Show FOUGHT HIS WAY TO POWER M witte was once an underpaid railway clerk st petersburg nicholas has signed the appointment of M witte president of the committee ot ministers to be ahlet plenipotentiary representing the russian government in the peace negotiations to be con ducted destt month in the united states the appointment clothes M witte with plenary powers sergius witte the russian tent lary may be regarded as the lead ing liberal statesman ot for the last thirteen years he has been one of the strongest personalities la the russian bureaucracy although his political fortunes suffered a setback when he was compelled to resign the portfolio of minister of finance in au gust 1903 and again when after be ing appointed president of the coun ell of ministers in the bame month his office gradually lost its importance until rumors of bis intention to resign and go abroad had been persistently circulated witte is about 66 years old and has steadily worked his way up from the position ot an underpaid railroad clerk who occasionally acted as por ter to that 0 the leading statesman of russia in spite of the tact that hia enemies are numerous and include some of the most powerful men la russia |