bandits began to execute their destructive, death-dealing work upon the Jewish laborers, who with blood and sweat had been earning their living at this factory for many years. And here, in the territory of the factory, a drunken rout began, accompanied by violence, murders, and destructive looting. This took place under the influence of anti-Semitic pogrom agitation, which had inflamed the passions of these monsters and infuriated bandits. We are the victims of this agitation: we, the Jews work-, ing in the factory — ruined, plundered, and beaten. We have been turned into beggars; we have no roof, no refuge; we are naked, barefooted; and yet we have been working all our lives; with hard toil we had gained everything we had, every trinket in our homes, every article, is the product of stubborn, long labor. And now, all that we have won by our honest, persistent toil, has been plundered and carried off by a drunken gang.
We apply to the Soviet government as the protector and guardian of the interests of the laborers; and our just prayer is tKat the losses inflicted upon us be replaced. This will be an act of humanity and justice in relation to us as laborers. We believe that this government, which is introducing into life the principle of justice and of defense of labor, which stands on guard over the interests of the workers, will pay due attention to our sad situation and will satisfy our just petition, since this is the petition of people who have worked all their lives. Among us there are those who have worked twenty to thirty years in this factory, and at this day have been driven from their settled abodes and find themselves with their families beggars in the street.
We are at present living in the neighboring town of Shpola; some have fled to Kiev. We have no possibility of going to Lebedin. We are living in the most terrible conditions. The administration of the factory refused to send us even provisions of the first necessity.
The lists of things plundered and the family situation of each one is appended herewith.
The delegates of the workers in the Refined Sugar Factory at Lebedin. (Signatures)
THE SUGAR-FACTORY OF SABLINO-ZNAMENKA, EIGHT VERSTS
FROM THE STATION OF ZNAMENKA From the Statement of the Son-in-Law of the Former Owner of the Factory, Bernburg
In the region of the Sablino-Znamenka sugar-factory, eight versts from the railroad station of Znamenka, lived several
LEBEDIN:
hundred families of Jews and Gentiles, members of which were workmen and employees of the factory and thus supported their families. In general the entire population of this settlement was supported, so to speak, by the factory. The workmen and employees of the factory itself numbered about 300, and among this number were 52 Jews.
Before the end of the year 1918 the peasants of the village of Moshorino, about three versts from the factory, raised a revolt against the Germans and the Hetman, and, with the appearance of the Directory, adhered to it. At the head of the rebels was a certain Tkachenko.
When the Soviet forces approached, the peasants went over to their side. Then the revolters seized the factory and declared it the property of the peasants. A detachment of sixty men, with a commander at its head, was formed; it was quartered in the factory and formed its defense. All the employees for the time being remained in their places; the family of the owner, Bernburg, also remained at the factory.
At the beginning of May, 1919, traces of anti-Semitic agitation began to appear at the factory. The members of the guard, and also some of the employees of the factory, such as the manager, cashier, and others, took part in it. The slogan of the anti- Semitic agitation was the accusation that the Jews filled the best positions, and the like. The Jews who lived in the region of the factory had grounds for alarm and for expecting disorders. They applied several times to the local powers, that is, to that same guard which was itself the home of the anti-Semitic agitation, and asked that measures be taken against the occurrence of disorders in general and of anti-Jewish outbursts in particular. Each time they were promised that measures would be taken. Even on May 19 the commander of the guard, Moroshuk, calmed them and assured them that he would allow no uprisings or disorders.