| Show I I I I COUNT WITTE ITTE DIES GREAT RUSSIAN S1 STATESMAN A Represented His Government Government Govern Govern- m ment nt in Peace Conference Conference Confer Confer- ence at Portsmouth CAREER REMARKABLE Gave Phenomenal Service in Develop Developing ng His Country's Country's Country's Coun Coun- try's Power Powe LONDON March 13 Count Sergius Julovich Vitte Witte Russia's Russia 5 first prime minister died last night of influenza after an illness of two weeks S says s 's a a Petrograd dispatch to Reuters Reuter's Routers Router's Ecu Rou ter's Telegram company compan Count Witte who was born June 29 23 1849 ISHI at Tiflis was one of at tho the Russian Russian Rus Rus- sian sinn plenipotentiaries at Portsmouth Portsmouth Ports Ports- orts orts- mouth N. N II If in tho the negotiations for tor peace with Japan In IDOs lOOS He wasI was I afterward made a count and appointed appoint appoint- I ed cd president of ot the new ministry but butI retired In 1906 and ond held no important pos post pest after that time Count Witte Vitte was regarded In some somo re respects ro- ro as ono one of or tho the most mot remarkable men his country had produced but his hie reputation was even en greater abroad than at home Throughout his career CArer during which ho he accomplished much for Russia he ho had man many and ancl powerful po enemies al although although although al- al though his great ability and remarkable capacity for work never were ques ques- Regardless of his work as a statesman his chief tame ram In Russia rests upon his development of mining Industries Indus Indus- trios tries tho the expansion of or railroads and the placing of the monetary system upon a agold agold agold gold basis Recognized People Althou Although h always 38 a firm supporter of or tho the monarch monarchy monarch ho recognized the power of the people and had Democratic tendencies tendencies ten ten- On his fathers father's side his family was vas of ol common origin but his mother was vas a descendant of the the old rulers of Ru Russia sla before tho the election of or tho the Romanoff dynasty dyn After Alter his graduation from rom tho the University 1 sit sity of or Odessa Witte entered tho ho railroad railroad rail rail- road service In the tho shipping department H Ho lIe mastered tho the question of tariff rates and his advancement was rapid In the meantime he had married a sister of ot General Ho He attracted at attention attention attention at- at at tho the capital during durIn the Russo- Russo TurkIsh war by hy the thc administrative c capacity capacity capa capa- city elty ho displayed in the tho movement of ot arm army supplies He lie went to Petrograd In 1879 and was given Increasingly responsible posts in tho lie railroad s service Alexander Alexandor III Ill appointed him hini minister of or railways and communication in 1892 And soon Boon afterward afterward after after- ward minister of finance It was then than that he began to develop his great scheme for tho the creation of home manufactures manufactures manu manu- and tho the wido extension of ot Russia's Russins Russin's Rus Rue sias sins railroad d system which eventually took tho the Siberian road rond to the Pacific Used Powers Freely In his efforts along these lines Witte used usel ever every power of tho the state Ho lie gave subventions and government go orders Until un until until un- un til factories and mills were running full blast Then he had the tho state take taka over or the tho private railroads tho the state te treasury treasur guaranteeing tho the bonds To do all this he ho borrowed Immense sums In France Under the thc plea Ilea of regulating tho the liquor he had the tho state take over the tho vodka business of or tho the empire thus vastly vastly vast vast- ly h Increasing the government revenue His crowning achievement ement was re regarded regarded re- re however as the tho establishment of ot the tho theold gold old standard As minister of finance In 1893 he ho reached the height of ot his hiM power I Ills I is policy regarding Manchuria which he c desired d to develop only from a commercial and not hot from a political vIewpoint resulted in powerful Intrigues against him which resulted In his re removal removal removal re- re moval In 1 1903 1503 03 as minister of finance Popularity Returns He lie wont vent for a time time- timeto to Paris laris hut but re returned returned returned re- re turned to Petrograd when tho the Russo- Russo Japanese war was waa In full tull swing He lie neither offered nor was Vas asked for tor advice In regard to tho the conduct of or the struggle but when Theodore Roosevelt the tho president president dent of or the thc United States prevailed pre upon the lie emperor to con consider lder terms of or peace pence tho the tide turned and practically ho tho entire nation united In d demanding ho tho selection of or Witte as plenipotentiary At the thc Portsmouth conference he succeeded suc suo- in gaining terms under which Russia was not obliged to pa ray pay a cash Indemnity to Japan This was considered considered consid consid- ered a L remarkable achievement and Witte again became me a hero In his own countr Country The Tho emperor rewarded him hUn for his services by appointing a 0 count It was at this time that tho the Ruse Russian inn people began bogan clamoring harder than ever ver for or a 1 share sharo In the thc government hen t tho the Imperial manifesto was issued which granted some ome of or the demands Witte tto became premier In Russia's first real cabinet on en October 31 1905 His Ills appointment as president of or the tho council of ministers was w announced a a. w week ok later Inter The Tho next day ho he plc pledged ged himself to support tho the plan plait for tor a convocation con of tho the national assembly The cause causo of or orthe the tho opposition of the thc powerful interests opposed to Democratic reforms he ex experienced OX- OX d considerable In formIng formIng forming form- form Ing a a. cabinet |
