The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1907-02-11
Adnaires Car
Hates the Japs
.FoRMER STATE AUDITOR aEN
NETT SAYS RUSSIANS ARE a
JOLLY GOOD LOT, IN
GLIDING NICHOLAS.

-tI3A{hkGSIoNs RED fl1.-former
State Auditor Major q. "A. Bennett,
veteran of the Civil War, and founder
of the Huntington Advertiser, is an
ardent admirer Of Russia and hen gov.
ernment.and has no resitancy in say,
ing SO. as was shown in the grill
room OF the Kanawha last night, when
he recited to a number OF friends mis-
views on the interesting subject. For
Japan he has little use. but for Rus.
sia and her form of government he has
admiration.
Major Bennett compares the United
States somewhat unfayorably even
with the domain of the car, and re.
lates of a friend OF his who, while
in ST. Petersburg some years ago,
wished to see the monarch and was
told to go to the market house
which Is about one mile in length, at
a certain hour in the forenoon, and
he would see him. The American sta.
toned himself where told, and after
waiting but a shot time carriage
was driven up, stopped, and from 1t
alighted the car OF all the Russias.
Gar Bought Vegetables.
He was surprised and followed the
ruler some distance, presuming that
he would soon be killed, but was
mistaken. AS the car passed down
the long aisle-all the Russians nearby
sa1uted respectfully and shouted:
''The Father!' and Here comes the
father!" The car stopped at num-
Der of booths, shook hands with
some of the old women who had
wares to sell, ordered large quanti-
ties of produce, meats, etc, lists OF
which were taken down in note
book by the palace purveyor and paid
for at the time. Following the ruler
we're two men with huge baskets.
which they filed with the wares pur.
chased.
"Twice a week." said the major.
"the humblest Of subjects is priyi-
legged to go before the ruler and
complain of any wrons, actual or pre-.
sumed, and il they are found to have
been prosecuted by any court the
wrongs are righted and the tribunal
loses its bead.
:. Russian conviets.
And all this talk about the horri.
BILE treatment Of prisoners in Russia
is all bosh. The penal colony is in
extent about half as big as West
Virginia, with climate. similar to
ours, aud when a convict is sent
there he is given mule, a plow and
other farming implements and fur
nished with seeds to plant for rails
ing the crop which is intended to
maintain him. If he wills his fam.
lily can go with him, there being fur
nished a cottage of several rooms in
which to live. The government fur.
nishes food until The fisrt crop is har-
vested.
"At any time," continued the major,
r"any five OF the prisoners may con.
gregate. but no more than the num-
Der Is permitted to assemble and
spend hours together as they wouli
outside the colony. The entire place
is surrounded By guards at all times
and to escape from Siberia is a diff
ficult undertaking. But the major.
ity Of them do not want to get away.
They live pretty easy there. To be
in a five by seven cage In an Amer.
lean prison and not allowed to speak
10 any one Is much different from the
treatment received by the Russian
prisoners. should prefer Siberia to
the Moundsville or any other peni.
teatlary in this country"