Evening star., 1915-03-13
Considered Remarkable Man.

Count Witte was regarded as in some
respects one of the most remarkable
men his country had produced, but his
reputation was even greater abroad
than at home Throughout his career,
during which he accomplished much
for Russia. he had many and powerful
enemies, although his great ability and
remarkable capacity for work never
was questioned. Regardless of his
work as a statesman, his chief fame in
Russia rests upon his development of
manufacturing industries, the expan-
sion of railroads and the placing of the
monetary system upon a gold basis.
Although always a hrm supporter OF
the monarchy he recognized the power
of the people and had democratic ten
denotes. On his fathers side his fami-
ay was of common origin, but his
her was descendant of the Ru-
riks, the old rulers of Russia before
the election of the Romanoff dynasty.
After his graduation from the Uni
versity of Odessa, Witte entered the
railroad service in the shipping depart4
ment. He mastered the question OF
tariff rates and his advancement was
rapid. In the meantime he had married
sister of Gen. Fadief. He first at
tracted attention at the capital during
the Russo-Turkish war by the admin
istrative capacity he displayed in the
movement of army supplies. He went
to Petrograd in 1879 and was given
increasingly responsible posts in the
railroad service. Alexander III ap-
pointed him minister of railways and
communications IN 1892. and soon aft
erward minister of finance. 1t was
then that he began to develop his
great scheme for the creation of home
manufactures and the wide extension
of Russia's railroad system, which
eventually took the Siberian road to
the Pacific.
Fostered Manufacturing.
In his efforts along these lines Witte
gave subventions and government or
ders until factories and mills were run
ming full blast Then he had the state
take over the private railroads. the
state treasury guaranteeing the bonds
To do all this he borrowed immense
sums in France. Under the plea OF
| regulating the liquor traffic he had the
state take over the vodka business OF
| the empire. thus vastly increasing the
| government revenue His crowning
achievement was regarded, however, as
the establishment of the gold standard
| AS minister of finance in 1898 he
| reached the height of his power.
His policy in regard to Manchuria
| which he desired to develop only from
| a commercial and not from Il political
viewpoint. resulted in powerful in
trigues against him which resulted il
his removal in 1903 as minister oi
| finance He went for time to Paris
| but returned to Petrograd when the
! Russo-Japanese war was in full swing
He neither offered nor was asked fol
| advice in regard to the conduct of the
| struggle. but when Theodore Roosevelt
then President of the United States
prevailed upon the emperor to con,
slider terms of peace the tide turned
and practically the entire nation united
in demanding the selection of Witte d:
| plenipoteHtiary. . At the Portsmouth
| conference he succeeded in gainin;
| terms under which Russia Was no
obliged 10 pay 4 cash indemnity L
Japan. This was conside red a remark
able achievement. and Witte again he
came a hero in his own country TIL.
| emperor rewarded him for his services
by appointing him count
Witte First Premier.
II was at this time that the Russian
people began clamoring harder thar
ever for share in the government
Then the imperial manifesto was is
sued which granted some of the de
mands. Witte became premier in Rus
sia's first real cabinet October 81, 1905
His appointment as president of tn,
council of ministers was announced :
| week later. The next day he pledge,
himself to support the plan for u con
vocation of the national assembly
Because of the opposition of powerful
interests opposed to democratic re
forms he experienced considerable diff
ficulty in forming cabinet. The lib
| erals refused to lift a finger to al.
him. At the second session of hi
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