon to witness such another accident."

HOW C. L. GRIFFITH SAW IT.

   Charles L. Griffith, who is a salesman for H. M. Hopkins, the grocer, was delivering goods at the North Cortland House. Mrs. Kernan, the wife of the proprietor, said to him, "There is something the matter at the crossing. The milk train is stopping and people are running that way."
   With Mr. Kernan he jumped into his delivery wagon and ran his horse up to the crossing. The train was just coming to a stand. The car was in kindling wood. Miss Kennedy lay dead in the road fifteen feet southeast of the main pile of wreckage of the car. Fifteen or 20 feet further south along the railroad and on the west side of the tracks lay Motorman Chrysler on his face unconscious. About 20 feet south along the track beyond the carriage crossing sat Mr. Newton on the east rail of the south bound track. His face was resting in his hands and he was groaning, but as Mr. Griffith approached Mr. Newton looked up and saw him, and recognized him. "Hello, Mr. Griffith." he said, "for God's sake help me. Can't you do something for me?''
   Then he put his hand down toward his legs, and for the first time seemed to notice that they were gone. He groaned as he looked. The blood was spurting from the mangled legs. The right leg seemed to be torn and shredded all its length and muscle was cut away so that bones showed. The feet were partly gone. The left leg was gone above the knee.
   Mr. Griffith got some cord from his wagon and tried by a stricture to stop the spurting of the blood. Very quickly a special car came up from the barn. He helped to carry Mr. Newton on board and came down with him to the hospital; he was conscious all the way. No one there seemed to know him. Mr. Griffith knew he had seen him before, but couldn't tell where. On the way down to the hospital he said he was Frank Newton of Homer, and then they knew who he was. Mr. Griffith at once asked him if his wife was with him on the car and he replied "No, but I can hardly breathe, I can scarcely speak." As they carried him into the hospital he said "Oh, it is so hard for me to breathe." He passed away about five minutes later.

THE CORONER SUMMONED.

   Among the first to be notified was Coroner Frank H. Green of Homer. He took note of the situation of affair [sic], and viewed the dead body of Miss Kennedy and ordered it removed to the undertaking rooms of Briggs Bros, in Homer. He will make an investigation in his official capacity to locate if possible the responsibility for the deaths. This becomes the duty of the coroner alone, coroner's juries having been abolished Sept. 1.
   The injured motorman and Mr. Newton were brought to the hospital where they were attended by Drs. Higgins, Somberer and Carpenter of Cortland and Bradford of Homer. Mr. Newton died within five minutes after being taken into the hospital. The physicians found Mr. Chrysler suffering from cuts and bruises on the lips and forehead, also about the knees. He was in a half conscious condition and kept inquiring what had happened. It is feared that he also suffered internal injuries which may prove serious.
   The wonder is that he was not killed outright as he was hurled several feet south of the wreckage. He was reported as resting comfortably at the hospital as The STANDARD went to press.
   After viewing the body of Mr. Newton at the hospital Coroner Green directed its removal to Briggs' undertaking rooms at Homer and it was taken there at 2 o'clock this afternoon.
   Conductor Orson B. Smith when seen by a STANDARD man, refused to talk about the affair, but said that the car did not stop, though he thought it slackened its speed.

RULES FOR EMPLOYEES.

   General Manager Westcott of the Cortland & Homer Traction Co. was soon on the scene and directed the clearing of the wrecked car. He refused to talk about the matter, saying that he had not had time to learn the exact facts. He stated that the directions for the motormen are to stop 100 feet from that crossing and wait for the signal that all is clear from the conductor, who is directed to go ahead to the steam road tracks with his flag and see if trains are approaching.

MRS. KENNEDY.

 

   Mrs. Kennedy was 53 years of age, and made it her home with her brother, Thomas H. Kennedy, who brought her to Homer this morning. She was also a sister of John H. Kennedy of 31 Charles-st., Cortland and an aunt of Mrs. L. N. Hopkins  and  Messrs. J. B. and T. J. Kennedy of Cortland.

MR. NEWTON.

   Frank M. Newton was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Charles 0. Newton of Homer. He was 36 years old last April. On Nov. 24, 1898, he was married to Miss J. Hortense Olney, who was the daughter of a former pastor of the Congregational church in Homer. His wife and parents survive him. He was one of the most highly respected of young men in Homer.

MOTORMAN CHRYSLER'S CONDITION.

