Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-04-24
RoUT SPELLS REFORM.
Fate Of Internal rosram in Russia
Hangs on Issue Of Sea Battle.

st. Petersburg, April "a. - Not only
the future of the war but the fate Of
the whole program of internal reform
to which Emperor Nicholas stands
committed appears to await the issue
of the approaching sea battle between
Rojestvensky and Togo.
The governm ent undoubtedly would
be greatly strengthened, at least for
the moment, by a victory decisive en-
ough to change the war situation. The
liberals are convinced that If victory
comes the bureaucracy, to which the
realization of reforms has been con-
signed, will be able, despite the clam
or thruout the country, to keep the ex-
ecution of these reforms in their own
hands. This, of course, in their opin-
ion, would mean their eventual dissi-
patton in a labyrinth Of endless COM
missions. Moreover, they believe that
the emperor again might be persuaded
to listen to the necessity Of the old
style of repression Of the present agi-
tation.
Practically the interior adninistra-
ton is being conducted thru a police
regime. Already there are everywhere
evidences of return to Won Plehve
methods. Domiciliary visits and ar
rests by scores and hundreds are re-
ported In every part of the empire, and
meetings of all classes of the people
are forbidden and broken up by the
police under the direction of the local
governors.
Even zemstvo meetings at Vladimir,
Elizabethpool, Orel, Tifiis and Livadia
have been closed. OF course the gov
ernment argues that it cannot fold its
arms and see the flames of revolution
famed by agitators, but it is notice.
able that such spokesmen of reaction
as Prince Mesctchersky, editor of the
Grashdanin, again are boldly pro-
claiming the doctrine of repression,
characterizing the constitutionalists
and "intelligentsia" as lunatics.
Should Rojestvensky be defeated, on
the contrary, the liberals believe that
the bureaucracy would capitulate, and
that peace and constitution would
come.
In the meantime the Easter holiday
and May day are awaited with ex-
treme anxiety both by the authorities
and the public. The social democrats
and revolutionaries have planned
demonstrations on an extensive scale,
armed with revolvers and bombs
which have been smuggled into the
country to fight the police and troops
in case they should attempt to inter-
fere with the demonstrations. The
seem to have plenty of
funds, furnished both abroad and by
sympathizers in Russia.
The widest stories of plans for
blowing up the members of the imper-
ial family, ministers and palaces, and
of pillage and murder of the nobility
and the wealthy, are current especially
in aristocratic drawing-rooms, and
many society people have made prep
arations to go abroad.
Large endorsements of troops
and especially of Cossacks have been
brought to st. Petersburg. Arrests
and searches of the lodgings of sus-
poets continue, but even General Trep-
off. altho he is taking every measure of
does not seem to know
exactly what to expect. That he eN-
poets trouble and bloodshed is appar-
ent from the fact that he has notified
all manufacturers to guard against in
and warned every family
that women and children must remain
off the streets on May day.
Altho disorders more or less serious
are awaited everywhere, Poland and
the Baltic provinces probably are the
storm centers. General MaXimovitch,
governor general of Warsaw, has just
returned to his post after a confer
ence here. clothed with almost dicta-
torial powers All the Polish cities are
now in a state of minor siege, but the
governor general is authorized to de-
clare martial law, and sufficient troops
will be furnished to him.
There are many disquietfng reports
of disanection of troops, and the names
of regiments. even in the imperial
guards, are given as having been won