The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-07-06

st. Petersburg, July 6.-Ivan Petrun-
kevitch, the veteran leader OF the Lii
beral movement, who has been pre-
vented by i'll health from taking a
prominent part in the debates in the
lower house of parliament. but is a
factor of great weight in the councils
of the constitutional democratic party,
in an interview, expressed his con-
viction that the downfall OF the pres
ent cabinet had been decided. and his
confidence that the coming OF re-
sponsible parliamentary ministry is at
hand. Emperor Nicholas, NJ. Pc
trunkevitch said, might, and probably
would, attempt to stave off the in
evitable and endeavOr to form another
bureaucratic ministry, but the govern
ment's helplessness to face the situa-
ton OF the hostile attitude of parlia-
Ment was so apparent that the eXis-
tence of such a body would be brief
N Petrunkevitch protested ignorance
of any direct negotiations between the
emperor and the constitutional demo-
Gratis. but spoke so positively that it
was evident his expectation was based
TN more definite grounds than the
general situation.
NJ. Petrunkevitch said roundly that
no ministry except fully responsible
one selected from parliament or per-
sons in accord with that body would
be acceptable. Any other ministry,
the same treatment as the existing
1s.>l
ministry under the leadership of NJ.
kokovsoff, but also to one containing
such ''liberalized hureaucrats" as NJ.
Yermoloff or NJ. Timiriaseff. Even NJ.
Shipoff would be personally unaccept-
able, and the inclusion of any of the
councillors of the empire would be
considered violation of the demand
for a parliamentary ministry.
NJ. Petrunkevitch said he was OPP
posed to cooperation with the socialist
element in parliament, which he had
found fantastic and impractical. salts
fed with nothing less than the i'm
mediate realization of the ideal OF a
constituent assembly and socialist
republic. A ministry attempting to
include all the parties in parliament
would be too discordant to be success
full. Asked ii a constitutional demo-
cratic ministry could save the situa-
ton and stem the rising tide OF an
archy. he said:
it is impossible to say. Such min
istry would do its best: but all would
depend on the time when it was called
to power. What is possible today may
be impossible tomorrow. If a con-
stitutional democratic ministry had
been formed month ago, it would
have had much greater chances of
success than one organized now, and
a fortnight hence may be entirely too
late. The revolutionary preparations
in the country, and especially the mu-
tinous spirit OF the army. will be as
dangerous to a constitutional demo-
cratic cabinet as to the present gov
eminent, because it is directed against
all government.
The emperor probably will summon
M. Mouromtsff as the official represen-
tative of parliament, and the only
prominent member with whom he is
acquainted, but doubt If NJ. Mouromt-
sell will venture to take the slightest
step except to refe rthe emperors pro-
posals to the representatives of the
dominant party, who will decide as 20
the composition of the ministry.
NJ. Grodeskul, vice president of the
lower house, was equally confident
that the constitutional democrats
would soon be intrusted with the reins
of government. He was more optimis-
tic than NJ. Petrunkevitch in regard 10
the general situation.
The result of Premier Goremykin's
recent trip to Peterhof is not known,
but it is reported that no decision was
reached as to his successor or the
composition of a new cabinet.
The passage by the lower house of
parliament today on it's three readings
Of the bill abolishing the death pen
atty, the final vote on the measure oc-
cupying only eight minutes, offers the
first test OF the attitude of the Centre
in the council of the empire. The bill
will come up before that body at
Thursdays session. A caucus of the
Centre will be held this week to
determine whether to attempt to push
1t through and also to decide on the
resolution of lack of confidence in the
ministry
The afternoon sitting of the lower
house of parliament today, which was
devoted to the discussion of the law