Los Angeles herald., 1905-02-12
CAR WILLING TO
GRANT REFORMS
HOLDS A CONFERENCE WITH
ToLSTopS SON
Opinion Expressed by Latter That
Disturbances viii Not Spread
and That War Will End
Satisfactorily
BY Associated Press.

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. H. II 80 p.
m.-"I am not opposed to zemsky-
Tabor; on the contrary 1 believe 1t is
necessary"
In these words Emperor Nicholas
whose mind 1s law, personally declared
himself in favor of land congress-
and expressed the conviction that the
time had come to prepare to give the
people voice in government.
The emperor's words were spoken in
the course of a conversation with
Count Leo Donivitch Tolstoi, son Of
the famous author, and fully confirm
the Associated Press interview with
Grand Duke Vladimir on January 81,
In which the grand duke expressly de-
clared that his august nephew was In
favor Of a Zemsky- Tabor. The semi
official denials subsequently sent out
are now disproved by the sovereign's
statement to Count Tolstoi.
ToIstors Son interviewed
The Associated Press correspondent
this evening saw Count Tolstoi in a
comfortable house facing the Tsaurls
Gardens. Speaking in excellent Eng
lish, Count Tolstoi said: 81 suppose
you have come to hear about my audi
ence at Tsarskoe Selo. cannot enter
into details because 1 consider it un-
seemly to do so, but I am glad to
state the broad lines of conversation
with my sovereign. His majesty sum-
r;oI
which 1 addressed to the throne ex-
posing the present situation in the
country, and humbly expressing the
opinion that the interest of the ma
ton shows urgent need of devising
means for enabling the sovereign to
hear the voice of the people and rec
ommending the convocation of zem-
sky-Zabor. His majesty assured me
that personally he was not opposed
to its convocation but, on the contrary,
believed 1t necessary. The whole ques-
tion is now greatly simplified and re-
solves itself to when is the most op-
perfume moment
81 am not at liberty to relate the
emperor's views on the subject, but
you may announce to- the American
people that the delay will only be such
as is strictly necessary for the intro
duction Of an innovation of such mag
nitude.
Zemsky-Zabor Is the Thing
"The great thing is that the emperor
is in favor Of the Zensky-Zabor. This
dispels the legends obtaining currency
abroad or at home that the sovereign
mistrusts the people and is absolutely
opposed to the idea of a representative
national assembly. These legends have
caused immense harm and have sown
suspicion and discomfort among the
people, leading to unrest and agita-
ton and aggravating labor movements;
whereas, If the Russians only under
stood the situation, they would refrain
from rendering the task of the reform
er well-nigh impossible.
None the less, I am optimistic, and
believe he will succeed after all in
bringing the war to a satisfactory con-
clusion. Then everything will assume
its natural course, and reforms, includ-
ing national representation, will be
introduced on a sound basis"
Count Tolstoi does not believe the
present labor movement will assume
critical proportions. He thinks solu-
ton of the difficulty would be effected
if masters and men could see the en-
peror.
Influence of Emperor's Words
The emperors words are likely to do
more good than any number of procla-
nations. Count Tolstoi is trying TO
persuade the manufacturers to be pa
tient, by means of articles in which he
points out the poor results of socialis-
tic propaganda abroad, and he thinks
it a pity that means have not been
devised for approaching the workmen
and discussing matters directly with
them instead Of leaving the field open
10 demagogues. The count is conduct
ing a philanthropic enterprise in the
form of a cheap book store in which
he sells educational books and litera-
ture to Zemstvoe schools and libraries
A leading political worker. Alexander
Stollpln, IN an interview with the AS
sociated Press says: at feel certain
that the Zemsky-Zabor will soon be an
accomplished fact. This is not only
based on the universal desire of all
classes in Russia for a resort to suf-
frage by the people, but liberals and
reactionaries are equally anxious for it,
though for different reasons; the former
because they, are convinced, and quite
justly that the people demand Zem-
sky-Zabor, and the latter because they
have come to believe that the people
do not want it and that the best method
of proving this claim is TO appeal 10
the vote Of the nation.
II believe the present strike will not
lead to repetition of the bloodshed of
January 22 because Governor General
Trepoff is too skilled in the art of pol-
icing city to permit a crowd to get
the upper hand"