Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-04-15
THE KING TAKES CHARGE.
The servian Regency Dismissed and New
Elections Ordered-The Army Loyal TO
the King.

/
Elections Ordered-The Army Loyal te
the King.
BELGRADE, April IA bloodless
uheoch de GlfeuI was effected here last
night, and Alexander l., the youth
ful ruler of Servia, who hitherto gov
erned the country through Regents TO-
day rules in his own name.
A grand banquet was given at the
Palace last night to celebrate King
Alexander's success in passing the ex-
animation prescribed by Servian stu
dents. NJ. Ristics and Gen. Belimarko'
hic, the Regents and all the Ministers
of State were present as were also a
large number of the friends and sup
porters of the Regents.
For many months past the SITUATION
of Servia has been critical, owing TO
the abuse of this power by the Regents
and State officials. Affairs had become
so bad that the King determined to
take things In his own hands. In ac-
cordance with this determination plans
were secretly laid by means OF which
the Regents and the Ministry would De
ousted without opportunity for opposl'
tion. Unsuspecting they and the Min
listers attended the banquet, and while
they were enjoying themselves at the
Palace, detachments or soldiers and
bodies of police took possession OF the
Ministers houses and occupied the Gov
ernment buildings.
At midnight, while the festivities
were still in progress, King Alexander
proclaimed that he had attained his ma
jorty and that he had assumed with the
Skuptisina the government OF the coun-
try. AS matter OF fact the King had
not attained his majority. According
to the Servian law he does not become
of age until he is eighteen years old,
and as he was born August IA, 1876, he
will be eighteen In little over q year.
When the Regents and Ministers heard
the proclamation they were dumb
founded.
The King and his advisers acted with
great promptitude and soldiers who
were In waiting at once placed the
regents and ministers under arrest and
they were sent to rooms which had been
prepared for them in the palace, where
they are under guard.
The Servian army is loyal TO the King.
Had 1t not been the Coup d'Etat would
not have been possible. After the issu-
ing of the proclamation and long before
daybreak, the King proceeded to the
barracks where the troops were under
arms, and was received with joyous ac-
clamations and many expressions OF 10y
atty. The proclamation, which will be
issued everywhere in the country to-
day, bears the Kings signature. In 1t
Alexander declares that the constitu-
tion has been lately in sore jeopardy,
the rights OF citizens imperilled, and
the constitutional position OF par
| liamedt so abased that the
King must end the unhappy condition
of affairs. lie, therefore, declares that
he has come Of age and has assumed
kingly power. Henceforth the proclaim
alton and the Servian constitution
ACQUIRES its full significance. The re-
gents have been deposed, the cabinet
dismissed and a new ministry aD-
pointed. M. Dokitch is the new Prime
Minister. The ministry which the
King has driven from power are
Liberals. This morning the King
issued a decree dissolving the Skupti'
sina, and writs for new elections have
been sent to the various constituencies
The details of the coup d'etat were car
ried out with remarkable swlftness and
simplicity. The Regents and the Cabinet
Ministers responded TO an invitation tc
dine in the old palace )ast evening. Eight
were seated at dinner the King presiding
After the third course the King rose ano
said TO the regents:
"GENTLEMEN-For four years you, in my
name. have administered the kingly power
/ thank YOU heartily for the trouble you
have taken. now feel able TO administer
the power myself and will exercise 1t from
this moment. l beg you, therefore, imme
diately to hand me your designations"
NJ. Ristics replied that be could not and
would not comply with the Kings request,
which was contrary 70 the constitution.
The King thereupon left the room and sent
an aide de camp TO demand the resigna'
tions of the ministers.
As they all remained obdurate he order
ed them TO leave tue old palace and go tc
the new palace TO pass the night. In
the morning they were conveyed TO thelT
residences under guard.
Mr.. Dokitch, the new Prime Minister,
was Alexander's tutor. He is Radical
with moderate views. Tonight the kings
assumption of power was celebrated with
torchlight procession and general illumina.
tions.