The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1905-02-13
RUSSIA TO
BE FREE
Emperor Is in Favor of a
Land Congress.
FAVORS ZEMSKY TABOR
Believes that the Reform Is Nee
eSsary to the Advancement
OF the Nation.
FAVORS ZEMSKY TABOR

ST. PETERSBURG, Feb. 13. - All
Russia is stirred by these words of
Emperor Nicholas TO Count Tostoi:
81 am not opposed to zemsky tabor.
On the contrary, l believe 1t neces-
sary."
The emperor, whose word is law, has
personally declared himself in favor of
land congress and expressed the con-
yiction that the time had come 10 pre-
pare to give the people voice in the
government.
The emperor's words were spoken in
the course of conversation with
Count Leo Deonvitch Tolstoi, son of
the famous author, and fully confirms
the statement Of Grand Duke Vladi-
mir on Jan. 81, in which the grand
duke expressly declared that his august
nephew was in favor of zemsky "a
Dor The semioficial denial subse.
0uently sent out is now dlsproyed by
the sOvereign's statement to Count Toll
stoi.
An American correspondent saw
Count Tolstoi in a comfortable house
facing the Tauris gardens in this city.
He said:
Il suppose you have come to hear
about my audience at Tsarskoe- Selo.
| cannot enter into details because |
consider IL unseenly to do so. but am
glad TO state the broad lines of my
conversation with the car His mai
esty summoned me after having re-
ceived memorial which addressed
to the throne exposing the present sit
uation in the country and humbly ex-
pressing the opinion that the interest
of the monarch and the nation called
for the removal of the wall raised up
by the bureaucracy between them His
majesty assured me that personally he
wa. not opposed to the conyocation of
land parliament for Russia, but, on
the contrary, believed 1t necessary. The
whole question now is greatly simpl-
fled and resolves itself TO a discussion
of when is the most opportune mo-
ment.
Il am not at liberty to relate the en-
peror's views on the subject, but you
may announce TO the American people
that the delay will be only such as Is
strictly necessary for the introduction
of an innovation of such magnitude
The great thing is that the emperor Is
in favor of a Zemsky tabor"
The news that Emperor Nicholas has
Endorsed the scheme for the revival Of
the zemsky tabor, or ancient land par
lament. which the old emperors CON
voked In times of stress, has spread
through the country and created in
classes The newspapers are filed
with articles descriptive of this ancient
Russian institution. indicating that
word had gone forth that the govern
ment had decided to listen TO the voice
of representatives of the people. Nat
urally there is some skepticism as to
whether the government intends frank
ly to take the step, but the general
verdict is that II the emperor has sue
ceeded in shaking off reactionary influ-
ences and now proceeds in good faith
to summon the zemsky tabor he will
rally to his support the Moderate Lib
erals and perhaps arouse wave of
genuine enthusiasm in the country.
Liberals are convinced that the meet
ing of such q representative body must
be followed by important and wide
spread reforms.
Despite official reports Of improved
conditions in Russia, the labor move
ment in general seems to be gathering
strength -Four thousand men have
quit work at Kharkov, several more
factories here have been closed, trains
have ceased to run in the Caucasus,
and the situation in Poland is more
grave.
Serious trouble is expected at LODI,
where 100000 men are on strike. They
have increased their demands and
show no signs of needing the ultima
tum of the employers. A mob at War
saw looted a gunshop. Every factory
in that city Is Idle.