Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-18
By JAMES M. BENNETT
WASHINGTON, July

WASHINGTON, july Is.
ALEXANDER Kerensky man Of the
people, who came up from among them,
is the dominant personality IN Russia to-
day" said Ambassador Bakhmetieff, as he
began to tell me Of the war Minister Of
new Russia.
"Kerensky stands. as you would say here
IN America, head and shoulders above
every man in Russia. He's a born leader.
He's a man among men and he has re
vealed himself as the hope Of the reiuve-
mated nation"
How true" | asked, "ls the expression
that Kerensky Is the savior Of Russia"
He is, indeed the savior Of Russia,
replied the Ambassador.
'In all great crises Of nations a man
comes to the front as the one leader You
had your Washington, your Lincoln Of the
long ago, and 1t gives me great pleasure
10 say you have your Wilson Of today,
And so, in Russia, almost overnight as II
were Kerensky developed"
will you please tell me some Of the
things Kerensky has done?'
ADDRESSES RENEWED HOPES
Il can't think Of all Of them at the min
ute. do know however. that his addresses
TO the armies Of Russia renewed the fading
hopes of the men who today are fighting
Russias battles. ! also know that he
cheered the men Of the battle lines with
his determination to press on until success
comes"
And please. something Of Kerenskys
trip to the front. He, personally, led the
troops, did he not?'
This question seemed to please the AM
bassador. He leaned back i'm his chair as
a gentle and refreshing breeze came through
the windows and appeared lost in thought.
I didn't interrupt. ! knew the statesman
and patriot was thinking of the land OF
his birth. l knew his thoughts had waited
thousands Of miles across the deep and over
the lands to Russia, to New Russia. the
hope, as he already has expressed il, Of
the allied aims of the Entente nations.
Several minutes passed The Ambassador
didn't utter word. His eyes closed. Sud
denly he opened them, seemed galvanized
into new vgor and said: PLEASE repeat
your last question:
your Excellency." 7 said 81 asked.
Please say something Of Kerensky's trip
to the front He, personally, led the troops.
did he not?
"Oh, excuse me-" said the Ambassador.
= II must admit | forgot for a time, brief
as II was. that you had asked me about
the bravery of Kerensky--our Kerenslly as
we love to think of him.
"Kerensky, wonderful and magnetic
man, went to the trenches of his own
what a success tended HIM His pres.
ence. his record his addresses inspired the
soldiers They got new ;fe and they are
fighting today, hundreds of thousands Of
/, them, ever mindful Of the words of Keren-
sky when he said to them: Strike for
Russia, your Russia, our Russia! Strike =
THE response was almost like magic.
Dull disinterested soldiers became men in
a twinkling fighting men, men with "A
great cause and a great future Today the
effect Of Kerenskyg visit to the front con-
tinues to be felt.
The work OF the Socialist. slender Of
frame, strong Of will and determined Of
purpose, has borne ruit, and the world has
cause to be thankful that such a big. big
man came to the fore in Russia"
asked the Ambassador. What Of the
stories that come TO the United States some
through apparently reliable news agencies.
telling of the weak body that supports the
trained, well-poised and highly developed
brain of Kerencky?"
Largely nonsense are such reports" said
the Ambassador.
"Kerenskys body s not as weak as the
German propagandists would have Ameri-
cans believe
Long after the war is over hope Keren-