The Indianapolis journal., 1903-12-11
RUSSIA'S HEAVY DEBT
WILL PREVENT A WAR
WITH SISTER NATIONS
Ex-Consul to St. Petersburg De
clares Gar Is Not Seeking
Trouble.
w. R. HOLLOWAY IN CITY
Says Eastern Monarchy Does Not
Even Want Man
churia.
PROTECTS IT'S INTERESTS
Distinguished Indianian on His
Way to New Post at Hal
flax, n. S.
IT'S INTERESTS

senerai at ST petersburg Russia, Tor more
than six years and was but recently trans
ferred to a similar post at Halifax. is back
In Indianapolis for visit with relatives and
friends. He arrived yesterday afternoon
and will be here for the greater part of
sixty days leave of absence granted him
by the department at Washington.
This is Colonel HolIoways first visit at
home since he left for st. Petersburg more
than six years ago. He had expected to reach
here some three or four weeks ago upon his
return from Russia to take the Halifax
consulate. but reporting at Washing
ton he found that 1t would be necessary for
him TO proceed to Halifax and formally as
sumo charge before he could get leave of
absence. day or two after ne reached
Haiifax he was taken i'll and was forced TO
spend two weeks in hospital. The reports
or MS illness received here indicated that
ms, ms condition , was serious, but the colonel
said last evening that this was a mistake.
Il was not seriously ILL.," he said, al
though 1t seemed serious enough to me be-
cause IL delayed my return home. and l
never was SO anxious to get anywhere as
was to get back to Indianapolis I suffered
from an acute attack of indigestion, and
was In some little pain, but at no time was
my condition alarming. / lost twenty-five
pounds In weight and as Z have been trying
In vain for several years to get rid of little
supernuous flesh perhaps should be thank
NOT LOOKING FOR WAR
Because Of his long residence in Russia.
In close touch with Russian government Of
ficials. Colonel Holloway is looked upon as
an authority on the Eastern situation,
which Is attracting so much attention at
present
Il really know little more about the situ-
alton than any one who has been reading
yxfll
say. though, that / do not regard war be-
tween Russia and any other country i'm
trouble. and Japan, England and the other
war on Russia.
"A great deal OF the matter that has got
into the newspapers has been overdrawn,
IN my opinion. Much has been said about
Russia's purpose 10 seize Manchuria. There
Manchurfa-is not in a financial condition
10 assume the expense OF the Manchurian
government and other obligations that
would arise through her taking possession
OF that country. OF course Russia has
large interests in Manchuria and will en-
deayor to guard them
the line of the great railroad that was con-
structed through Manchuria at such tre-
mendous cost; Again. l do not place any
credence In the reports that Russia is
threatening Korea and may be brought into
conflict with Japan
1.-The truth OF the matter is that Russia s
financial condition Is such as to restrain
her from war with any country. Russia is
too poor. Her large debt, the recurrence of
famines. failures OF crops. high taxes. fail
quent embarrassment OF the banks that
were backing these factories have brought
the financial situation 10 point where the
outlook is pretty blue. Banks the stocks OF
which were quoted around 200 when l went
TO st. Petersburg. undertook to back indus
trial ventures that proved unsuccessful be-
cause of mismanagement and for other rea-
sons, and a result those bank stocks are
now down To so or CO.
However. the situation is not as bad as
IL was two years ago. The banks have
wiped their states clean and announced that
they will stick to straight banking busi-
return of confidence. However, for all the
financial depression Russia has never de-
faufted payment OF interest on the na-
tional debt. and that Is nothing short of re-
markable, considering the conditions.
ATTRACTIONS OF RUSSIA.
Colonel Holloway regards st. Petersburg
as delightful place to live. and believes
that Russia holds out more attractions tC
travellers than any other country.
Russia Is especially interesting to Amer
icans," he said. because there everything
is done just the reverse from the way 1t i.
done in this country. And then the Rus
slams are a most hospitable people, partic
ularly toward Americans. They welcome
citizen OF the United States with open arms
literally and fguratively. They do not tak'
are many places in Russia where English
men are barred.
eff Russia ever has any trouble with an
other country IL will be with England / be
1ieve. over India, although the situation
there Is by no means critical. However
fhe time. and Russia has troops n9,a masse, q,
all along the frontier. England keeps send
ing army officers to Russia on long leave
and Russia has many officers who speal
English. while each country watches ever,
move made by the other"
Colonel Holloway recalled Senator Bever
ioge's trip through Russia and Manchuria
and laughed heartily at the recollection.
Senator Beveridge was altogether to
strenuous for the Russians" said tn
colonel 'and there are few people owe
there who haven't yet recovered from hi
visit. Russians, you knog, never wor
more than three or four hours a day. bu
the senator kept the move almost da
and night and set pace that Russian al
tendants and interpreters could not begi
BEyERIDGE TOO FAST FOR THEM.
II remember that when he went INT
Moscow he asked for an interpreter VIII
could talk to the laboring classes for hin
and a great big fellow was secured Tn
first day In Moscow the senator began b
starting out at 7:30 o'clock in the mornin
To visit factories. and kept on the jump a
day That night he insisted that the inter
prefer accompany him through the residen
quarters OF the poorer classes. The secon
day was the same programme over agair
and on the third the interpreter failed I
show up until the afternoon. He appea re
then much the worse for wear and said h
was III and would have To have som
money. The senator paid him a
that was due him for his serx
ices and the man disappeared. He neyf
showed up again until the senator had LEI
MOSCOW and when found IL was appareu
that he had been on a continual drunk III
was asked why he had left the senator an
his only answer was: oh. such a mar
such a man. Why. he wanted 10 do tw
years work I'm two days" | understand tina
the senator drove several other interpreter
TO drink before he was through with then
"A good illustration OF the nature an
disposition OF the Russian laboring classf
may be drawn from an interview Senate
Beverfdge had with workingmaI
Through an interpreter the senator aske
the man IL he were satisfied with his cor
dftion. The man answered slowly that 4
didn't think he was What do you want
asked the senator. More holidays replie
the man. The full force OF this answer
seen when IL Is known that they have oys
forty holidays In Russia az present"
Colonel Holloway Is stranger TO man
OF the improvements I'm Indianapolis an
after a day or two OF rest he intends
devote some little time to getting a
ouatnted with his home city