The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-07
Russian Congress to Assemble
Third of March.
Anniversary of Emancipation Of
the Serfs.
WITTE WILL RESIGN
And Leave Members Free to
Form a Government.
Civil War Is at an End in Most
of the Cities.

st. Petersburg, Jan. THE state
ment was made last night that the
new imperial douma will be sum-
moned on March 9, the anniversary of
the freeing of the serfs of Russia. On
this douma the reactionaries and bu-
reaucrats are now basing all their
hopes. If there is anything that will
plaeate the people and put an end to
the present unhappy revolutionary
movement it will be the calling of the
national assembly. If a date for sum
moning the douma has really been
agreed upon and the announcement
of this fact is made it may have
good effect in bringing some order out
of the existing chaos.
The civil war has come to an end
in most of the cities but the peasant
uprisings and the war in the Baltic
provinces are stiu causes for a great
deal of uneasiness on the part of the
government authorities. The situa-
ton on the railways is also far from
satisfactory. There is hardly a line
that is working well and several of the
roads are in the hands of strikers and
no travel is permitted except under
the permission of the strikers COM
mittee. Gradually, however, the
troops are gaining the upper hand in
nearly all the disturbed districts.
The outbreaks have been 50 general,
however. and extend over such a great
area that it will be impossible to bring
about anything like the usual order
within at least two months. The
greatest danger exists that before
that time expires there will be further
disturbances in the cities which will
give fresh inducement to the revOlu-
tionistS in the provinces to renew the
struggle for the rights of freemen.
The douma however. can solve the
problem, if it is capable of solution.
The representatives of the people may
be able to wrest sufficient recognition
of their rights to satisfy the people
generally.
Witte VIII Resign.
It is understood as well that Pre-
mier Witte will resign once the dOuma
meets and if he does SO this viii give
an opportunity for the doUma to put
into operation a new system of gov
eminent so far as many points are
concerned.
There is nothing. however. to indi-
cate that the reactiOnarles who are
eIated because of the crushing of the
revolution will be strong enough to
lead the czar to adopt repressive meas
ures that may drive the people into
making some demonstration.
An example of the reactiOnary 1ntiu-
ence is shown in the congress of dele
gates from the black hundred organi-
cations of $50 cities, which has been
in session here. The "black hundred
gangs are made up of the lowest ele-
ments of the various cities and TOOK an
active part in the recent Jewish mas
sacres acting under the direct lnstruc-
lions of reactiOnaries in ST. Peters
Their congress adopted a resolution
calling on the car to restore absolut-
ism in Russia in its old form Another
4 resolution, even more slgnlncanl' Calls
Q oh, ff.e
! luton by the massacre on an appointed
day of all the revolutionists, Poles
! Armenians Jews and other elements
of disorder.
/ c4lIar to all the local "black hundred
! organizations notifying them to be
: ready to inaugurate a massacre of all
I sympathizers with the progressive
I movement. This circular concludes
/ with the words: Millions must die to
( save Russia but the sacrifice is the
/ best for the fatherland-"
: Meetings Forbidden.
The government in the pursuit OF
4 the policy of repression has forbidden
4 an meetings until the douma is sum-
/ uOned This may result in serious
( trouble, as the right of the holding OF
meetings was guaranteed by the MANI
! festO of October 80. The pretect OF
! nolice has now seen fit, however, to
/ suspend the operation of that section OF
! the manifesto and the people are al
1 most certain to resent this action
There is disposition among many
of the revolutionists to postpone active
] onDOsftfOn to the government until
1 snring The severity of the winter IN
/ Russia is one reason for this plan be-
/ ing proposed To ask the working
/ people to give up their positions IN
/ the midst of winter and suffer its
/ hardships in addition to those that
! must follow a general strike, the
/ weapon that the revOluuon1sts are
certain to employ against the gov
I ernment might jeOpardiZe the cause
/ of the revolutions as many Workmen
/ might be disinclined to obey any
/ summons to strike. The agitation
/ will be kept up vigorously however,
/ if the armed revolution is prepared,
and the leaders of the revolutionary
movement believe they can gain thou
sands of supporters in the days be-
tween now and warmer weather.
Advices received last night and
! early today report the usual number
( of disorders. None of them is of a
/ Tomsk a force of armed revolution
! lists seized the town officials before
they could even notify the authorities
/ at st. Petersburg.
The terrorism to which the revo-
lutionists along the Siberian railrOad
( have resorted has made it necessary
/ to declare martial law in that section
( of the country The road is in the
hands Of the revolutionists, who
/ through their committee decide who
/ shall be allowed to travel over it.
/ Without an order from the commit
/ tee no one is allowed to ride. On the
Rostoff-V 1adicaucasu line similar
conditions exist.
65th wedding Anniversary.
Lawrence. kan, Jan 6.-Adr and Mrs
/ Thomas L. Brown Of Douglas county eel
I ebrated their 65th wedding anniversary
1 ar-r1a fr M TTS