The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-07-23
MEET1NG BRoKEN UP.
But Not Before an Address to the Peo-
pie Was Adopted.


Viborg. July 23.=2:30 D. m.-The
gov ernor of Viborg has just arrived at
the Hotel Belevedere and announced
that he has been ordered by the gov
ernor general of Finland to imme-
oiately close the meeting Of the men1-
bers of parliament and to use mliitary
force if necessary to disperse them. he
informed NJ Mouromtseff that such
meetings would not be allowed to be
held anywhere in Finland.
The members of parliament had
been at the moment franically hurry
ing forward their final discussion of
the proposed manifesto and had hoped
to be able to adopt it before the arrival
of the troops. The constitutional
Democrats We're desperately fighting a
demand Of the group of toll mem Ders
that the document should include a
declaration against the payment OF
taxes and another against the furnish
ing of recruits for the army It was
clear that violent dissensions had
broken out among the members, not
w!thstanding their strenuous efforts TO
come into accord. strong faction OF
the constitutional Democrats was striv-
ing in vain to check the impetuosity
of toe radicals in the fear that the
whole n1ovem ent would be discredfted
if there was an attempt to assume a
revolutionary role. The radicals. on
the other hand. supported the mem
bers of the group of toll who consider
an upheaval of the masses certain and
insist that the members of parliament
should place themselves at the head Of
a revolution and If necessary should
die in the sight of the people
Tor US, said one of the members
to the Associated Press representative,
1.-The wrath of the people IS more ter
rihle than the government. for the
masses would never forgive US
The struggle over the manifesto, the
ted
the committee Of seven in all night ses-
sion was proceeding behind closed doors.
There was but a limited number OF
constitutional Democrats present. The
Polish delegates showed disposition to
refuse to participate in the discussion,
preferring to issue a separate appeal.
Both NJ. Stakovich and Count Heyden
were present urging haste as they had
received information that the govern
ment at St Petersburg had directed
Governor General Gerhard to declare
Viborg in a state of siege in order to
give show Of legal warrant for dis
persing the meeting with the possible
intention of surrounding and arresting
the membership. There are several
thousand troops in the garrison here.
The radicals carried the day and dur
ing the last hours of the meeting a
proclamation was hurriedly adopted
containing a protest against the Illegal
dissolution of the parliament and ap-
peal to the people to refuse to pay
taxes or recruit the army or to recog-
nize the issue of a government loan.
The text of the address is not yet avail
able, but enough is known to warrant
the assertion that it amounts to an ap-
peal to the nation to seize that liberty
which the government has denied
At the last moment the constitution
al Democrats. under the influence of
the threat of martial law. swung into
line with the radicals and the address
to the country was adopted with prac-
tical unanimity, only Count Heyden and
NJ Staxovieh voting in the negative.
The Poles will adopt a separate state
ment.
The former members of parliament
then adjourned. realizing the helpless
ness of refusing to recognize the edict
of dissolution in the face of the bayon-
cts of the government.