Feb 23, 1883 - The Hebrew Union Agricultural Society writes to the American Israelite

The H.U.A.S. is a different society than HEAS/HIAS.  It was established in 1882 by Rabbi Isaac Wise in Cincinnati.  They established the Beersheba colony of 60 people in Southwestern Kansas.  Here, they make an appeal for funds using Cotopaxi as their example of struggling Jews. Based on the contents, this was written because of the Kohn/Witowski report.

H. U. A. S.
The American Israelite  (1874 0 2000):  Feb 23, 1883; p 284
H. U. A. S.

The Hebrew Union Agricultural Society was formed with the object and desire of assisting those of our co-religionists who had chosen farming as their future calling, and aiding others in following a like course.  It was then a fixed fact that a large number of our people were willing and anxious to work.  With perhaps but little experience and limited knowledge of farm life they nevertheless went to work, showing conclusively that such life was their hearts’ desire.  This Society, formed with the praiseworthy object not only of helping those who had chosen the cultivation of land as their employment, but with also a view of encouraging all who would follow a like course, issued its appeal to come forward with material aid to assist in carrying out its designs.  With the exception of a few small towns in the West, no encouragement has been given to the Society.  With fifty thousand dollars, a sum which ought to have been promptly subscribed, the Society would have done an incalculable amount of good.  Fifty thousand good wishes have reached it, but altogether they won’t purchase one loaf of bread to feed hungry children.

Now comes to us the awful and deplorable tale of starvation and misery, death and desolation, from our brethren in Cotopaxi; a stigma and a disgrace that in this land of plenty our own brother should fall by the wayside, his wife and children pleading for a morsel of bread and we, his brethren, refusing it. Yes, refusing it.  The Hebrew Union Agricultural Society has time and again begged, implored you for help, and had it been afforded, every one of these people would have been fed, for the Society has all the time been considering what it could do to assist ALL the colonists and the fulfillment of its desire has been prevented by lack of means.  Oh, you reading this by your comfortable firesides, surrounded by your offsprings, think of what your own feelings would be if you had not food to supply their need!  AS an example of what might have been done, if proper, liberal aid had been given, we state that the Hebrew Union Agricultural Society, with a very limited sum, has fed and clothed nearly one hundred souls in Kansas, who but for its existence would have followed their brethren in Colorado.  Yet food was provided—flour, meat, groceries and vegetables—to last until the first of March, and no additional supplies are supplemented and will be shipped within one week, to last for the two succeeding months.  If all other colonies should fail, Cincinnati says she will make the one in Kansas a success, even if she has to do it without the aid which is so much needed and solicited.  It should be well understood that the Society is not organized for any single colony, but for the general promotion of agricultural pursuits among our people, irrespective of birthplace.  Its work is limited, only by its means.  It pays no salaries, has no expense, and it is wonderful to see how much good it does with its small income.  

A large number of cities reply to the appeal made, “We have so many Russians to support that we can not help your praiseworthy cause, but we wish you eery success in your good work,” and this is all they can do.  Do not these people know that Cincinnati has more than its share of local charity, hundreds of Russian families are here, many depending wholly upon its benevolence, and when the flood reached forty families in one house alone, Cincinnati could not ask St Louis or Pittsburg, or Buffalo, or Chicago, of any other place to come with their skiffs and a flatboat and help to feed and to save these people?  No!  it was done though.  We speak unreservedly on this subject, with fixed ideas that the only relief from the pauperism of over-crowed cities must be found in land culture.  Its success will tend to the improvement and the happiness of our people, who in their own land were engaged in such pursuits.   The laws of tithes, of the Sabbatical year and like enactments, prove that that was our primitive state.  We say to all, come forward and liberally promote the cause of agricultural pursuits among Israelites.

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