The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-22
Warships Disarmed.
ELECTIONS ARE RID1CULED
Toilers Of st. Petersburg Choose Dog
as Their Delegate.

st. petersburg, March 22.-The work
men in one Of the mills in this city,
to render the elections ridiculous, yes
terday formally chose as their delegate
the selection was made in spirit of
economy, as If she should be elected it
would cost the government only cents
a day to maintain this delegate instead
of the allowance of SIS, and at the same
time the dog would be quite as useful
as representative of the workmen 8
interests as any Of their candidates
who have a chance Of election.
The workmen of another factory
designated as their delegate the factory
chimney, on the ground that it would
not suffer from machine gun fire.
The. government organ, the Russkoe
Gosudarstvo, prints a dispatch from
Moscow saying that Jewish merchants
and their families are leaving that city
in haste owing to fears of a Jewish
massacre at Easter time. The dispatch
also remarks growing unrest and, ex-
citement among the workmen Of Mos
cow.
The first appearance of anti-J ewish
disorders is reported from Theodosia,
in. the Crimea, where a crowd broke
into synagogue and destroyed the
altar and the religious emblems and
pictures.
Gives Liberty Only in Name.
The imperial manifesto and the
ukase of March 8 which incorporate
in the fundamental law Of the empire
the provisions for a national assembly
| in Russia, promised in the manifesto
last fall, are disappointing in many re-
spects. They constitute neither a con
stitution nor "bill of rights,'' for the
Russian people. They do create popu-
lar assembly but the powers granted
to it are SO hedged about with restric-
tions and conditions that it will be
rather a parliament in name than in
fact. Nevertheless by the terms of the
manifesto the emperor himself is power
less to revoke what he has now given.
This constitutes the great victory
which the people have. won. They: at
thru which they can make their voice
heard and it is in this assembly prob
ably that the great historical struggle
against prerogative and privilege will
be fought out.
The council of the empire, or upper
chamber. as reorgSanized; provides for
the election of only half the members
clergy, zemstvos and commercial inter:
ests so that with the other half di-
rectly nominated by the crown, the
government can always interpose de.
cision of the council as a buffer be-
tween it and the direct representatives
of the people in the douma, or lower
| house.
Besides certain important questions
notably malfeasance in office for mem
bers Of the council of the empire, the
cabinet. the provincial general gov
errors and the other, functionaries OF
the government belonging to the three
highest ranks in the Russian hierarchy
are excluded entirely from the jurisdic
ton of the parliament and are con
signed to committees or "commis
sions.' as they are called, of the coun
Gil of the empire. But the composition
of such committees is restricted. to the
members appointed by the emperor.
May Dissolve Parliament at Will.
The main weapon retained by tn,
emperor is his power to dissolve parlia
ment at will. This, coupled with thu
governments ability to ,promulgat'
ment %aster of the e situst sne govern
i; Enormous power is concentrated il
} the hands of the presidents of eacl
house, only the president of the lowe
house being elected. They have tn
authority to adjourn session, order tn
| closing of the doors during a debat
; and, to large measure, control tn
puUllCdIIou VI Glo 1cpOIGS VI tuo Sil
tings..
The work Of all committees is don
r in secret. Bills must be supported b,
{ the signature Of at least thirty mem
, bers and accompanied by an explana
, tory statement to compel the presiden
to start them on their way thru til
legislative gristmill.
/ Parliament Not Responsible.
All idea that the cabinet won1d he re
, sponsible to. parliament is abandoned
T Even the privilege of interpellating tn
ministers turns out to be vague an
5 lperhaps ineffective. The right of pet
ton is specifically prohibited, eithe
+ verbally or in writing.
Revolutionists Sentenced.
Riga, March 22-Three revolution
lists were sentencedNto death here toda
for breaking into store and stealth
ammunition.
! TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY,
) Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. Dru