The Minneapolis journal., 1904-11-25
zEMSIVOISTS ASK
RADICAL CHANGES
Universal Suffrage Included in
Their Committees Draft Of
Proposals.
New York Sun Special Service.

New York Sun Special Service.
st. Petersburg, Nov. 25.-The zemst-
vos' petition for constitutional par
Lament was taken to Tsarskoe Selo
yesterday by Prince Sviatopolk- -Mirsky
for presentation to the czar.
Secret meetings are being held here
every day, but never two meetings take
place in the same house, lest something
should become known. These meetings
are attended by 102 members chosen.
from the chiefs Of the local govern
ment boards of the zemstvos. This
body is in the nature Of committee
to draw up measures for the constitu-
tion to be given to Russia.
List Of Proposals Drawn.
a certain number Of general propo-
by 70 out Of the l02 members. These.
are as follows:
Article THAT at the present moment,
the government is completely out Of touch
with the Russian people and their wants
Art. I1.-That the government, in the
opinion Of the commission, has proceeded
too far In the distrust which it has shown
toward the establishment of anything like
self government.
Capitalization of government in st. Pc
tersburg has to great extent alienated
the people from the throne.
Art. IV.-Not yet worked out in detail.
Art. V.-That, in order that Russia may
be governed properly, there must be abso-
lutte freedom Of conscience religion.
speech and press.
Art VI.-That all inhabitants Of Rus
sia, without regard to position and re-
l1gion, and no matter to what class they
belong, must enjoy equal and the same
civil and political rights; inasmuch as the
bulk Of the Russian nation consists of
peasants, these latter must have the same
access to the courts Of justice as other
people. .-.e ss
Universal Suffrage Asked.
Art. vI.-That every person, irrespec-
tive of position, shall have the right to
vote for members Of the zemstvos, or be
himself elected thereto .s''%.
Art. VIII.-Not yet worked out, but
deals with the recommendation that there
shall be two legislative houses, not on the
British plan, but lower house, to consist
Of members of the zemstvos and an up
per house, to be modelled on that of the
American senate. AS it is Of such Inn
mense Importance, this point is still un-
der discussion.
Art. K.-That every person shall have
the right, thru his member Of the legis-
lative body, to have a voice In the for
nation Of new legislation, the general con.
troll Of the government, and confirmation
Of the budget.
Art. x.-That in order that the recon.
mendatton made by the commission may
be brought into force In such a way
as to be Of the greatest benefit to the
people, a general plebiscite should be tax.
en- all over Russia. *
Public Excited. 80 VI
The public Is excited over the reform
movement. It has swamped all interest
in the war. The attitude Of the people
toward the government is wholly trans
formed. Sentiments are openly ex
pressed, which, a few weeks ago, woulc
have entailed banishment to Siberia.
Ozar Greatly Disturbed.
Emperor Nicholas is said to be under
no illusion regarding the gravity Of hi
decision and is giving the memorial tn,
most careful and most earnest consid
Grafton. ~.
BY some the czar is represented Al
greatly concerned and grieved over th'
situation both at home and abroad, t,
be weary Of the war and unrest in TIL
interior, ready to welcome any honor
able means to bring the war to a close
and anxious to remove the causes fo