The Washington herald., 1916-03-07
BY JOHN L. BALDERsToN.

BY JOHN L. BALDERSTON.
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure Newspaper syndieateJ
Special Gable 70 The Washington Herald
London, Feb. E.-Russia has brought
forth a man. NJ. RodziankO, her greatest
orator, her noblest patriot, her most
skillful politician, has won a victory over
the Germans more important than any
Russian military achievement since the
beginning of the war by writing a few
words on a piece of paper.
To the outside world the announcement
from Petrograd a week ago that the pre-
mier and chancellor of the empire, J. l..
Goremykin. had resigned in favor Of the
unknown NJ. Stuermer came as riddle.
Inform alton from Petrograd has just
reached me explaining the political Stu
alton.
Goremykin, octogenarian foe Of prog
ress, who has openly worked for sepa-
rate peace with Germany, who has strug-
gled to prevent the Duma from recon-
vening, who seemed all powerful because
supported by the pro-German court par
ty, headed by the influential minister of
the imperial household, Count de Fred
ericl<s, has been forced out OF office by
a letter from RodZianko, president OF the
despised Duma-
Accused In Letter.
This letter has not appeared in print,
but every financial Russian bureaucrat
and liberal has seen It, for copies were
circulated in Petrograd by RodZianko's
friends You have deliberately worked
for the success of the Germans, and
your inactivity in the cause of Russia
is bordering on high treason" Rodzianko
wrote to the premier IF the Duma
should condemn you as a traitor. 1
should be unable as president to control
the situation, for so widespread Is the
indignation against you that II I sup
pressed one speaker, another would
spring to his feet" Rodzianko added the
advice to resign, "as otherwise there will
be a scandal, to the vast annoyance of
the allies and the great delight OF the
enemy, and OF this scandal I wash my
hands"
Rodzianko spoke out as the head Of the
progressive block in the Duma, control
ling SIS out OF AZ members in the lower
house and a majority of the upper house,
but his letter was to some extent a blum.
The Dunna, prorogued by the Gar in
September, when Il dared to present a
demand for political and religious liberty
and control of the war by the represen-
tatives Of the people. had not been con-
vened when Rodzianko demanded Gore
myl<in's head and the pro-German In
trigues to abolish the Duma or prevent
its meeting during the war seemed like
ly to succeed.
Upon receipt Of Rodzianko's letter,
the indignant premier convened the
cabinet and demanded that the duma
be prevented from meeting at all.
When his colleagues demurred because
Of the popular agitation. he proposed
that the DUma be restricted to con-
sidering the budget in secret session,
no reports Of what took place to be
given to the public.
Goremykin only a few months ago
was appointed chancellor OF the en-
pire, an honor the highest a Russian
subject can attain, borne by no man
since Bismarcks great rival, Gortchak-
off. and he commanded q majority OF
the cabinet. But on this occasion his
colleagues refused to support him.
They said that the internal crisis was
serious, and that the country would
not bear the new taxes imposed by
the coming budget unless assured by
their representatives that the burdens
are necessary.
The real cause Of the premiers fall
was the unspoken thought Of his fell