The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-01
CLOSE TO THE PEOPLE
RUsSIA's GOVERNMENT ALWAYS IN
TOUCH WITH THE MASSES.
Exaggeration About Siberian Cruel
Police Manage Everything.
st. Louis Globe-Democrat.

0l. LOUIS GfODt-DcuDoCIdl
Anna Eva Fay, the world famous spirit
medium, who has Travelled extensively in
almost all foreign lands. is a particularly
interesting talker. She is fond of recount
ing her travels, and, because of the fact
that she is much interested i'm Russia,
about which so much is just now being
written and said. she never fails to tell
her interrogation something about the GUS
toms Of the strange country. Speaking of
Russia, last evening, to a Globe-Democrat
reporter, she said: There is no country
upon earth where the government is SO
much in touch with the people as Russia.
The Anarchists and Nihilists nave proved
such a disturbing element in that country
that the government has been forced to
measures which, to the average observer.
may at first seem oppressive. However,
when the situation Is analysed and the
true state OF affairs is comprehended, one
annot but applaud the wonderful system
of vigilance adopted by the Russian gov
eminent and 1 am of the opinion tina IL
America would adopt some of the measures
Of the despised Russians. she would be
able to handle M criminals better and re-
duce crime TO a minimum
There is the same II not greater incent-
i've for crime in Russia than there is in
America, but Russia's criminals are SO
closely watched that her percentage of
criminals is greatly below that of her more
enlightened sister
In Russia you must tell who you are
and what your business Is or you will get
into trouble. II you do this and attend
strictly to your own business, you will find
the Russians the best people on earth buf
If You NEEDLE with their politics. their
business or their religion you will soon find
that your presence is not desired in Rus
STA, and the fact will be so forcibiy brought
to your attention that you will never for
get IL.
You cannot travel In Russia without your
passport. 1t Is as essential as your CLOTH
ing. When you cross the Russian frontier
you are asked for your passport; IL is exam
ined. and your destination stamped upon
IT. You go 90 ST. Petersburg and register
at the Hotel de Europe. Before you are
passport The porter takes NJ TO police
headquarters, where IL remains as long as
you remain in ST. Petersburg. IL you have
no passport you get no room in that or
any other hotel in Russia At the police
stations these passports are registered.
and when you are ready to leave for some
other point the same operation Is under
gone. BY these means the Russian police
are at all times able TO put their hands
upon any foreigner within the realm I'm "a
very short space OF time. The Russians
also provide for looking after their .own
citizens in about the same manner. Every
adult. Russian Is registered at the nearest
plshed with a book containing a descriptton
OF the citizen. This book Is q passnorf
for the holder. and without IL the either
can go nowhere outside his own community
without the risk OF arrest and imprieon-
ment- These books are handled In exactly f6e
same manner that the foreigners panSporf
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