The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-04-02
RUSS NATION NOW IN BEST POSSIBLE
CONDITION, ASSERTS AUTHORITY

Among Americans. probably the
beat informed on Russia. tts people
and Affairs. including its politics. ts
Charlss n. Crane. multi millionaire
manufacturer OF Chicago. For Is
years Crane spent all his summer
vacations In Russia Until the var
broke cut he never missed a season.
AZ head OF the Crane company he
had large business interests In Rus
sis. but this became secondary 10 his
interest In the Russian people and
politics. the latter his hobby and hts
special study. Moreover. for a long
the radical movement In Russia. an
Interest manifested BY private, but
large contributions and probably no
important Russian Tevomtionlst has
come 10 America for the last decade
without reporting directly or indi-
rcctiy 20 Crane. He has q personal
aequaintanee with most Of the prin-
eipal figures in the present revolu-
,orsisS mD.,en %ss NJ. rs s.,.eRs tss'1 .s
deiivtr the slavic lectures AZ the TINT
Nersity 90 Chicago. he speaks with
great Familiarity and authority on all
things Russian.
~ CHARLES n. CRANE
Perhaps the most notable and for.
tunAte thing about the new Russian
government IA the way II com Dimes
ell the elements necessary 10 a
strong and permanent government.
The war has brought together the
various radical groups.
The FIRST imperial dumae were
made up OF a number OF parties.
frequently having brilliant and
scholarly leaders. but as there was
little cohesion among the various
groups IL was always possible for
the government TO play one against
another, and Russia was not very
much helped by It's work, and out
side nations were not very much i'm.
pressed by its value.
A perpetual night was made on II
BY the reaetionary classes. and the
emperor always was being solicited
10 eItinguish Il.
It's mlefortunes reached the low.
est ebb around 1909 and 1910. and
Mnukof very pessimistioally said
that he hoped even the slightest
flicker would be kept alive. for he
felt sure that in the course OF time
the dumA would come into It's own
This prophecy has been entirely
justified during the last week
As the war developed and the in.
efficiency OF the central government
became more and more Obvious and
The position OF Russia more and
more perilous, the various groups
in the duma began 10 coslFsce. and
nnhly they formed a compact gov
eminent of very able and patriotic
men. with great experience and
steadiness. who represent and have
the confidence OF all the various
groups concerned in the welfare OF
Russia both az home and abroad
MnukoI. in charge ~ foreign II
fairs, not only has great follow.
ing In Russia. but has tho absolute
confidence % all the allies. He has
visited this country twice 20 lee
ture. once In 1901 on Russia. and IN
1903 on the Balkans. During both
OF these visits he made me i'm
preston on many OF our leading
men. and there IL no doubt whatever
that he will actively concern hin
self with every reasonable effort 10
put our relations with Rnssia on
hrrh and enduring basis,
The, revolution has ccme about in
characteristic Russian fashion. en-
tirely tree from brutality, and the
whole world can feel that the new
Russia is in the beat possible hands
The Russian people are funda
mentally very democratic as 50 per
cent OF the people arc small landed
proprietors They arc not only
small landed proprietors but they
have a genius for cooperative move
ments. and there are a vas' number