New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-04-11
SPEAKER OF THE DONNA
Fought Under the Boer Flag and
OoWned Inc Grand Dukes.

Copyright 1910 bv fle B7eutwoc5 Company
Alexander Cutchlcff. who has Just been
elected rre sident % the Donna. and who.
rex- 10 PrruIc- S-o'yr.n. Is perhaps the
most remarkable nan a. che present mo-
mert in the political life 90 Russia. is
forvy-seven wears 81 axe. belonEs not 10 the
arisrocracy. but 70 one o. The great mar-
camille families 81 MOSCOW was graduated
from the MOSCOW University. received
commercial training. with the object 90 1T
tins himself Tor his fathers business. and
when the war broke oUr in South Africa
more than decade ago. proceeded 10 the
TranSvaal and took service under the Boer
Tag against the English. He went through
The war IN Msnchuria. not as co-lbatant.
bu- as member q the Red Cross. and
year later. at the time % the insurr-c-
ton IN Moscow. ne gathered around him
corps ~ volunteers 20 combat the socialis;
and revolutionary insurgents. contributing
thereby in no small degree TO the suppress
son of the rising and 10 the restoration 81
order.
Elected % the FIRST Douma. Gutchkof
attracted the attention and won the good
viii % the al powerful grand mistress Of
the court Princess Caffeine. who spoke
about him 10 The Car and presented him
70 the latter Emperor Nicholas took
fancy 90 the man. ard had number Of in
Jeryiews with him. When Premier StoIv-
pin formed his Cabinet GEtchkoI was o.
Tered tile post Of Minister Of Commerce.
but declined lt In order 20 preserve his lib
er-y Of action. and thcreupou took a leading
part in the Legislative movement calling for
an end OF the Interference OF IRRESPONSIBLE
grand dukes IN The administration Of the
various departments Of the government II
was owing 10 his powerful speeches in the
D0Uma thar the various princes OF the reign
Ing house were deprived OF their inde0en-
dence Of the ministers and subo-dinatad 20
the authority % the latter In military and
naval affairs; and when the grand dukes
protested. the Emperor Endorsed the action
Of GucchlofI and informed his kinsuen thar
they could either yield or else 20. Clutch
kof IS celebrated throughout the length and
breadth OF Russia. and N fact an Over
Europe as having Uu- an end with The
support OF the Emperor. 10 grand ducal
decentralization and usurpation of au-
thoriry. Il is only far 90 the princes 70
add that the people % whom Gutchxor Oh
tected were not so much the princes them
selves as the crowd Of dishonest followers
and parasites by whom they were surround
cd. and who took advantage Of imperial
favor 90 detraud the government and 10 OBJ
str1ct reform.
In The second Dolua cutchkoT repr--
scented The Merchants Guild Of Moscow.
and IN The present parliament he IS the
leading member for Russta's senior ne
tropolis. He lis very rich. IS ar The head ~
me great mercantile house IT Moscow
founded by his grear-grardratrer. added
- which he is president and director Of AZ
least dozen banks and Insurance com
panies.
Moreover. The prince is a very sensible
young fellow and scarcely likely 10 he
willing 20 identity himself with fools
Finally, he must realize that by no DOS
sioie mesrs can his name be put forward
as possessing any rights 70 the French
throne For he IS descended from that
l'rench-Bourbon Duke q Ansou who SOL
EMMY renowned. for himself and eo~ al
fis descendants. his and their rights II
succession 70 the French throne when -
was elected King OF Spain. something more
than Two hundred years ago Admitting
Tor q moment that this ACT Of reruncia-
ton was invalid, Don Jaime. the Carlist
p-etender % ne throne - Spain hts uncle.
Prince Alfonso. the president Of the In
ternauonal Anti-Dueliug League. The
Count of Caserta himself and all os his
ol1er sons would have rights prior 10
those OF Young Prince Francis. The engf-
neer by putting him forward the Action
I ra0calse and the CaueIots du Roi have
rendered themselves even more ridiculous
than they hEve been heretofore