Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-04-08
PANIC AMONG REACTIONISTS
Result Of Elections in Russia Greatly
Strengthen Hands Of Count Witte,
PLAIN TALK TO CAR NICHOLAS
HIS Majesty Told that an Attempt
TO Thwart the Public WIN
Would he a Fatal
BIunder.

ST. PETERSBURG, April IA panic has
been created In government circles by the
surprising strength developed by the con-
stitutional democrats in the elections, and
which may have immediate and dramatic
consequences. The issue between reaction
and reform, which has been hanging in the
balance, was Unexpectedly precipitated by
Premier White. The elections have greatly
strengthened the premier's hands in his
night against the reactionists, and he now
reels strong enough to challenge General
Trepon and Minister of the Interior Dur
novo and the center reactionary cabal.
Less than a fortnight ago the premier
was decidedly pessimistic and believed that
the majority in the lower house Of Parlia-
ment would be conservative and the entire
program for reform might be overthrow.
The results OF the elections, however con-
WINGED him that the radicals will control
the house and that an attempt to thwart
the public will as expressed by the ballot
box would be a fatal blunder on the part
of the government. II was learned from
an unimpeachable source this evening that
the premier journeyed to Tsarskoe-Selo on
Thursday to lay this view before the
emperor and made another trip to Tsarskoe-
Selo last night and was closeted with his
majesty until after midnight. The impress
sion is abroad that the success Of the
constitutional democrats will insure the
success of the foreign loan. OF which the
government Is in such urgent need.
Elections for Lower House.
Tomorrow twenty-eight provincial con-
ventions will meet and elect 1877 members
Of the lower house Of Parliament. The
peasant representatives have a clear major
ity over all other classes combined Should
the radicals make anything like the sweep
which they anticipate the emperor prob
ably will be compelled to yield to the pre-
mier's advice. At any rate, he seems to
have aligned himself on the side of the
people. In effect he told the emperor that
he regarded the situation as desperate and
that the time had come to choose between
himself and Interior Minister Durnavo, and
counselled his majesty not only to accept
the result of the elections, but to anticipate
any demand on the part of the lower
house for a constitution by the issuance of
constitution before Parliament convenes,
and at the same time mark his change of
policy by the proclamation Of general am
nesty at Easter. The emperor is said TO
have pointed out that such a course would
make a splendid impression.
Filling the War Chest.
The Rech today says: Russia hopes 10
get SIS 10000 from the loan the government
is now negotiating and the government has
offered exceptional terms to the bankers in
order to conclude the negotiations before
the Russian Parliament assemblies. The
radicals generally believe that IL the gov
eminent succeeds in filling the war chest
with such an enormous sum it will be in a
position to snap its fingers at Parliament.
Only by keeping the government in dire
straits do they believe It will be forced to
yield to the popular demands for reform.
Upon the request of the minister of the
interior the council OF the emperor has in
creased the appropriation for the rural po-
lice by over 81. $4,000. --f .--i-.-.---
Editors Sent to Jail.
NJ Mendelssohn, the armless and legless
editor of local satiricai paper, has been
sentenced to four months Imprisonment.
He was one OF the sights of the Nevsky
Prospect, where he sat in pushcart selling
his paper.
M Kamalei, the "jail editor OF the Russ.
has also been condemned TO four months
Imprisonment as the result of the publica-
ton in the Russ. February %, OF trav-
ersty OF the Lenten prayers: The Russ APP
I fsrrsa--