New-York tribune., 1906-05-01
FALL OF COUNT WITTE
pprafTER PROBdBLY OUT.
s;r~s of Victory for Party of Rus
sian Reaction.

os,ersburg. April sO-whHe The Associa-
,-.ss IS unable absolutely 20 confirm the
ret Emperor Nicholas has accepted Pre-
- ---Itte,s resignation. II can be affirmed that
vzu,+e has again asked the Emperor 10
bstween him and the Minister OF the In
q plrnovo. A correspondent called to-
,be Premier's residence. in the Winter
- count Witte was dining out, and NJ
s.,s 4he chief OF the chancellery, was sus-
sly, evasive VIXEN asked about the report
-. -s+treueut OF his superior. II can say
-,,v" was all he would say. The reply may
-.rsed as partial confirmation OF the ru-
,-,ors Of Count Whites retirement, coupled
~. she assertion that ;he Emperor WOULD ap-
- him President Of the Council OF the EN-
have been current since Saturday, but
-. have been so frequently put into circula-
- !, late that they have attracted little at
..-,,on especially in view OF the fact that
go, yyitte was believed TO have definitely de-
..,,.s his rival, NJ Durnovo. It appears, how
- that Premier Whites enemies have been
,,,nmine until the loan negotiations could be
x-.sbsa. and that with the completion OK the
-, the court intrigue for the overthrow o.
- Premier and the restoration OF IL Durnovo
:. ,orar was resumed. One OF the chief points
q e~~-S
=. .,,nrerascy was the Emperor's firm belief
ss.. no financial aid would be given 20 Russia
- sorsipn bankers II the Premier retired. With
=. ,oan made. Count Whites enemies instantly
!, "a work 10 convince Emperor Nicholas that
- prsunier's usefulness was ended.
The Associated Press is in a position 70 say
,,.4 Count witte is utterly disguised with the
.wD Of affairs, especially with the possibility
,s,t ,he Emperor might not redeem his promise
= dismiss n. Durnovo before the assembling Of
P,-lament, and that within a few days the
r-sn,ler offered the Emperor the alternative OF
runovo or himself.
n Count Witte retires at this critical time NJ.
Kokoyson, former Minister Of Finance. is likely
70 succeed him II. Kokovsoff. who enjoys favor
az court is a man Of little depth, but is suawe
,slker. The reactionists believe that such a man
"A needed to face Parliament.
Kief. April 3O-ghe police have conhscated
al copies Of the Official s. Petersburg 'Gosu-
6arstvo," the organ of Premier Witte. The au-
thorites considered the papers political attitude
IS too liberal
When Count Witte was appointed Premier by the
Russian Emperor, in October OF last year. it was
CoEadently expected that he would repeat the sue
cess that he gained in the peace conference. But
the difficulties in the way Of success have been so
enormous and the obstacles TO be overcome so ap-
paling that he has repeatedly sought 20 lay down
the burden put upon him The latest crisis arose
when the differences between the Minister OF the
Interior. i. Durnovo, and the Premier reached
such point that the latter told the Car he must
choose between them The announcement then
vas made that II DurnOvo would retire and
Premier Witte remain, and It was expected that
b would stay in office 10 see the result OF the
hin. which VIII be tested when the first pariia-
msnt OF national assembly Of the Russian people
meets.
Count WItte when chosen Premier was regarded
as The most competent statesman IN Russia, quail
fsa By his training and experience sor the post TO
E1ich he was appointed. Ee had succeeded in
perslalirsg the Emperor 20 sign the manifesto
which gave the people voice in their government.
Hs EEs reared IS a youth IN the liberty loving
stnospheTe OF tbs Caucasus where he was born az
Tins e lsis. His father was an official. and his
mother the daughter OF 2 governor OF SaratofI.
After passing through the at the Tihis high
school be went 10 The university at Odessa where
be devoted himself TO mathematics. Upon his
graduation he entered a business career, be-
ginning as & railway station master. from which
8 as sooa worked himself up g be head OF the sys-
1.sn6sat "-''''' '' e -'s'i'9D 4' SeHe'8i super
When called TO St Petersburg by the investiga-
uon uon o. az accident he came 10 the notice OF the
nead of the department in charge OF railways n.
ss-i.Ate-dCSa3, ana Wnen the latter made
s'ls;sE - o. nance ne put young Witte in charge
o railroads With tie outbreak OF the Russo
IlIksn War ne had a chance to show his ability
eno u 1sI5 he put at the head OF all the rail-
80 UaLc Of the empire. Three years later he
neoaEle Minister OF Communications, and IN this
Siberian Railway.
n leS4 ne was appointed Minister Of Finance and
- lEls important Office for ten years had many
ogpoltunities for the introduction OF reforms and
oetLyng forward the Industrial development Of the
empire But the innovations which he introduced
&c ne success which attended many OF the meas
ne ne was able 10 advocate successfully stirred
" 80 much opposition that those opposed TO him
we etae n 1913 10 have him transferred from the
&c. q Minister q Finance TO that OF president
y ue council of Ministers. Here his powers were
-rss.Ilc'eo and ne was forced into the background
"sssfe ne remained until last summer.
ri adNrsFlefI first selected as head Of the
ssslsslan Peace Commission. TO serve with F3aron
.sgseh' cut when he declined Count Witte was
,rte9 he so successfully conducted the negotia-
sAe At portsmouth that substa atial success was
81 ~ aoWn 70 tie credit OF Russia in the outcome
SA11e y A1e conference. Count Witte went back to
-s.ss-a 70 receive the congratulations Of the EN-
IIoE ana the people
re &c Was soon called on TO undertake the new
' o.A oI leading the councils Of the nation in the
b. p.sL perlous period through which the people Of
- 1I'-s nave ever passed In the DEVELOPMENT OF
s-. 1--we participation OF the people in the con-
s-et OF What has been the most autocrafic gov
- s.il..snt " the world he had a most dflcUie mart
--,tlL, u " nen the facts fully known a will
,isN-olg pe round that the same forces Of ouposi-
S. S54ieh secured his practical downfall as Min
.si q Finance were successful in rreventinqr his
,-s -s "a the history Of Russia IN the strain 10
~ - has been subjected for the last six months
'4s4itA is said 10 have suffered severely.
. 6. BENNETT AT CHARLESTON. N. c.
Nnarlestcn s. c AprjI s0-Tau,ee C.or1o, r1a,