The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-16
WITTE REAL CAR
OF THE RUSSIAS
Man Hated by the Romanoffs Now
Rules Supreme in the
Capital.
But Over Witte Is the "Union of
Unions, " as Power Behind
Throne.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service. -.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 16.-All here is
dream. The Russia Of today is en-
tirely unlike the Russia of a few weeks
ago. This rapid change is bewildering.
One picks up newspaper at hazard.
It contains a terribly insulting personal
attack on the whilom dreaded General
Trepoff. It grinds him to dust in the
street. Newspapers appear to so speak
at every corner. r.
.'Buy the Voice of the People"
yells one leather-lunged youth. "First
number of New Life'' echoes another.
One buys copy of New Life. 1t rep
resents the workingmen. In bold, black
type is the announcement: ,
..'According to agreement with the
union Of the press this paper is pub
lished without having been submitted
to the censor. The promised enact
ment, giving freedom to the press has
not yet been made effective, but the
press by common consent has taken the
law into it's own hands. It defes the
censor.' -E .. ~ : E...-. p a.
King Of Democrats.
The Winter Palace is occupied by that
king of democrats, Sergius Witte, the
man hated by the, emperor and the
enemy Of the grand dukes. And Coun-
oS'1
imperial servants. He who until few
weeks ago had been banned from ap-
pearing in court, Count Witte, is vir-
tual1y in supreme command Of this
great country. -:
He has shown taste of his tenn
per by .dismissing four peccant gov
ercnors Of provinces in one day. and at
six ministers who fell the same day.
e. The droshkY driver is no. longer the
| humble Individual he was a few weeks
! ago. AS he passes the policeman he
calls that functionary an ugly name
and the policeman says never a worG.
The "Union of Unions,' the new
and admirably organized combination
fishes daily it's decisions upon questions
of political interest Of moment.
| The Real Ruler. H.
Count Witte popularity is supposed to
be in supreme command Of everything.
! True. he rules nearly supreme. But IN
his turn he is ruled by the ''.Urion of
him and all his efforts by a word: Will
it give him time7 Eyes" replies the
uUnion Of Unions" "but you must
dismiss Trepoff.' -
/ Witte liked Trepoff and found in him
a supporter. But he had to dismiss him
i for the "Union of Unions' SO willed
eff Russia is to be saved from she
must have patience.' Such is the cry
of Witte in this great moment of trial
the greatest in the history of the coun
The terrifying truth is that at the
; present moment only slender threaC
stands between renovated, reconstruct
ed, liberated Russia and anarchy lei
: loose thruout this ill-starred country OF
scale that the world never has known
The thread is held in the hands of Wittt
!: and should it snap, desolation, disorder
bloodshed and even civil war are sur'
: to follow. Witte makes an urgent, al
most piteous appeal to the people, ask
ing them to be patient. ...
Witte at the Helm.
Meantime, as half of the minister
: have resigned and the new ones hav'
: not yet been installed, the future pre-
: mier is carrying on the government O.
all the Russias with his own hands AM
s upon his own responsibility.
The other day he said: "Russia i
: in most dangerous position. The onl,
5. thing that can save her is a complet
overhauling and thoro change in he
: administrative methods, and if it is no
: done soon it will be too late. The ma
WHO uuuclGdhCo ~ h"NO opSHAo
!. powers.'
Witte today has those powers. Hi
!: sincerity is unimpeachable. He wi
. sweep away the bureaucracy. He hate
): the bureaucrats as the curse. of tn
5 country. He will sweep their powe
J: away relentlessly. He knows all tn
!: tricks and how to counteract them, an
!. will enjoy doing it. He has the fulle:s
. faith in his own powers. His onl
s doubt lies in the question whether tn
=. people will give him time.
. Custodian of Relief Funds.
. Baron Gunsberg, well-knowr Jev
?. ish philanthropist Of st. Petersburg
!: has received imperial authorization f
. the distribution of the Jewish relic
: funds raised in America, England an
!: other foreign countries. He is now o
): garizing committees. -.
s The advices being received here i
!: dicate that much money will be T
. quired and the major portion of Il
s funds on hand will Immediately
:: distributed to provide those who are
5 urgent need with food and other nece
. stiles Of life.
= NJ