   Mr. Chrysler is resting easily at the hospital as The STANDARD goes to press. As he regained consciousness he inquired if he was at the hospital and where the "other fellow" on the car was. He has not made any statement in reference to the wreck and does not know how serious an accident has happened. His physician thinks that his injuries will not prove fatal unless some farther complications arise.

FIXING THE RESPONSIBILITY.

   The fixing of the responsibility will be left for an official investigation by the proper authorities. It was a very sad affair, and everyone connected with it in any way exceedingly regrets its occurrence.
   The wrecking train arrived from Syracuse at 2:30 P. M. and the work of clearing up the wreck was immediately begun. It is almost impossible for one who has not seen it to conceive of the havoc wrought with that trolley car. It was simply kindling wood. The momentum of the train was great and the smash must have been something awful. Part of one of the vestibules lies near the engine, 85 rods down the track. Pieces were strewn in every direction.
   Hundreds of people have viewed the wreck this afternoon and the trolley cars have been pushed hard. The crossing of the railroad tracks is not interfered with.
   The car that was demolished was one of the pair built by the Cortland Omnibus & Cab Co. and was one of the best cars on the road. It had been refinished only a few weeks ago.


Editor recommends:
   Cortland County Traction by Richard F. Palmer and Shelden S. King. (Additional research about the accident and a photo of the accident scene are in the book.)

Trolley Excursions in Cortland County During Heat Wave of 1903

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, July 10, 1903.

Heat in New York.

   Fourteen deaths and forty-seven prostrations as a result of heat was the record in New York yesterday. The official mercury rose 1 degree higher than in Cortland and was 94. Syracuse claims to be the second hottest city in the state with official mercury at 89 degrees, but both New York and Cortland were hotter.

 

Moving Pictures.

   Moving pictures will be shown at Cortland park tonight. There will be a change in program and new films will be used.

 

12 trolley cars leaving McGraw for Little York Pavilion (1907). Photo courtesy of McGraw Historical Society.

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, July 11, 1903.

ROUND TRIP ONE FARE.

For a Continuous Ride on Trolley Cars on Either Division.

   Beginning today the Cortland County Traction Co. will give continuous round trip rides on through cars on both Homer and McGraw divisions of the road for one way fares, provided that the trip is made purely for pleasure and the person riding does not leave the car at any point on a trip. This rate will be maintained every day in the week during the heated season and is not confined to any particular car. The trip may be started from either end of the two divisions. This will afford a fine pleasure trip at a small expense, the round trip to or from Homer being only 10 cents and the same for McGraw On all warm days and evenings open cars will be run on the McGraw division. Tickets may be purchased on the cars.

Do Not Covet Your Neighbor's Wife

    

 

     In July 1903 a wire story about a woman masquerading as a man appeared in newspapers across the United States.

      A criminal trial revealed the sex of Miss William Ray, the young woman who succeeded in passing herself off as a man for eight years in Prentiss County, Mississippi.

     Jim Gatlin, a farmer in the neighborhood, was arrested and placed on trial for assault and battery on William Ray. The testimony was conclusive.

     Ray’s eyes were blackened and his face badly cut. A verdict of guilty seemed probable when Gatlin threw himself upon the mercy of the jury with a plea, always strong in southern states, that Ray had been too intimate with Gatlin’s wife and he had assaulted him on that account.

     Ray was not nonplussed, but met the charge by declaring and proving that he was a woman. Gatlin was bound over to the circuit court under bond.

     Miss Ray, as the story ran, gave the Boonville authorities much annoyance by insisting on going back to trousers. After her appearance in the Gatlin case she was arrested, but there was no law in Mississippi forbidding a woman from masquerading as a man. She was released.

   Perhaps there is much more to this story than was revealed. Give it some speculation. The possibilities are endlessly amusing.

Kishinev Pogrom

Maxim Gorky

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, May 23, 1903.

DISGRACE OF RUSSIA.

Scathing Denunciation of Massacre by Maxim Gorki.

SUPPRESSED BY PRESS CENSOR

Article Then Sent to the St. Petersburg Correspondent of a German

Paper—Blame For the Atrocities Placed on the Authorities and Cultivated Russian Society.

 

   Berlin, May 23.—Maxim Gorki, the Russian novelist, recently wrote an article on the Kishineff massacres for Nijni [Nizhny] Novgorod newspaper, but the censor refused to allow its publication. Gorki then sent the article to the St. Petersburg correspondent of the Frankfort Kliene Presse which prints it. The article is as follows:
 

   "Russia has been disgraced more and more frequently of recent years by dark deeds, but the most disgraceful of all is the horrible Jewish massacre at Kishineff, which has awakened our horror, shame and indignation.
 

