The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-02-02

Ib)&
EMPIRE.
How The Nation Will Handle Its HI
nances-Its Foreign Trade and
Hoy. Its Ship Subsidies pay-Japan
and Outside Capital-A Business
People Whose Companies Pay BIG
Observation-Disclosures Foreign Poi
lev. Peace. Peace. Always Peace"
Korea ard Nanchnria-An Auto
graph Message to the United States.
t~Copyrightcd, 1909, by Frank G. Car
penter.)
TOXIC.
1t is n great thing to be 1t mighty
Seners,I and lead your soldiers to Vie
tory in WEI. It is greater StH to be
at the head of a nation during q war
and m&sIa2e its finances and SoVcTn-
mept in such q WAY rs to bring that
was to e successful conclusion, ana
greater than all TO be a5i@ to take
hold OF ttlt government when the war
is over and direct IL along the lines
of prosperity in the arts of peace.
The story of KatSura.
And these things form q part OF the
past life and tee present situation OF
Marquis Taro Katsusa. who is now the
Premier and also the Finance Minis
ter Of the Japanese empire. Born in
1917. when James K. Polk was Presi-
dent of the United States. and Only six
wears lefore Commodore Perry made
his first expedition to Japan, H.
fought, as q boy. for the emperor in
the ciNii war which made his mai
esty the real ruler OF the Japanese
people. Shortly after that he was
sen to Germany to study military sci
ence, and when he returned was made
vice minister Of the War Department.
When the Japan-China trouble
broke out katsura was made the
commander of q division. and in 1906
he became war minister. and held
that position under several prcmiers.
AS such, he has had much TO do with
bringing the army To its present effi-
cinency; and when the war with Rus
STA broke out, he IN the meantime
having been elevated to the premier
ship, was of the greatest value TO
his country in carrying on that great
struggle. He was still in office when
peace was declared, but there was
such public discomfort over the terms
Of the peace that he retired. recon-
mending the Marquis Saionji as MS
successor.
The Premier Of Japan.
That was in 1906. Now, only three
years later. we find the great warrior
marquis again at h head OF the SOY
eminent. The emperor n his lead
ing advisers. including the chief state
ment and fnanciers of Japan. nave
tiGc10eI tn31 tlb country Is SoillS lco
fast and that its business needs re-
organization. They find that they
have an cnormOu national debt grow
ing out Of the war. and that the V
nues and expenditures Of the govern
ment must be reformed. AS their
leader they have picked out katsura,
and he again holds II premiership.
There is no man in the empire so we'll
fitted for the position. He appre-
.;oto, fbA p,i1iJary ncnqScifipC Hf his
country to the full. and he has at the
samew time a working knowledge of
ist financial requirements. He has
already i~naugurated q policy of re-
trenchment, economy and reform
which hes raised the value of the
Japanese bonds in all of the great
markets of the world, and which in
time, if carried out to a conclusion,
will probably make the Japanese one
of the creditor nations of the world.
1t was to talk with Marquis Kat
sura about the financia! situation and
its prospects that J. called upon him
at his Official residence this morning.
Each Of thesen high Japanese officials
has an official residence in addition
TO his private home. That of Mar
quis Katsura is back of the state de-
partrnent and right next the hines
legation. 1t is a large house, built in
foreign style, and it was in q big par
Tor, furnished in red. with q red car
pet and red walls. that / was received
by the premier. His excellency does
not sr2ak English and Mr.. Sassano of
the department of foreign affairs acted
as our interpreter.
But !et me tell o how the premier
looks. He is of medium Japanese
height, which is considerably under
that of the average American. He is
straight and well formed. having q
big round head firmly set On a pair
of broad shoulders. He has q high
forehead, shOdt black hair and a hin
black mustache. His eyes are very
bright, but they grow serious now and
then as he talks.