Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-11-25
RUSSIA ON VERGE
OF SERIOUS CRISIS
Political Discomfort and
Open Outbreaks Force
Concessions to People
VICTOR AT LAST
Downfall of Sturmer Considered
Triumph for Liberals and
Allies
copEN1tAaEN. Nov As.


Political unrest In Russia has reached an
acute stage That the Government has be-
come alarmed by the widespread discontent
s shown by the fact that II gave way pc
fore the popular clamor, retired Premier
Sturmcr replacing him by NJ. Trepof, an
acknowledged progressive and reformer
and appointed NJ Neratoff, an enthusiastic
pro-Aiy. as Minister OF Foreign Affairs
Advices received here today from Petro-
grad state that complete reorganization
Of the Russian ministry Ia possible in view
of the lnsiatent demands OF the radicals
among the Liberals, Democrats, Laborites
and Socialists
There have recently been rumors OF revo'
lutionary outbreaks In Petrograd, Moscow
Kharkom and other important cities. 1t IS
officially denied in Petrograd that such out
breaks have taken place. the Home Otiioe
attributlng the rumors of upriSings TO the
same agents who are spreading discomfort
among the laborinR class and farm workers
Travellers Just arriving here from Russia
say that the military authorities are exer-
cising the utmost precautions in all the big
cities. Strong garrisons are maintained
everywhere.
One OF the main causes OF anti-govern-
ment activity in Russia, it is said Ia the
misery caused by the food shortage, the
lack OF fuel, the high prices OF all neces-
stiles. the ruthlessnoss OF the military au-
thorties in recruiting fresh armies and
other kinds of suffering imposed by the
war.
TRIUMPH FOR DUMA
The resignation Of NJ Sturmer as
Premier and Foreign Minister had long
been accepted as an Inevitable outcome
of the struggle between tho present Cab
net' and the Duma. 1t caused no more
than mild surprise, and this was due
less TO the event itself than the rapdity
with which the situation matured since
the definite break between the Duma and
the Government,
1t is almost impossible to overestimate
not only the political but the national
Significance OF the Duma victory since
for the first time in history Russian public
opinion is considered to have triumphed
over influences which were regarded as
antagonistc TO good government.
NJ. Trepoffs appointment to the post
of Prime Minister is greeted with sat
lsfaCtion by the Russian newspapers, which,
however express the opinion that this Is
only the first step taken toward carrying
out the program which is dictated by pres
ent political necessities. According to the
Reich. the resignation OF NJ. Sturmer is
the first occasion in the course of Russa's
constitutional history which clearly es-
tablishes between the Government and the
majority the voice Of the Duma.
VICTORY FOR ALLIES
Sufficient information has come out OF
Russia in the last few months to show that
the surrender OF the premiership and the
portfolio of Foreign Affairs by NJ. Sturmer
is a great victory for the Allies as we'll as
for Russian Liberals. For Trepof, the new
Premier, although the son of the hated re.
dictionary despot, General Trepoff, sometime
Governor General of st. Petersburg, is
progressive and reformer, while Sturmer
the last of the Baltic Germanlc Russians in
high office is Il bureaucrat, antiSemlte and
suspected OF being a proGerman.
What gave particular suspicion to Stur-
mers administration, aside from the
known formative influences of his family
and career; was the fact that he succeeded
two strong pro-Aily statesmen on the
threshold of what would have been their
greatest political victories. He succeeded
NJ. Goremykin last February as Premier
just as the latter was to present the amend
ment to the Russian fundamental State
laws which would have abrogated the dis
ability acts against the Jews. He took over
the foreign portfolio from NJ, Sazonoff last
July, just as that statesman had formu-
lated his project for the absolute indepen-
dence OF a reunited Russian Austrian and
Prussian Poland. which was to be executed
by an international agreement between the
great Powers, who were to pledge their
protection to the resurrected State And
both Goremykin and Sazonof had been
pronounced in their zeal to have Russia
fight the war until the Entente obtained a
substantial victory.