Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-04-20
OPENLY DEFIANT
Lawyers Of Russia Form National
Reform League.
TO ASK PARLIAMENT AND MINISTRY.
All Professional Glasses Are Asked
to Join in MOvement-POlIce
Could Not Suppress
Them.

St. Petersburg, April lS.-Tne LoE-
nation OF national professional re-
form league to unite the activities OF
lawyers, doctors, teachers, engineers
and other professional classes Of Rus
STA to bring about the characterization
of the government and the institution
Of a representative paTliment and a
responsible ministry, is the ambitious
project set on foot by the National
congress Of Lawyers which has I'm
ished its work here. The plan propos-
ed is the formation Of national as
sociations Of the various professional
classes, each Of which shall elect del
eeates to central bureau which Is to
direct and coordinate the efforts OF
the 'intellectuals" in the direction OF
reforms. Other classes which have
openly manifested liberal tendencies
on many occasions, and notably the
doctors at their recent congress in
Moscow, are likely to accept the in
vitation and unless interfered with, q
powerful reform force is likely to
spring into being soon.
The deliberations Of the lawyers,
which were carried to a conclusion in
direct disregard Of the police orders
and which. were participated In by 17S
delegates representing every judicial
district in Russia except Siberia, re-
suited in the organization Of the nat
ional legal association and the election
Of central bureau Of 10 which is en-
powered to select legal representatives
for a proposed central committee to
draft preliminary plans for the organ
ization Of that body.
The leaders Of the movement declare
that their plans do not contemplate
any assault on the monarchical, form
Of government or disloyalty to the en-
pire, but the elimination Of absolutism
and the establishment Of participation
by the governed in the direction Of
affairs, and especially in certain mat
tiers, as the budget and taxation; and
the point Of the rejection, though by q
small majority. of a resolution COM
hitting the assembly to extra legal
measures to show hatred Of the exist
ing order and bring about democrat
&c and legal mode Of government In
Russia" bears out this declaration. A
feature Of the meeting was a special
honor shown the Polish delegates at
the first session when the entire as
semblage rose and remained standing
facing the section occupied by the
Poles while speaker pronounced a
panegyric upon them. The Poles, how
ever, did not participate the following
sessions which were held in defiance
Of the police. merly sending their Wis
itlng cards each day.
The delegates met in accordance
with secret arrangements, at different
private houses, assembling before the
arrival Of the police and disregarding
orders to cease their sessions At
Wednesdays session. however, the
police promptly placed a Gordon around
the house IN which the delegates were
20 meet and prevented all but IS from
entering and sent word to those that
an delegates not residents Of st. Pc
tersburg must leave the city immedi-
ateiy. A. the congress had finished
iis programme adjournment sine de
vas pronounced. the lawyers as = final
thrust drifting . statement 70 TIE chief
q poles hat this Esasrai order to
delegates On blos b i.-se - 49, -