Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-06-17
Appointed Governor in 1899.

APPOINTED 0OVeIuOI III AoOO.
General Bobrikoff was appointed governor
general of Finland in April, 1889. and soon
afterward Car Nicholas II issued his In
itial decree depriving the people of Finland
of their constitutional liberty. The cars
action was largely due to pressure brought
to bear upon him by Count Bobrikon
The result of this decree was that Firms
began to leave the country In herdes. In
1893 only 5000 same to this country, but
in 1909 nearly $1,000 Firms came here. 1t
is estimated that 10 per cent of the popuia-
ton of Finland have come to the United
States since 1S90.
In April 1903, supreme power In F!nianl
was given to General Bobrikoff. He tmme-
diately ordered the arrest and trial of men
who had avoided CONSUMPTION. He also Sc
cured power to close. when ne deemed IL
necessary, hotels and factories and dls-
solve private associa tons. Not more than
three persons of different families could
assemble without first obtaining permits
sion from the governor general.
Said to Have Been Typical Tyrant.
A few years ago Finland was the best
governed and most enlightened Of the
cars possessions. The pledges made by
the Russian ruler in 1909, when he &C
uuired dominion over the grand duchy had
been renewed by each successive car, and
Finland enjoyed a large measure of self
government Nicholas II repeated the
pledges of his predecessors, but broke them.
Today Finland Is as vigorously governed
as Russian Poland.
Count Bobrikoff was a typical tyrant of
the kind often found among Russian adj
ministrators.
For a time there were hopes that Bobri-
koff would be relieved of his post by the
car as a result of the remonstrances of the
Finnish people, but instead of removing
him the emperor, in 1903. signed two de-
crees investing him with dictatorial powers.
Bobrikoff obtained the right to discharge
any public official. to close hotels. shops
and factories; to Danish any Finlander
without trial or explanation, to prohibit
private meetings and to dissolve private
associations.
Since then many of the wealthiest and
best known men in the grand duchy have
been banished A typical proclamation was
issued soon after the5war between Russia
and Japan began. 1t forbade the people to
darken their houses at unusual hours"
and as result citizens who chose to go to
bed before 10 O'CLOCK were subjected to
heavy fines
The excuse for this measure was that the
Firms had neglected to illuminate their
homes in honor of the Russian victories"
in the far east. .. a.
Nephew Foretold Governors End.
A dispatch from Los Angeles, CAL, says:
G. A. Bobrik of Los Angeles Is a nephew of
Gen. BobrikofY, the Russian governor gen.
eral of Finland. who was shot. Mr.. Bobrik
is credited with having prophesied in a re-
cent address before the University Club OF
this city that his uncle's autocratic admin
istration Of Finnish affairs would result in
his violent death.
Defended Strongly at Home.
ST. PETERSBURG, June 1.-THE assas
sination of Gen. Bobrikor has stirred up a
great sensation and is temporarily absorb
ing interest from the war. The papers are
filled with extended biographies of the de-
ceased detailing the difficulties of his Of
hce, editorials denunciatory of the crime
and comments on the conditions In Finland.
The Novoe Vremya> says that Bobrikon. as
the representative of supreme authority in
Finland, proved himself to be a stout, hon
est defender of Russia's policy.