The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-21
RUSSIA'S GREATEST MAN.
HE Is COUNT sURGIUs DE WHITE,
MINISTER OF FINANCE.

From the Philadelphia Times
The greatest man in Russia, excepting
the Gar himself bears a name that not
a dozen people in Philadelphia will recog-
nize. Beginning life as an obscure en-
ploye at an insignificant railroad station,
and since with the powerful mobiles and
the great capitalists of the empire ar
rayed against him, this man now exerts
an influence greater than that of any other
individual in all the Russias. He is Count
de Witte, Minister of Finance.
Time and time again have combinations
Of mobiles and capitalists been formed TO
crush his power-even TO exile him to ST.
beria-and as often have the attempts
failed The latest effort, the greatest of
them all, has just resulted in failure and
Count de White enjoys TO even a greater
extent than ever his sovereign's conf
dence.
About two months ago the Minister Of
Finance was accused Of manipulating the
funds of the empire so as to cause heavy
fluctuations in the stock exchanges and
from which his friends benefited. So cir
cumstantial was the story told to the Gar
that ne had no alternative but to order an
inquiry. The Minister of Justice himself
conducted the investigation, and he has
just reported that there was not a vestige
of truth in the charge.
Surgius Witte-the right to the de-
was acquired in quite recent days-is a
seif-made man. He started life without
either wealth or influential friends to help
him on flis way. He was born in 1849
hx1a T,x~ ftssh do mil AZ
class, his father, who was of German
origin, holding some minor office under
the government. He spent some years
as a student at the Odessa University,
though without, a Is seems distinguish
ing himself there in any special degree.
When ne left Odessa he obtained post
in the state railway department, where
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 quite
an unimportant town, and before many
months had elapsed he had transformed
his station into a model one for the whole
empire Then came The Turkish war, and
that gave him his great chance in life,
for his chiefs in the railway department
lost their heads completely under tile
strain OF Transporting troops to the front,
and the result would have been disaster
had he not come to their help.
Whites opportunity pointed the way TO
insubordination. He made his fortune by
being magnificenty disobedient. 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 sta
TOM agta or in would have
question.-none save White, But Witte
dared 10 think for himself and for the
Gar. He foresaw clearly that obedience
to orders would mean disaster for the
troops. There was no time for consulta-
ton. 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 ne must be mad to destroy his career
at a time when he was in fair way to be-
come a full-hedged station master.
Officially, there was a great hullabalIoo'
The assistant station masters insubordi-
nation was investigated by important per
sons in Respondent uniforms. And then
it broke on the official mind that the eul-
prit had saved his Imperial Majesty
troops from destruction
The Investigation developed the fact that
long before war was declared, wlthout
saving a word to any one, Witte had qul-
done-that is worked out the details OF
various schemes for the transport OF an
army against Turkey. This proof OF 1ofe-
thought on his part created quite a sen
sation in official circles. where people are
not accustomed to suDordlnates LOOKING
ahead or doing anything else on their
own initiative. He worked night and day
while the war lasted; and when it came
to an end he had already made reputa-
ton for himself. and was on the highway
to fortune. Instead of being sent 10 81
IBERIA he was made a director OF the I'M
pcrial railway.
Nj. Wyschne gradski. the president of the
railroad thought that young man capa-
BILE of such intelligent disobedience might
be useful in the highest quarters. When
he himself became minister of finance he
summoned White 10 ST. Petersburg, and
as soon as possible made him minister Of
railways. And Witte, having further cul-
tivated his faculty of seeing things with
his own eyes instead of other p0ople's
reformed the railway system with much
Vigor.
Those whom he suppanted, actuated by
jealousy. brought charges against him. IL
was said that he had stolen government
funds.
An investigation was held, and instead
of the minister being ruined his chief
slanderers wcre-instead of Witte being
convicted Of theft-they were
Firmer than ever in his hold upon the
Car White continued to reform things,
climbing higher all the time. Toward the
close of 1892 his ola patron, NJ. Wyschne-
gradsk, broke down in health ana was
obliged to rclinquish the portfolio Of
finance. White was elevated TO his place.
Here was field for reform in earnest
for of all The forlorn. crooked, wildcat
muddles outside of bucket shop the
finances Of Russia were the most hope
less. To create anything like decency and
order out of chat chaos was a labor Of
Hercules.
Wtte did it, He has been working at
il ever since. making himself illustrious
the world over and hated in his own coun-
try. The credit of Russia is no longer
byword among The nations, and the for
mer assistant stationmaster is the most
powerful man in the empire, next to the
car.
Meanwhile he had married a wife, one
of the most beautiful, fascinating women
in all Russia. one brilliantly clever, too,
with keen wits as wen as perfect fea-
lures; and the rapdity with which he rose