Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-01

sharper as events occur and that conserva-
tive and anti-violence members will drift
gradually to the Octoberist position be-
cause it Is the most rational, practical and
businesslike The Octoberists are men of
substance; unlike the ma jorty of the dou-
ma, they have great interests at stake
they are bankers. merchants manufacture
ers. large landowners and, as practical
far-sighted, prudent men. realize the Sc
rdous situation in which the douma has
placed itself There are three four col
lege professors in the party, but they are
not idealists and optimists. like the ma
jority of those who are directing the policy
of the constitutional democrats.
There is really very little difference in the
platforms of the two parties 1t would be
quite easy for them to come. together. The
platform and program of the Octoberists-
was -explained to me by George Milutine, q
son of one of the greatest statesmen in
Russian history, who did more than any one
else to bring about the emancipation of the
serfs. and Alexander Stolypin. secretary of
the Octoberfst organization, who, by the
way, Is brother Of the minister of the in
terror In the present cabinet Mr.. Milutine
is a cousin OF Baron Rosen, the Russian
ambassador at Washington. / should ex-
plain that both Of these gentlemen are
members OF ancient and distinguished fam
flies, prominent in social and business af
fairs Of st. Petersburg and among the most
highly esteemed citizens of this capital.
They are not politicians. but business men,
and are in this movement for the good of
Russia rather than to crafty any per-
S0ndl interests or pOlftlCai amDlIiOnS. Ihey
give the following propositions as the plat
form upon which the Octoberists stand:
Platform of the Octoberists.
l. Peaceful evolution and not revolution.
Opposition to all violence.
q The unity of the empire, opposed to
the autonomy of the provinces or fedora
lions.
g. The development of the constitutional
rrtncfnle ha cad ,Inop universal SufFrap will,
form of government similar to that of
Great Britain.
A. Home rule for the provinces and par
ishes in all local affairs
5. Civil, political and religious liberty;
equality to all; inviolabiiity of the home
and correspondence.
8. Free speech, free press. free assem-
clubs and parties.
I. Responsibility of all officials to the
courts.
8. Distribution of state and crown lands
among the peasants who should be free in
every respect and be placed the same
basis as all other citizens: the lands owned
by the people in common to be distributed
in seyeralty and the commune to be con-
verted into local civil government on
suffrage basis.
8. The Introduction of measures to in
crease the prosperity of the peasants: in
struction in the agricultural sciences and
the use of labor-saying machinery, with
new regulations to protect the peasants
from extortion, to secure their rights in
the possession of property and to encourage
them In the increase of their holdings.
TO- The extension of the scope and use
fulness of the Peasants Land Bank gov
eminent institution which loans money at a
low rate of interest to keep them from Dor
rowing from the Jews.
IL The readjustment of the boundaries
of peasants farms so as to bring the hold
ings together In many cases they are now
scattered at considerable distances, sur
counded by the land of other owners and
difficult to reach. Peasants are often for
hidden to cross fields belonging to other
people to reach their own lands. Also the
construction of roads so as to give access
to all private lands by public highway
II. The aid of the state in the dfstribu-
| ton of labor. In order to relieve the con-
gestion of certain densely populated por-
| tons of the empire and supply labor for
| those which are partially populated
Ii. The adoption OF a system of internal
colonization upon agricultural lands
ii. The distribution of untitled private
lands among the peasants, with due COM
pensation to the owners and from the peas
ants. the government to act as an interme-
diary and to supply any deficit that ma y
occur in the transaction
Is. To protect labor from imposition to
secure the payment OF fair wages to every
workman with limitation OF hours; reg
ulation of tasks. with sick and aged insur-
ance and compensation for accidents &.
16. Recognition OF the right to strike
/ who wish to continue to labor: the right OF
every man to accept such wages and hours