The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-01-04
) and the Tidewater and Piedmont Country.
RUSSIA QUIEYS down
Witte May Yet Be Able to Steer
WayThroughEmpire'sT
ENOUGH OF GENERAL STRIKES

ffeUleT NdDHSt OSHJ oONS'"
Will Adopt Reactionary Course, But
Say Anarchy Must Stop and Law
Breakers Will Be Tried In Courts.
st. Petersburg. Jan 1.-The Russian
government is breathing frcer with a
fighting chance that Count Witte will
yet be able to steer way through
the rocks which beset his path. The
Svet. which is often well informed on
court news. declares the emperor
fayors TIE creation of an advisory
council OF moderate zemstyoists, such
az Gutchkof. Shipof and others OF
their class to act in conjunction with
the cabinet.
A close friend OF the premier pre-
dlcted that the struggle at court would
end in the granting OF a constitution
or Whites resignation.
The threat OF a general strike In
the near future has disappeared, and
the telegraph strike. being without
support. is fast going to pieces, in
spite OF the mild appeals of the union
to stand firm.
The real leaders Of the workmen
and other proletariat organizations,
realizing fully their weakness and
lack of preparation for a decisive
struggle. carried the day over the hot
spurs and convinced the majority that
It would be an irretrieyable bunder to
prostitute that which they preach as
being the supreme instrument for the
forging OF a free nation, to minor Is
sues such as the redressng Of the
grievances OF private individuals,
In registering their decision. how
eyer they place themselves on record
TO continue the organization and
equipment OF the fighting legions, be
gun by our old president, NJ. Krusta'
len" (now under arresD, thus yir'
tually justifying the accusation OF the
government that a violation or artl-
cles 1O1 and 1876 OF the criminal code,
covering participation in any associa-
ton the object of which is armed re-
volt and the punishment for which Is
death, is possible.
The members OF Count Whites cabi'
net distinctly deny that the govern
ment has entered on the path Of re-
action. but they say that the present
anarchy cannot continue and that per-
sons amenable to the law will be tried
in the courts. There can be no ques-
ton of arbitrary methods, they say,
and they add that If the government
should really enter on the path OK
reaction Il must end in a dictatorship,
the first evidence of which will be
that the premier will step down and
out,
Il can be stated that Count Witte
has taken the ground that his minis
try Is only a stop-gap. thatit Is his
purpose to transfer the power OF the
cabinet to the hands of the douma, and
that therefore the government will not
undertake to bind the country by any
temporary law or policy which the ma
ton should decide for itself.
The special commission which Is
considering the matter Of legislation
for the peasants has reached an ex'
ceedlngly important direction, involy'
ing the right OF the communes 10 as
sign lands In severalty, the holders OF
which can sell at will. Action in ac-
cordance with this decision would vir-
tually sound the knell of the COM
munal system. Where the peasants de-
sire TO retain the communal system,
however they may mortgage their
lands to obtain money for the pur-
chase OF additional lands. TO make i'm
provements. to buy agricultural I'm
plements. etc. The decision Of the com
mission. as based on the fact that the
emperor's remission of further pay
ments ended the necessity for further
communal ownership, which was
really a device of the government to
hold the entire community response
bic for the redemption OF the lands
granted when serfdom was abolished