The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-04-14
IS
PROSPER|NG
BY THE WAR
RUSSIAN MINISTER OF FINANCE
DECLARES WsP HAS PROVED
Z BLESSING TO The PEOPLE,
FINANCIALLY AND SOCIALLY.

Petrogrsd. April I5.-Ths opinion
was expressed today BY Pierre L.
BARK, Russian minister Of finance,
that economically considered, the
war bas been blessing 10 the peo-
pie Of this country. Discussing the
hns2cial and social aspects Of the
conflict IN an Interview with the
Associated Press. Mr Bark said.
Notwithstanding the depressing
and parslyzing effect Of the war, the
Russian peasant class is more pros
porous than al any previous time in
the history Of the country. It IS not
difficult 70 account for this unusual
prosperity. BY virtue Of the allow
ance made BY the government 10
the families Of the soldiers, which
exceeds the earning power Of the
soldiers, the total income Of the fam
lies ig greater than in times OF
peace. Thus, instead Of feeling any
priyation as the result OF the alb
sence Of the men and the loss OF
their services, the people are be.
ginning 10 regard the war as pc
culiar sort OF God-send which is
putting money !nto their pockets"
what about vodka" the minister
was asked
1T is the prohibition Of the sale
Of vodka which is primarily respon =
sible for the ameliorated condition OF
the peasant" he responded. The
sieve through which all the avail
able earnings formerly disappeared
has now been closed and the money
is spent for present necessities OF
saved for future wants.
1T Is not necessary to invent theo
ries to explain why the Russian peo-
pie should be more prosperous for
the actual fact is that this prosperity
is everywhere noticeable. Before the
war the average yearly savings de-
posted Amounted to from 10000,
900 to 100000 rubles $4,000, 900 tc
500 900 ,00O) while in the month ot
January alone, about 60,000,O00 ru
bes (s3O,OOOO0OJ was deposited.
What about the crops" was the
next question.
THE farmers have been very for
tunate in being compelled to hold
their supply of grain on account OF
the difficulties in transportation, fol
grain is now at the highest price oi
the year. There is every reason tc
believe that the farmers will soon be
able to dispose of their grain in
foreign markets and at great advan-
tage"
Discussing the conference in Paris
of the finance ministers of Russia
France and Great Britain for the
consideration of financial problems
arising from the war, Mr.. Bark said
zone result was the formulation
of an agreement with our allies to
pool all the expenses of the war. In
accordance with this understanding
Russia is TO draw upon Great Brit
ain and France for money expended
I'm the war while our allies are tC
call upon Russia for grain which
they need
In response to a question regard
ing the recent increase Of 80 pei
cent in the tariff, NJ. Bark said:
THAT is only temporary affair
designed partly to make up for the
loss in revenue from the vodka traf-
fic. | do not believe that this tenn
porary increase in the tariff will dis
courage, foreign trade with Russia.
"In TACT. Russia looks for tre
mendous increase in her trade with
the United States and her allies &c
replace the German trade existing
before the war.
There. is now particular oppor-
tunity for the United States for she
of all the countries to which We
look for t'ade, is not crippled by
the war"