The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1906-05-03
DOWNFALL OF RUSSIA'S
foremost STATESMAN
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE RESIGNATION OFPRE-
MIER WITTE.

Succeeded by Former Minister of the
Interior GOremykin--Latter's Eleva-
tfOn Causes Amazement-NOt Only
Regarded as ReactiOnary but is Not
Believed Equal to the Task-First
Evidence of Altered Policy Change
in Plans for Opening Parliament.
St. Petersburg, May 2.--The official
announcement that Premier Whites
resignation had been accepted coupled
with the statement that former Minis
ter of the Interior Goremykin would
succeed him was made to-day. In view
of the publications of the last few days
the former statement did not come as a
surprise, but NJ. Goremykin's elevation
to the premiership created amazement
He is not only regarded as a reaction
airy but the general opinion is that he
is not equal to the task of facing the
coming crisis.
The first evidence Of altered policy is
the announcement of a change in the
plans for the opening of the national
parliament, the ceremonial of which,
according to a semi-official intimation
will be cut to the minimum. Possibly
it is considered that even without the
blare of imperial trimpets and the gilt
ter of pompous opening the parlia-
ment will stand so much in the lime
light that its dissolution if found nee
essary, would involve sufficient risk.
It is stated tonight with great in
sistance that Minister of Justice Aky-
moff also will accompany Count White
into retiremen though not as a friend
of the former premier He was, in fast
one of the staunchest supporters of In
terror Minister Durnovo in his recent
battle with Count Witte and made him
self even more dreaded that Durnovo in
liberal circles as the framer of the
temporary laws under which Minister
Durnovo assumed to act against the
reformers. His successor, it is stated,
will be M. Chtchegloritoff, at present
assistant minister of justice.
The view is advanced In some circles
that the reactionism of M. Goremykin.
owing to the calibre Of the man, may
not be much worse than the liberal
ism of the laft few months. It is in
timated that he is not a man of suffi-
cient strength to initiate and carry
through formidable campaign of re-
action, while his tactical mistakes will
be eagerly pounced upon by the keen
and unlimited opposition which has
been built UP during the campaign.
Count Whites retirement from public
life is complete. There is now no ques-
tion Of his appointment to be president
of the council of the empire, and al
though 1t is rumored that he may be
asked to act as chairman Of the finance
committee it is learned that this is
incorrect. Count Witte will again as
sumo the role of 81 spectator of the
great events which are transplring, re-
turning to private life from which he
was summoned last summer to nego-
tiate the peace Of Portsmouth The
work of removing his furniture from
the winter palace annex back to his old
residence on Yelagin Island has already
begun. While reasons Of health are as
signed for his retirement 1t must be
accepted as a victory for the reaction
lists at court. Count Witte simply serv-
ed the emperor's purpose as barrier
between him and the people during the
trying months of the revolution and
now that tn euprising is suppressed and
the treasury again replenished the
count has been ignominiously dismissed.
M. Goremynkln the new premier, was
exposed by Witte in 1899 and since then
Irisri,Ah Do \