Source: Dakota Rundschau, 6 March 1931 · 📰

From: Shields, North Dakota
22 February 1931

Dear Editor Brendel:

Last night we received a million dollars in the form of snow. It fell to a depth of five inches and lies evenly on the ground, as there is no wind. So the moisture will saturate the ground evenly.

As we read from the correspondent in Waterloo, our Editor Brendel did not get away unscathed under the Bolshevik regime. There are still people out there who do not believe what is going on over there. They think that if one lets the Bolsheviks be, nothing will happen to them. Decent folks cannot just stand there and let atrocities happen. Folks who were once sent to Siberia for their crimes are now in ruling positions and prescribe that people not worship God but the Devil. Such people will not bring about good changes. A decent person just cannot go against his belief and moral judgment.

I still remember how people would be outraged about petty crimes and established people’s court. I remember one incident in March 1909 when a band of seven gypsies and a woman emptied out the cellar of Lorenz Müller in Krasna, Bessarabia and disappeared from the village. A posse set out and found the culprits 7 Werst from Paris, where they had made camp and proceeded to eat the stolen goods. They assured the posse they were celebrating St. Joseph’s Day. The woman was not bothered, but the men were all soundly beaten and taken to police custody.

The gypsies stole in the middle of the night and disappeared. The Soviet rulers are not just emptying out cellars anymore, they take away everything. The robbers don’t disappear into the night, but remain ensconced in law and order and blatantly declare that the robbed have nothing to complain about. The people themselves, the plaintiffs, can be taken away and shipped to Siberian logging camps to forced labor. They are guilty because they once were diligent and productive people. If they had been thieves and never-do-wells like the gypsies of long ago, they would not have to worry.

Greetings to all readers, editor and staff.

Philipp Kahl