The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-14
RUSSIA READY FOR RIOTNG.
POLICE PREPARE FOE DISORDER
IN THE CAPITAL TO-DAY.
SPECIAL Ambulance Service Arranged
--Trspon warns Public Not 20 Join IN
the sunday ParadeS-SOhemes Dis
oussed for . Popular Assembly

Cu11ed for FopulAF SAaohes'
Special casls D'.paiehs 10 The Sun.
LONDON, May is-Tu Suns 81. Peters
burg correspondent tslegraphs that eE-
tensive preparations to cope With the
threatened Russian May day demonstra-
lions tomorrow are being made. Meet
inRs Of woTlnen in the suburbs are per-
mittsd. but are forbidden In Sc, Peters
burg.
The Government depots In the work.
mems districts were occupied to-day by
large bodies Of troops and the bridges across
the Neva are held 10y soldiers. The munich
pality, It IL announced. has arranged with
the medical association for an extensive
ambulanOs service and Governor General
Trepon has warned the Sunday promen-
aden not to form in crowds.
There was a wide distribution OF reVolu-
tiouary handbills to-day. There was a
great display Of Cossaots In the streets.
Governor General Trepoh says he expects
the day VIII pass of quietly.
The weeks news concerning the internal
condition Of Russia is Of exceeding inter-
est. The proceedings Of the 1eInstvo con-
gress at Moscow cannot be regarded
as satisfactory. They appear 10 have
changed their attitude during the session
upon the most vital question:.
The original program embodied the es-
Enlistment Of a legislature composed
Of two houses, one elected by tho Eemstvos
and dumas and the other by universal
suffrage. BY Sunday there was a split
about suffrage and ifty-two Of the mem-
bers were won over by the arguments Of
NJ. Shipoh and threatened 10 leave the
congress and join a dissentient organizR-
ton under the leadership OF NJ. Shipoh.
But on Monday a score Of these volatile
statesmen changed their minds again and
voted with the majority for universal
suffrage.
A few hours later they either abandoned
or Suspended their schemes for a oonstitu-
ton with two houses. They adopted by q
unanimous vote a motion for the oonvoca-
ton Of a constituent assembly 70 be chosen
by universal suffrage. while 1t was decided
further by large ma jorities that suffrage
should not only be universal, but direct,
and that no representatives Should be
added from the zemstvoe or dumas.
The final decision, therefore, seems to be
that the drafting Of q future constitution
for the Russian Empire should be entrusted
to an assembly chosen by demoorHto
methods by the whole body Of the Russian
people.
NJ Shipof was the undisputed chief Of
the reform party last November. but he
has now been turned out Of a seat on the
reelected organizing committee. He
pleaded for the adoption Of limited sui
frage and indirect method Of election.
He advocates a reform, gradual In charac-
ter. that is consistent with the maintenance
of the autocraoy and is based upon the
development Of the zemstvos. He holds,
with Tolstoi, that the great body OF the
people are without political ideas or
political aspirations. What they want Is
the land, and he believes that universal
suffrage would open the door TO all manner
Of evil influences. The peasants would
either succumb to the persuasion Of the
priests and police and I'LL the legislature
with deputies who would be the tools Of
the buresucrats. or they would elect derna-
gogues pledged TO schemes Of agrariAn
rapine incompatible with the existence Of
we'll ordered society.
The program as adopted. Of course,
stands no chance OF acceptance by the
bureaucracy or the Emperor. The attitude
Of the authorities was peculiar. The meet
ing Of the congress was forbidden, yet IL
was permitted TO assemble. The publica-
ton Of all news In regard 10 the proceed
ings was prohibited, but the members de-
cided 10 give the fullest publicity 10 what
had happened through the local 7emstvos,
and this Is now progressing.
COLOGNE, May lS-A despatch TO the
Gazette from st. Petersburg states that
Minister Of Interior Boulyguine has re-
zemstvos throughout the empire within
giN mOnthg