The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-11-01
GIGANTIC TASK
CONFRONTS WITTE
Must Create a Government and
Also Teach the People How
to Use It.
Journal Special Service.

Journal Special Service.
Washington, Nov. lin the organi-
zation of constitutional government |
for Russia, Count White, the new prime |
minister, is confronted with problems
Of gigantic character. He has no foun-
dation upon which he can erect a struc- |
ture of safe government. Held in tute-
lage in the past as child in leading
people have little conception Of what |
freedom means or Of the responsible
ties that freedom brings.
Count Witte not only must create a
system of safe government, but also
must inaugurate measures for rapidly
teaching the. people to play their part
enjoy the benefits and advantages
which it confers. - -"
Cabinet the First Step.
The formation Of his cabinet is the
first step, but the cabinet after all will
be but temporary organization, whose
continuance in office will depend upon
the douma when it shall begin the
Of the empire.
= The personnel Of the new cabinet in
dicates that Count Witte has surround
ed himself by friends rather than by
acknowledged representatives of the
parties which so zealously have worked
to bring about the overthrow Of the
autocracy.
minister of foreign affairs, and this is
not surprising in view Of the fact that
that official has supported Witte when
he was minister OF finance and when
he was dismissed from that office.
He has retained Vice Admiral Birileff
as minister of marine and General Red
iger as minister Of war, neither of these
men having been personally objection
able to him.
Minister Of the Interior.
He has named as minister Of the in
terror, next to the post of prime min
lister the most important office in the
government, Prince Alexis Obolensky,
one of his assistants when he was min
lister of finance. He is a man Of liberal
tendencies, of considerable administra-
tive experience, having been governor
of a. province, Of general popularity,
NJ. Kokovstzeff, who succeeded Count
| Witte as minister Of finance and who
did not always carry out the financial
policies OF his predecessor, has been re-
moved and the vacancy has been filed
by, the appointment of M. Romanoff,
who IS bureaucrat, having served un-
der Witte and who may be depended
upon Faithfully to execute the orders
| Of his chief.
He has removed Prince Khilkoff, who
received his railroad education in Amer
lean and who made the war in the far
! east possible by keeping the Trans
Siberian railroad in working condition.
Prince Khilkoff was not in sympathy
With W1tte, and besides was opposed to
eminent.
Head Of the Railroads.
NJ. Zeigler Won Schaffhausen, who has
been appointed as Prince Khilkoff g
successor, is chief of the railroad de-
T partment of the ministry. Of finance and
Witte knows his work and knows him
personally.
M. ,Koni, appointed minister of JUS
tice. is. one of the ablest men of Rus
| STA, a lawyer Of eminence, an orator,
an advanced liberal thinker, and man
of tried Judgment. He is an element of
strength to the cabinet that cannot be
Little is known of M. Kroskovsky,
president Of the st. Petersburg mum,
cipal council, who has been named as
minister. of education, His duties will
be particularly laborious, for he will
| have to establish a system of schools
generation Of the people to deal intel
ligently with government problems.
Old Power Behind Throne.
Procurator Pobiedonostseff, who has
resigned, was the chief of the Russian
church: and as the procurator, had the
rank OF minister under THE old regime.
He never has favored the extension of
freedom to the people. He was the
power behind the throne of Alexander
I'LL, the father of Nicholas H., and he
was for years an adviser of the I'M
happy, son.
He has opposed always the establish
ment Of constitutional government
for Russia, insisting that people who
lived under a parliamentary system of
government did not enjoy real self gov.
eminent and that the only sound form,
of government was that which Russia
was above corruption, jealousy, and
party, and who was influenced under
God only by considerations of the hap.
piness and welfare of his subjects.
The procurator opposed with all his
strength the freedom of the press, find.
ing it power which could be us ed by
INSCRIPTIONS persons for selfish ends
Church and State.
There is no Russian in WASHINGTON
who believes there will be separation
Of church and state. That will be q
problem to be worked out in late:
years. Moreover, attention is invited
to the attitude Of England toward thu
church of England and it is suggested
that the same attitude may be ADOPTED
by Russia. Altho the Russians have nc
respect whatever for the priests wher
they. are not engaged in religious cele
brations, they are devout and they
would not be willing to cut the church
from all support by the state. The re
flations Of the church and state will BE-
one of the matters to be settled by thu
douma when it shall assemble. y -
The personal cabinet of Count Witt,
must devote itself to the formulation
OF the regulations in regard to the ex
ercise Of the right Of Suffrage BY tn,
people. These regulations Will brow
, to the people whether the emperor wa
sincere in granting them constitution
The zemstvo organization is known t.
the Russian people and will probably
be the basis upon which the new GOV
; eminent is erected. o.
r. To Cure Cold in One Day -.
Take LAXATIVE BROMO Ouinine Tob1ot,