Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-16
GUTCHKOFF, MAN OF
THE HOUR IN RUSSIA
If IL Had Not Been for His Work in
Reshaping Military Affairs His
Country Could Not Have
Fought in This War
By v. A. TsANoFF
ny Special Arrangement win Haper's W


responsibility the man t0ho "a the subject
Of the follotoin0 sketch. Russian netos-
papers have been persistentlv reporting that
Alexander GufohkoG iodt be called upon TO
solvo the serious munitions problem.
XETHEN the Far Eastern war filled the
w hearts Of Jews, Poles and landless peas
ants with a hope such as comes once a cen-
tury, the issue Of the liberalization Of Rus
sla, and the forcibie appropriation OF landed
properties was formally moved at a congress
Of Russian Liberal leaders In Moscow,
Gutchxoff as a minority of one, cast his vote
for the unity of Russia and against federal
ism.
Gutchkoff did not falter when the drum
head courtmartial law was thrust threaten
ingly In the face of Russian revolution by
Peter Arkadievitch Stolypn.
/ was lunching with Gutchkoff in Mos
COW hotel when the newspaper extra con-
tanning the first announcement-includin
full details-of the rapid-f1re justice which
Stolypin had had promulgated by virtue OF
paragraph 81, was brought TO our table. He
read It carefully, allowing no trace of emo
tion TO break across the impenetrable mask
Of his face. As he lifted his eyes from the
reading with a word or two he expressed APP
proval Of Stolypins act which was to restore
order at the cost Of thousands Of lives young
lives mostly.
A CrOmwellian Step
with a majority behind him, pledged TO
support Stolypin, in the Third Duma, Gutch-
koff's first step was a Cromwellian one.
Gutchkoff formed a Committee of Imperial
Defense, and had himself elected chairman
of It, and saw TO 1t that no one was elected
to a membership in that committee who be-
longed TO the Opposition. He insisted on
having only such as he considered loyal sons
of Russia associated with him In his charac-
teristic work. Army and navy AFFAIRS, and
parliamentary, or more correctly legislative
preoccupation with them. stamped the work
Of the Third Duma, under Gutchkof's guild
ance.
Gutchkoffs first speech on military affairs
in the Duma was a more astounding sample
of his courage than anything he had done
up to that time. He had breasted the revo-
lutionary current, he showed he could breast
the reactionary one The grand dukes and
their meddling in the army was the topic
he dared expound. He exposed the corrup-
ton which marked this grand ducal trail In
one department of army life, and the favor
itism and inefficiency which marked it in
another department. Four grand dukes al
together were singled out, to the amazement
of the Duma and of Russia. The purpose
of the blow was to free the Emperor of
the grand ducal clique and restore to the
monarch his prerogatives; to free the army
departments of outside interference and re-
instate the Minister of War into his rightful
authority; and to gain for the Duma voice
in this vital matter by force of her achieve
ment in cleaning the Augean stables.
Struggle Against Reaction
Against the grand dukes Gutchkoff was at
least partially, though gradually, successful
He had in this crusade the intrepid Finn,
General Roediger, Minister of War, as an
ally, and General Polivanoff Assistant Min
lister of War, after an interval, also Roe
dieer told persons of weaker fibre that q
place was always open for him in the
Finnish Senate. and that he did not mind
losing his post in a campaign of this sort.
On a question involving the Dumas right to
sanction the establishment of a naval gen.
eral staff, thus penetrating far into what
might be considered the exclusive province
OF the supreme power the upper chamber
picked up enough courage to resist the lower
one. All the irresponsible influences of re-
actionaryism which Gutchkoff had been
fighting against massed themselves behind
the Council OF the Empire. Witte also saw
his chance against Stolypin in this struggle
Stolypin, the Duma and Gutchkoff were
worsted in the test. The Emperor vetoed
the bill which his Ministers had approved
of. but which his irresponsible advisers as
sured him infrlnged upon his prerogatives.
In order to preserve formal authority, he
surrendered that real monarchicAl unity OF
authority which Gutchkoff had been erect
ing. Stoiypin. however, could not be spared;
he remained, broken reed, as facade to the
edifice. until malignant influences in his own
Department OF the Interior caused his death
at Kiev by assassination on the part of n
police spy.
Yet the good work accomplished did not
go for naught. Duma members, for the first
time in Russla's history, had entered into
army and navy life, had formed the ac-
quaintance OF all the leading officers in the
central government of these services. Visits
TO arsenals. ship-building yards, barracks
military schools and academies had been
made by the Duma Committee on Imperial
Defense. Czarism's mightiest arm, the mill
tary, had learned to see In the legislature
not an enemy. but friend. For the Duma
by word and by deed. by voting enormous
credits for army and navy, had shown that
the cause of Russias armed might IN the
councils Of the nations was a cause, dear 10
the peoples deputies
In an Humble Role
Gutchhoffa wage was the customary one
for all--obedience TO duty unto the end
He was not elected to the fourth Duma the
voters, mostly landholders. functonaries ana
priests-obedient TO court nods-preferrine
an invertebrates; and the Cadets and other
Opposition groups, fearful OF this Duma-
Army combination, preferring a straight
Liberal ideologist, without win Of his own
In the humber role OF City Councillor for
Petrograd. Gutchkoff has been giving the
"a nItal rod ,.,ntor ~ -. .........- -