   "People who regard themselves as Christians, who claim to believe in God's mercy and sympathy, these people, on the day consecrated to the resurrection of their God from the dead, occupy the time in murdering children and aged people, ravishing the women and martyring the men of the race which gave them Christ.
 

   "Who bears the blame of this base crime which will remain on us like a bloody blot for ages? We shall be unable to wash this blot from the sad history of our dark country. It would be unjust, and too simple to condemn the mob. The latter were merely the hand which was guided by a corrupt conscience, driving it to murder and robbery.
 

   "For it is well known that the mob at Kishineff was led by men of cultivated society. But cultivated society in Russia is really much worse than the people who are goaded by their sad life and blinded and enthralled by the artificial darkness created around them.
 

   It is now the duty of Russian society,  that is not yet wholly ruined by these bandits, to prove that it is not identified with these instigators of pillage and murder.
 

   “Come, therefore, all who do not want themselves to be regarded as the lackeys of the lackeys and who still retain their self-respect, come and help the Jews."

 

 

 

Cortland Evening Standard, Saturday, May 16, 1903.
 

VICTIMS REACH 1,000.

 

Sixty-Five Killed In Russian Anti-Semitic Riots.

 

SOCIETY TOOK PART IN LOOTING.

 

Over 300 Victims Maimed or Crippled For Life—Damage to Property $510,000—London Jewish Paper Charges Russian Government With the Responsibility—News Suppressed.

 

   London, May 16.—The victims in the Kishineff massacre number 1,000, according to the latest information received by the Jewish Chronicle of London.

 

   Of these at least 65 were killed, and more than 300 maimed or crippled for life. The damage to property is estimated at 1,000,000 rubles (about $510,000).

 

   The Jewish Chronicle says editorially:

 

   "We charge the Russian government with responsibility for the Kishineff massacre. If Europe does not on the present occasion disassociate itself from the leprous taint of this barbarian power it writes its humanity down a sham and its civilization as organized hypocrisy.

 

   "The cardinal fact of the whole tragedy is that the massacre was organized and abetted by Russian authorities. The killing and pillaging was done under cover of the troops and the police. During the two days the massacre lasted the governor did not leave his house. Telegraphic communication with St. Petersburg was stopped.

 

   "All the participants in the slaughter—who were chiefly imported hirelings— wore red shirts. An eyewitness is quoted as saying: 'The police and troops formed circles in the center of which the slaying and looting was going on, the police pointing out the houses of the Jews to the mob.'

 

   "The newspaper Weschod of St. Petersburg was suppressed for printing the facts.

 

   "Jew baiting is now spreading throughout southern Russia, stimulated by stories of so-called ritual murders. The judicial inquiry into the massacre is not intended to disclose the facts, but to smother them up."
 

CAUSE OF OUTBREAK.

 

Result of Agitation by Anti-Semitic Newspapers.

 

   St. Petersburg, May 16.—The outbreak at Kishineff was the direct result of the inciting of the anti-Semitic papers in Bessarabia.

 

   The mere plundering, although it has beggared thousands of wealthy people, pales before the fiendish crimes committed in those parts of the town that were inhabited by the poor Jews.

 

   The survivors are sorrowfully exploring the wreckage of their homes and property for the bodies of lost relatives. The walls of the houses are splashed with blood and brains.

 

   When the miscreants had stolen everything of value they then in cold blood, set about murdering and maiming women and children. The hospital mortuary presents an unusual spectacle. The bodies of the dead had been mutilated with indescribable barbarity.

 

   The Viedomosti [Vedomosti] reports: "Where the mobs were thickest were men and women of Russian society, persons in gloves and clean linen and with intelligent countenances. The riots were no surprise, but were well organized."

 

   The Novosti, a non-Jewish paper, says: "While the plundering of large warehouses was in progress, women belonging to the 'better' class appropriated the contents, which they made up into parcels. The suffering is unparalleled."

 

   Not one single Jewish shop or dwelling escaped. These Jews were the wealthiest, most cultured members of the community, numbering 60,000 souls. They would have been well able to defend themselves had not their fears of impending attacks been allayed by the assurances of the vice governor of Bessarabia, so they took no precautionary measures.

