The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-11-27
MUCH OF
 RECENT MOVEMENT
Aged Editor of Russian Journal
 Talks
SAYS ACTION IS NEEDED
There Is Not the Slightest Ground for the Belief That a Revolutionary Movement Would Be suc-
 cessfu in Russia.

St Petersburg, November 26.-The re- suit of the conference of the zemstvoists still remains a matter of speculation. Bureaucratic circles generally are of the opinion that the conference was farce, and that it will lead to nothing, but a vast proposition of the intelligent class is convinced that 1t has placed upon rec ord the desire of the country for a change in the present form of govern ment. The conviction in many quarters, however, is that no change will come immediately.
 With a view to clearing up the situa- tion, the Associated Press today inter- viewed M. Souvenir, the veteran editor of the Novoe Vremya. M. Souvenir said;
 q certainly think the conference was highly significant. It shows the neces- sity for a departure from the present system.
 'I think some form of national repre- sentation is bound to come. Our greatest need is freedom to work. That freedom seems unattainable under the present ou- reaucratic regime, which congresses the activity of the whole nation and raises countless obstacles in the way of per sonal initiative and enterprise. The diffl- culties surrounding the opening of a store mill or any kind of business prompt ed M. Witte, president of the ministerial council some years ago to draw up a memorial commenting removal of the yexatious treatment of the enterprises. But his suggestions remained barren of result.
 What we want now is the fulfillment of the acts that the late M. Von Plehve introduced into the law in 1902, obtaining the admission of consultative members to the council of flaw which have remained a dead letter owing to the opposition of the beaurocrats of the empire. Plehve doubtless would gradually have extended the zemstvo system. admitting peasants to small zemstvo units and introduced other reforms of a liberal tendency. M. Witte was not far wrong when he summed up Plehve with the words We will now see that he will bring Russia to a constitution; but Plehve spoiled every thing by preceding the intended reform with a policy of repression and failed to give proper effect to his own ideas.
 Want Acts, Not Words.
 q repeat we now want acts not words. What acts will follow the pronouncement
 
 But in my opinion they should take the form of summoning an elective body to act in a consultative capacity to the SOW ereign, which should obtain an absolute freedom to the majority or minority as he might think best M. Witte does not believe in the legislative government but prefers a benevolent autocracy. 1 also think autocracy should be preserved. Au- tocraey is no longer what it was Czars have given away many prerogatives, such as vassalage and serfdom. and voluntarily have curtailed absolute power by the ere ation of zemstvos and various forms or collegiate administration. It would not be a curtailment of the power to summon representatives of the people, but rather A strengthening of imperial authority since it would enable the monarch to know the true needs and desires of his subjects.
 s.Mv belief is that the changes should be introduced gradually. The first phase should be the introduction of elected members 70 the council of the empire, which would be a useful initiation of our statesmen and people to represent in- stitutions.
 Cannot Realize Difficulty.
 Americans cannot realize the difficulty, even danger of suddenly introducing in- stitutions to our country Even our statesmen are not versed in the arts of government The whole of our intelli- gent classes naturally incline to the so- cial idea. but they have not the ex- perience in applying them. All this sui ficiently indicates the necessity for great est prudence. and caution in the man. ner of introducing the representative sys- tenn, and the great danger in adopting an i'll 1igested western constitution wholesale.
 .sProvided caution is exercised. l can not see how the autocracy which re- peat must remain the keynote of our sys- tenn, will be imperilled by the intro- duction of |. representative system. There is not the slightest ground to believe in