The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-04

Three months ago IL appeared that the
most powerful man in Russia, excepting the
car. would be convicted of financial oper-
atoms not only disreputable but dishonest.
He was accused OF handling the funds OF
the empire in such a way as to give him
self and his friends the opportunity of
making millions out of fluctuations in the
stock market. The scandal reached such
proportions finally that the car was
Obliged TO order an investigation. The
imperial court of justice conducted the
inquiry, and the charges have been de-
clared entirely without foundation. The
question had assumed almost international
importance. owing to the fact that France
never loses an opportunity of discrediting
the Russian minister OF finance with the
emperor. News of his impending downfall
was received with JOY In Paris. Despite
the Franco-Russian alliance, DE White mas
not scrupled to borrow money from his
allies at terms favorable to Russia. and
has been accused of betraying the French
ministry on several occasions. In addition
TO this. he is the peace man of the car 5
cabinet, and at every opportunity resists
the disposition of France to involve Russa
in French quarrels.
Count de White is among the most con-
spicuous statesmen of Europe today, and
he is the strong arm of the Russian gov
eminent. He it was who evolved sue
ctsSful SCneme LOT putting RUSSIAN cur
rency on gold-standard basis when such
a policy seemed desirable, but utterly i'm
possible in the disordered state of the
country's finances. By his wizard like
methods De White has enormously in
creased the foreign trade of Russia, and
has trebled the revenues of the state
The rise of Sergius de witte is a strk-
ing refutation of the opinion that Is our
rently held of social order In the czars
land. The powerful minister of finance is
the son OF a peasant named White, and
started in life twenty-five years ago as an
employe of the state department OF rail-
roads. He had no money and he had no
influential friends, but he speedily won
the favor of his superiors by doing their
work for them and much better than they
could do it themselves.
Promotion followed promotion, and In
every office he held he gave proof of his
marvellous skill as an organizer. He was
once installed as station master in an I'M
important town, and before many months
had elapsed he had transformed his sta
ton into a model one for the whole en-
pire. Then came the Turkish war, and
that gave him his great chance in life.
for his chiefs in the railway department
lost their head completely under the
strain of transporting troops to the front,
and the result would have been disaster
had he not come to their help.
INSTRUMENTATION. He made his fortune by
being manifestly dsobedient. His chief
was absent. White was station master pro
TEN. Imperial troops were being hurried
by rail to Bulgaria. The war minister had
issued certain orders concerning the troop
trains which no station master in Russia
would have dared to question-none save
White. But Witte dared to think for him.
self and for the car. He foresaw clearly
that obedience TO orders would mean dis
aster for the troops. There was no time
for consultation. He chose to disobey. 1t
was plain that the young man had ruined
himself. His friends assured him that he
would soon be swallowed up In Siberia.
They said he must be mad to destroy his
career at time when he was In fair way
4. to become fullhedged station master. In
official circles the affair caused great
uproar. The war department ordered a
strict investigation of the causes which
had led an assistant station agent to adopt
his own plan for the transportation of the
Russian army. little inquiry developed
the fact that he had saved the whole body
of troops from destruction.
Long before war was declared. without
saying a word to any one, White had
quietly done what his superior ought TO
have done--that is, worked out the de-
tails of various schemes for the trans
port of an army against Turkey. This
proof OF forethought his part created
quite sensation In official circles, where
people are not accustomed to subordinates
looking ahead or doing anything else on
their own initiative. He worked night
and day while the war lasted, and when
IL came TO an end he had already made
a reputation for himself and was on the
highway TO fortune Instead of being
sent 10 Siberia, he was made a director
of the imperial railway.
NJ Wyschnegradski. then minister OF
Gra s,.aa Dat
burg, and as soon as possible made him
minister OF railways. And Nitte, having
further cultivated his faculty OF seeing
things with his own eyes instead OF other
peoples. reformed the railway system
with much vigor.
Those whom he suppianted. actuated by
Jealousy, brought charges against him. II
was said that he had stolen government
funds. An investigation was held. and In
stead Of the minister being ruined, his
chief sianderers were instead OF witte
being convicted of theft. they were
Firmer than ever in his hold upon the
car. Wtte continued to reform things.
climbing higher all the time. Toward the
close Of lss2 his Old patron. N. wyschne-
Eradskl broke down Ia health and was
Obliged 10 rehnquish the portfolio OF
finance. White WAS elevated TO his place
Here was a field for reform in earnest-for
OF all the forlorn. crooked. wildcat mud
dies outside Of buckei-shop the finances
Of Russia we're the most hopeless. To
create anything like decency and order
out OF that chaos was a labor Of Hsrcu-
les.
White did Il. He has been working at II
ever since, making himself igiustFious the
world over and hated in his own country.
The credit OK Russia ~ no longer by
word among the nations. and the former
assistant station master Is the most pow
erful man IN the empire, next 70 the car.
DE WHITE WAS the author % scheme
which he recommends in 1885 10 redeem
the paper in gold az It's current value
two-thiris ~ us face value-aud establish
the gold standard b. easy stages First.
h proposed 20 coin new is-ruhle piece.
containing two-fhiras OF the quantity Of
one gold IN the old imperial. II was o
this coin that the paper WAS 70 be redeem
Ell. and though ~ less value than the old
sold coinage, 81 vas ~ greater value than
jhs old silver coin. which Russia might
have feisted on the holders cf Russian
paper money, and stin have been within