The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1905-03-22
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Labor Convention Held inst. Peters,
burg With 0rder'iness.
FREEDOM OF PERSON ANDSPEECH
Not to Call Zernsky Sobor-Demands Re-
sion-Emperor and Advisers Think
Consultative Assembly Will Suffice to
Allay Agitation.

EaTQln2 the TulAtu CCOuOuiiS
sion-Emperor and Advisers Think
Consultative Assembly Will Suffice to
Allay Agitation.
st. Petersburg, Russia. - The Peo-
pies Palace here was the scene of a
remarkable convention when working
men representing $50 factories of this
city met for the first time in their lives
with freedom of speech and assembly
guaranteed to them.
These workingmen are the 200 pri-
mary electors who are to select fifty
Of their number as members. Of the
mixed Economic Commission of which
NJ. Schidlovski is president.
The convention unanimously adopted
a resolution to refuse to participate in
the proceedings unless the Govern
ment pledges the release of the work
men who have been arrested since
January %. unless the members Of the
commission have absolute freedom of
speech and immunity from arrest on
account Of the expression Of opinion.
and unless the proceedings Of the COM
mission be published uncensored.
Prior to meeting in the Peoples Pal
ace delegates representing seven
groups met in seven different halls and
for four hours discussed the situation.
The meetings everywhere were marked
by orderliness and the absence Of in
cendiary speeches. Outsiders who
were present were struck by the intelli-
gent grasp Of the subject displayed by
the speakers and the quiet demeanor
and respectable appearance of the
workmen.
The massed convention began at 4 p.
III. A chairman and yice-chairman
were elected, but throughout the pro.
ceedings were marked By Ignorance OF
methods of conducting a meeting-not
unnatural under the circumstances.
One of the first speakers. a wheel
wright, moved the assembly to great
enthusiasm when he insisted that be-
fore proceeding to elect representatives
on the commission the workmen must
insist on the liberation of over 5000
workingmen who had been arrested
SLICE JuuudIy - Ill SOAHCSooh -VAsA
the strike movement.
The speaker said these menewere
treated by the Government as. Grimm
ais, and it was the duty Of the meeting
to stand by their comrades. No one
knew, he said, what would become OF
these men who were under arrest.
The meeting must demand full liberty
Of person, full liberty Of speech, lib
erty Of domicile and immunity from
punishment for anything that might
be said by its representatives.
In the course of his speech the presi-
dent referred to the necessity for free
dom of religion. This reference caused
considerable 'ferment, and for half an
hour the hall was a babel Of confusion.
A number of men rushed to the plat
form and protested. They said they
were not there to discuss religion.
Notwithstanding the difficulty aris-
ing from the Ignorance of parliamel-
tary procedure, the convention plainly,
showed that representative Russian
workmen are able intelligently to dis
cuss public affairs.
AS a result of the workmen's meet
IllS LuCtC SCCuho w NC Sooo ~ 80
if the Economic Commission will be
convoked.
The great and overshadowing cues
ton for Russians, that Of granting to
the people u voice il the Government,
remains undecided at TsarsEoe-Selo.
Emperor Nicholas has not yet given
the final word. .. IS. IaE
The Ministers with whom the En-
peror has been discussing the problem
since the Inauguration Of the Cabinet
Council three weeks ago entertain di-
rergent opinions, but by a process of
elimination two propositions have been
definitely rejected the first a const1tu-
tiona1 monarchical regime based Upon
Western models, with a Parliament to
frame laws and control tie budget. and
the second the converting of the ZEN
sky Sober. The former proposition
has been rejected on the ground that
Russia is not yet ripe for constitution
al government, and the second because
the Zemsky Sober is now an anachroa-
ism.