members of the Duma, two deputies from the province of Taurid declared to me that the Jews of that province approved of my tactics and expected the introduction of the Jewish question in the Duma. In general there are many deputies, even among the Right parties, who would be ready to vote in favor of abolishing the pale of settlement. But it is impossible to introduce a project concerning the Jewish people during this session. The Duma has thus far not succeeded in doing anything for any portion of the population of the country, and if it should happen that it would do something now for the Jews, it would call forth a storm of indignation. If some important reform of any kind were first introduced by the Duma, then it would be proper to raise the Jewish problem. It would be necessary then to raise it in the Duma and give it over to a commission, so that it may be brought before the Duma at the most opportune moment."
DR. SHMARYAHU LEWIN'S VIEWS.
—WnHiLe Dr. Lewin has not found it pos- sible’'at the present writing to utilize his gifts of oratory in specific Zionist work, he has, nevertheless, given to interviewers something of value to Zionist propaganda. Speaking to a reporter of the American Hebrew', he said, in part:
"Zionism has steadily been making headway in Europe; if not so much in the way of organization, it has been gaining ground by awakening the nationalist consciousness of the Jews. The Jews of Europe are now realizing that assimilation is not only impossible as a solution of the Jewish problem, but that it is even undesirable. I have observed that in Germany, where the Zionist organization is at its best, during the past five years a tremendous change has come over the publications that had always been hostile to Jewish nationalist tendencies. From time to time you will find in these journals articles which could not have appeared a few years ago in any but Zionist organs.
"During my visit to Palestine I have familiarized myself with the actual condi-
‚tion..of,the Jews in Turkey, and I wish to ‚say that in no other countryin Europe have the Jews enjoyed real equality as in Turkey, even before the Constitution. The Jews would be the greatest losers in the event of a division of Turkey. No other people will gain more than the Jews through the preservation: of the entirety of Turkey. The half million ‚Jews in Turkey at present have never been taken into consideration, and yet it is a fact that they could become a strong power for good if their children would not have to leave Turkey for Europe to get their education. The Turkish Jews must have their own educational institutions and then they will surprise the Jewry nf the world.
"In Russia Zionism is unable to develop naturally because of the repressive measures of the police and the administration. The legislation on Zionism in Russia depends more upon the governors and even the police inspectors than upon Premier Stolypin. They can do whatever they please. Even if he issued a circular removing some of the restrictions upon the Zionists, the governors know well that they would not be blamed in the least if they violated the order of the Premier so long as it was a question of persecuting the Jews. Stolypin as a representative of a bankrupt government is issuing promissory notes which he knows he cannot meet. While making his promises to Herr Wolffsohn, Premier Stolypin in all probability knew that he could not fulfil them.
"When I was in St. Petersburg I met Herr Wolffsohn there, right after his interview with Stolypin. In speaking of the American Zionists, Herr Wolffsohn declared that the work of the American Zionists was entirely unsatisfactory, that the American Zionists were not contributing their share of work for the Zionist movement and that some day he would come to America and tell the American Zionists some bitter truths."
ARON VECHT, THE WANDERING ZIONIST.
—ARON VECHT, one of the earliest of Zionists, died at Antwerp, Belgium, on No-