Kerensky

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

ALEXANDER, a Rus- Simbirsk sian statesman. Born at an Lawhere his father sent him to school. er se ter he studied law at the University of Petrograd and became after his graduation commissioner of oaths at Petrograd. In his practice of law in the Russian courts he championed the cause of those accused of violating the autocratic rules of the bureaucracy. This local popularity made him a member of the Fourth Duma of 1916. As a member of the Duma he associated with the small Labor following and became their leader. When in March 1917 the Czar abdicated Prince Lvoff hoped to win the support of the Socialists for his new government by giving Kerensky the post of Minister of Justice. The extreme socialists upor the government and their propaganda being ropaganda especially harmful in the Army, Keren- Arny, K sky was appointed to the difficult and the difficult trying post of Minister of War. During of War. D May and June he worked with almost ed with a incredible energy, making speeches by g speeche the score appealing to the workers not to workers allow the Germans to conquer their counr their try. His efforts resulted in an offenin an sive movement by the Russians in Gaissions in licia on July 1, 1917, which for a time promised to restore the broken morale of en mor the Army. But the change was only W88 ALEXANDER KERENSKY former collers passing and the former soldiers of the Czar broke into a disgraceful rout within a disgraceful rout a few weeks. This failure caused a new This failure caused change in the government at Petrovernment at grad; Kerensky, the compromise becompromi tween the extreme socialists and the socialists A "cadets," becoming Premier. In spite of emier. In his efforts to revive Russia's fighting Russia's spirit the Bolsheviki gained perceptibly gained perc in popular favor largely because they becaus demanded immediate peace. The downeace. The fall of the new government was hastened ent was b by the attempt of General Korniloff, a neral Korr Russian of the Czar's regime, to seize r's regime, the power. Although Kerensky was able Kerenity W a ot his he did to frustrate this aim of his he did it only by the active aid of the Bolsheviki, and thereby proved his dependence upon the them. They were not slow to push their advantage and on Nov. 9, 1917 drove Kerensky from power and from Russia.