Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-15
COUNT WHITE, THE
MAN AND HIS WORK
One of the Most Important Figures
in Modern Politics in Europe.
His Career Suggestive of Charac-
teristics of American Life.

-A'''''A''''''i
to Germany.
TT WILL probably be generation it may be
half century, before the life of Count
Witte, which has just come to end in Russia,
Will be fully estimated and adjudged but the
world knows enough about him now to
recognize that one of its most effective and
important figures has disappeared from the
active politics Of Europe and from the stage
of human affairs on the Continent-for
whilst his declining strength had somewhat
relaxed his grasp during these latter years,
yet he could not fail long as he was alive
to exert his influence upon those about him:
and even from his retirement his opinion
and advice had weight with the men who
succeeded him and had to take up his active
duties in the State.
His singuarly diversified career however,
was made up Of services to the Russian Gov
ernment and people, the results of which
are so far-reaching and complex that it is
difficult to trace them singly at the present
time, though It has left it's stamp indeliby
impressed upon the progress and develop
ment OF the Empire. and will undoubtedly
distinguish him one of tho foremost con-
structive statesmen whom Russia has pro-
duced
sergius Yulicvitch wtte was born in
early youth in the Caucasus, so remote from
the capital or the influences of its surround
fngs that it is a part of his remarkable
fortune that he ever emerged from there at
all to gain prominence of any kind in the
Empire. From his rugged appearance and
his disregard of form in the midst of a court
of great brilliancy, with his large frame, not
overcarefully clad, and his total lack Of
polished manner, even at the height OF his
political power, arose the belief which was
general in st. Petersburg that he
peasant at least a man sprung from the
people. He was in fact, however the son of
Yuli Feodorevitch Witte, who was the Dl-
rector of the Department of Agriculture in
the Caucasus his mother being a daughter
of the house of Fadeyeff. related to that of
Dolgourouki, as we'll to other people Of dis
tlnction his connection being that of
old and well-establlshed Russian prominence.
He was sent to school at Tifis. though
whilst he was yet a boy his father was trans
ferred to o. Government post at Kishinef,
where the entered the gymnasium and
thence went to the University of Odessa In
1856. There he showed such ability as
mathematician that he was graduated with
honors four years later having decided to
fulfil his strong desire to become professor
of mathematics, which, If he had succeeded
in doing, would probably have led him into
a peaceful life at Keff or Odessa. But his
family opposed him successfully in this, with
the result that when he left the university,
in 1870, with degree candidate of the
sico-mathematical faculty. he was given
a place in the service of the Southwestern
Railway.
From this point his career shows many
examples of that unexpected advancement
arising out of the seizure of opportunities
that present themselves under new condi-
tions or unusual circumstances which fire.
ouently arrests ones attention in Russia by
its striking similarity TO the characteristics
of American life-in Russia, perhaps, more
frequently than in any other country OF
Europe, because of the similarity OF the
exlgencies and opportunities which accom-
pany the development of enormous stretches
of new territory and the carrying forward of
vast public enterprises II was in this broad
field that he found the natural expansion OF
the foresight and ability with which he was
endowed.
A Good Railroad Man
Sergius Witte was a good railroad man.
His love for mathematics and engineering
Increased his interest in their practical ap-
plication, while his sense OF responsibility
impelled him to devote himself to thorough
comprehension of railroad management In
all of it's departments. He learned to drive
an engine, also to lay rails and there are
people still living in Russia who remember
him at work with the laborers helping to re-
pair breakdown on the line. In a country
built upon rigid bureaucracy, he was not
bureaucrat. He had the mind of the leader
who knows how to apply his hand to any
part that needs adjustment support.
It was his dominating spirit of leadership
that enabled him afterward to accomplish
the great results that came to Russia
through his genius as Minister of Finance
and in the awakening of Siberia. 1t brought
him into conflict, it is true with the forces
of opposition and reaction which beset him
as in the case of every man of progress;
and there were moments, probably, even in
the midst of success when these cmbittered
his life.
Promotion cana rapidly in the service of
the railroad He soon became assistant
traffic manager and, after another short in
terval, general superintendent of the South
western Railroad, at which period he found
the first great opportunity Of his life. When
the Russo Turkish War broke out the I'M
perial Government was under the necessity
of transporting large numbers of troops in
circumstances more exacting than had ever
been known before, and with a rapidity
until then untred in Russia, Sergius Witte,
the superintendent, we'll equipped by this
time through his experience in management,
accepted the undertaking, and furnished
with such skill the facilities required by the
military commanders for their troops and
their munitions of war that he attracted at
tention to himself and gained prominence in
very high official quarters
The outcome Of this service rendered by
him was that Witte won the good win Of NJ