From this period until after World War I and II, the splinter group of the Sons of Freedom became the focus of many lurid stories as all newspapers and some authors of books competed in a frenzied climax to portray the arson and nudity of the Sons of Freedom. Once this precedent of extreme reporting had been set and was not challenged except by the odd letter to an editor, the field became open to refer to all Doukhobors in a broad generalization with no distinction being made for the majority of peaceful, law abiding and sometimes exceptional Canadian citizens who formed the majority of the Doukhobor population.

A random selection of absurd and derogatory headlines are available for any researcher throughout this period. So accepted had the slanderous remarks become in the newspapers and magazines of Canada that publications presented the most absurd distortions and exaggerations with impunity. Among others, popular magazines such as MACLEANS featured gross distortions under the label of journalism.

One particular article contains many errors but also takes for granted that it can slant the truth against the Doukhobors with impunity. Such statements as: 'The Freedomites have been fairly careful to avoid homicide...' indicates that their natural inclination would be to kill people; 'Both Mike and Laura Bayoff, like a number of other Freedomites, were former patients of the mental hospital at Essondale.' This, of course, indicates that most Freedomites are insane or should be committed. 'Elasoff is a small, busy, slightly hyper thyroid man, considerably trimmer than most Doukhobors who tend to run to fat.' Note that the generalizations in this article indicate that Doukhobors are fat, insane, murderers. This article was written by Ralph Allen, contributing editor.

One of the most irritating aspects of such reporting was the use of the term DOUKS to designate Doukhobors. The word Doukhobor is a transliteration for Dookh-a-bor; the proper translation being SPIRIT WRESTLER.

Thus the word DOUK has no proper literate origin except as English derogatory slang; in personal language and perhaps aided by the unfortunate alliteration, the epithet became DIRTY DOUK. Well qualified journalists perhaps did not even realize that such a title could be derogatory, but certainly should have made it their business to find out.

The acceptance of such cliched stereotyping reached a height in a comic strip which appeared in the Lethbridge Herald in 1961. Here, a dynamite thief hides after his escape in his settlement and his disguise is the fact that everyone is naked. Later on the culprit is identified by his huge black beard and apprehended. In a mocking way, the Mountie says: 'I've got orders these people have to be handled gently. They're a minority group in Canada’. In this settlement, where all of the 'renegades' live, all are naked, though none have genitalia.

Just as this episode of JEFF BUCHANAN typified the laissez faire attitude of the popular press towards this particular minority's sensibilities, Bruce Hutchinson, Canadian writer and establishment beacon of Canadian history stubbornly defended his backward and unenlightened view of our early settlers. His writings appeared in various Canadian history books as well as school books. According to his view:

'Ukes,' said the lady from Winnipeg. 'The square faces, flat noses, and high cheekbones showed their nationality... Her hands told the story plainly enough. She was a beast of burden, and content...we stopped and let her out at a huddle of squalid barns and a dirty-looking shack --- queer contrast to the neat houses of the Icelanders. She bowed to us and smiled again and trudged through the barnyard, up to the ankles in mud.'

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