The Globe-republican., 1906-03-22
THE COUNT MAY LEAVE RUSSIA.
Many Instances Are Cited Of Terror
ism Of Local officials In Preventing
a Free Expression Of the Peas
ants.

to retire from the premiership. Inc
Associated Press is unable to con
firm the rumor, as Count White has
retired and the chancellery was clos
| ed when the correspondent called
shortly after midnight. From an alb.
soMtely authoritative source, how
ever, 1t can be stated that Count White
at session of the council of the EN-
pire made a statement which Is in
terpreted by many members of the
council as a cirtual declaration that
career as premier is ended by him and
that he will be succeeded by Privy
Counsellor Kokovsoff, former minis
| ter of finance.
A project for the solution of the
Agrarian problem by the purchas%B f
lands from the mobiles and other large
proprietors through the peasant banks
and their resale to peasants on long
term installment payments, was under
discussion. AS the treasury is in con-
dition to advance the money to the
banks for this purpose Count White
advocated scheme under which the
banks should purchase the land with
fifteen-year credit bonds, instead OF
cash. A very marked division Of the
cabinet developed. Finance Minister
Shipoff opposed the premier. Sudden
ly M. Kokovsoff arose and in warm
speech earnestly supported Count
Whites views. When he had con-
cluded, Count Witte closed the debate
in few words, rather apologizing for
his seeming indifference and thank
ing M. Kokosoff for his support, add
ing:
II also might have adopted a bet
ter defense had been as much in
terested in the future as Alexander
Nicholaievitch, meaning M. Kokosoff,
Russians, even on formal occasions,
referring to persons by their Christian
names.
On what is apparently reliable au-
thority 1t is said that the condition
of Count Whites health is quite un-
satisfactory. He is said to have ex-
perienced a rather alarming attack OF
heart trouble few days ago. His
physician advised him some time ago
to giv,p work. 1t is known Count
Witte believing that he had weather
ed the political storm, formed a de-
termination to relinquish the premier
ship upon the meeting of the national
assembly. Recently, however, the
strength of the reactionaries increas-
ed, and the premier was obliged to
keep up the fight against heavy odds.
1t may be that his endurance was
thus exhausted and that, feeling that
his health was declining, he has
reached the decision to retire imme-
diately.
AS the elections proceed there is
more and more evidence of the vir-
tual exclusion from participation of
the radical elements of the popula-
ton. The preliminary stages Of the
elections will rob the national assem-
bly, of much of its national character.
Its authority to speak will be abso-
lutely denied by the preletariat organ
ization which bore the brunt of the
fight for liberty. Complainer of inter-
ference in the country districts are
increasing. Many fragrant instances
are cited of the terrorism of local Off
Gals in preventing a free expression
of the peasants, and often of practi-
cally compelling the selection OF
priests and village elders. The SEEM
ing apathy of the small landowners
assemblies, at which an average of
only ten per cent Of the voters were
present, is explained by the feeling |
that they were not free to choose.
Carefully collected information |
from the outlying industrial districts
shows that the elections were com.
plete farce. Nominally eleven of the
.hirty-nine working groups entitled to
participate elected twenty out Of
hfty-seven delegates to the conven.
ion which will select eighteen repre-
yentatives for the city, The conven-
ion will in turn elect for st. Peters
)urg six members of the national as
,embly.