 

   The shops are still closed, these Jews having now but one occupation— hospital and cemetery. In the buildings where bread Is being distributed are hundreds of Jews without shelter and almost naked.

Russian Ambassador Count Arthur Cassini

Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, May 19, 1903.
 

RUSSIAN JEW-BAITING.

 

Count Cassini Explains Feeling of Peasants Against Jews.

PREFER TO BE MONEY LENDERS.

 

Will Not Work In the Fields—Attempt to Establish Jewish States—Ambassador Says Russian Government Gives Same Protection to Jews It Does to Other Citizens.

 

   Washington, May 19.—Count Cassini, the Russian ambassador, in a conversation with representatives of the press relative to the Jewish troubles in Russia, said:

 

   "There is in Russia, as in Germany and Austria, a feeling against certain of the Jews. The reason for this unfriendly attitude is found in the fact that the Jews will not work in the field or engage in agriculture. They prefer to be money-lenders. In this capacity he takes advantage of the Russian peasant whom he soon has in his power and ultimately destroys. It is when the patience of the peasant is exhausted that a conflict between peasants and Jews occurs.

 

   "Emperor Nicholas I sought to help the Jews by ordering the establishment of agricultural colonies in Southern Russia, hoping to induce the Jews to engage in agricultural pursuits instead of money lending, but the effort was not successful; nor have other projects establishing Jewish states been successful.

 

   "There are many good Jews in Russia and they are respected. Jewish genius is appreciated in Russia and the Jewish artist is honored. Jews also appear in the financial world in Russia.

 

   "The Russian Government affords the same protection to the Jews that it does to any other of its citizens, and when a riot occurs and Jews are attacked the officials immediately take steps to apprehend those who begin the riot and visit severe punishment upon them. In the past Russians have been punished severely for attacks upon Jews. But notwithstanding these conflicts the Jews continue to do the very things which have been responsible for the troubles which involve them."

 

   Continuing the conversation the ambassador said:

 

   "The Russian readily assimilates with the people of all other races, and if he cannot assimilate with the Jew it is apparent that the fault must lie with the Jew and not with the Russian.”

 

   The ambassador's attention was called to the statement contained in press dispatches from St. Petersburg to the effect that a ministerial decree had been issued forbidding the Jews arming themselves for their own protection.

 

   "I have received no information regarding the nature of the decree," he said, "but I know that when the facts are made known it will appear differently and will be shown that the decree does not discriminate against the Jews. The fact that Lieutenant General Raaben, the governor of Bessarabia, has been called to St. Petersburg shows conclusively that the Imperial authorities are seriously regarding the recent occurrences at Kishineff and are taking prompt measures to punish the guilty and prevent repetitions of these disturbances.”
 

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 5, 1903.
 

UNITED STATES AND RUSSIA.

 

Protests Against Kishineff Disorders Excite Russian Newspapers.

 

   St. Petersburg, June 5.—The relations between the United States and Russia are much discussed here. The Novoye Vremya prints a signed leading article, headed "Russia and America," which says:

 

   "The United States, from time to time, enters the arena of the anti- Russian propaganda, which finds favorable soil in its politically unripe population, without governmental traditions and carried away by the successes of its new imperialistic policy.

 

   "The Siberian prisons, the Manchurian open door, the Kishineff disorders, all of these serve as a pretext for the anti-Russian meetings, so advantageous to Russia's enemies. While Secretary Hay's stubborn Anglophilism lends governmental importance to the claims of the various groups of American traders and missionaries in the Far East, our diplomatic agents' activity in America must take a different course from the diplomacy of Europe.

 

   "We must create a party and explain our designs and position, not only to Mr. Hay, but to the people also, which is always the same. They must act through the American press which, notwithstanding its defects, seems to be not only the mirror but the lever of American public opinion."

 

   The editor of the Syromiatnikoff says:

 

   "Thrice In America have been found hearty Russian sympathies; but Russia remains dumb while the American papers are filled with all possible accusation against Russia from English, German and Jewish sources. Count Cassini excellently defends our political interests; but he cannot undertake a newspaper controversy, so the accusations remain unanswered."

 

   The article concludes by advising Russia to publish in English the relations between America and Russia since the time of Catharine.

 

References:

1)    Kishinev pogrom--wikipedia

2)    Maxim Gorky--wikipedia

3)    Count Arthur Cassini--wikipedia

4)   Tradition, Fiddler on the Roof--YouTube