The San Francisco call., 1906-05-27
CALLS On
MINISTERS
To RESIGN
Lower House Of Russian
Parliament Defies
Government.
Rejects Premier S State
ment Of Emperor S
Policy,
Spokesmen for the Masses
Boldly Denouncethe
Little F ather.

ST. PETERSBURG. May 26.--At
the end of q memorable seven-hour
session the lower house of Parliament
today Indignantly rejected the Gov
ernment's policy as presented by Pre-
mier GOremykin, and with only seven
dissenuent. voices voted a lack of con-
8fd-4ec f1i the Ministry.
This practically throws down the
gauntlet to the bureaucracy with a
demand for the retirement of the
present Cabinec and its suppression
by Ministry approved by majority
in the house.
The spirit of revolution is in the
cir, and a conflict between the crown
and the nation appears inevitable.
While the house avoided the appear
ance of delegating an ultimatum. the
Government seems TO have no alter
native between a surrender and war.
The glOomiest forebodings are heard
everywhere tonight. and the general
impression is that the country is on
the verge of a titanic struggle, which
may be delayed, but not averted.
Dispatches from the interior indicate
that the struggle may be inaugurated
on Monday with a general strike when
the. people learn that all amnesty has
been refused
Before a house more crowded than
on the opening day, with every mem
Der in his seat and the press and pub
lie galleries crowded, Premier Co.
remykin this afternoon read to the
lower house of Parliament the ex-
pected declaration of the Govern
ments policy, pronouncing the i'm
perial negative on the most cherished
hopes and plans of the peoples rep
resentatives.
In the imperial box sat Grand Duke
Nicholas Nikolaievich, following the
proceedings with the keenest inter-
est. There was scarcely standing room
in the section assigned to members of
the upper house, and the Premier and
. the entire Cabinet with the exception
Of Vice Admiral Birilef, Minister of
Marine, and Lieutenant General Fu-
diger, Minister of War, occupied seats
On the ministerial benches.
The scene before the opening was
one Of great excitement. All present
were aware that the response would ut
terly fail TO meet the wishes Of the low
er house, and hum of eager discus
sion as 70 the effect of the resolutions
expressing lack of confidence in the
Government which the Constitutional
Democrats and the Labor party had
drafted in advance filled the hall and
corridors.
The tinkle of President Mouromt-
sef's bell calling the session to order
stilleo the house TO instant silence,
whereupon, without waiting for fur
ther preliminaries, Premier Goremy-
kin mounted TO the tribune and be-
gan reading the governmental declar-
atiOns. He evidently was not used to
public speeches, as he labored under a
considerable strain and spoke in low
weak voice, which at times though
deathly. silence prevailed, failed to
reach the rear of the great hall except
as an indistinct muttering. The read
ing, which was as rapid as if the Pre-
Inier had been in a hurry to get
through with a oisagreeable task, last
ed eighteen minutes and was interrupt
ed only by the pauses to swallow sew
eral glasses of water.
PREMIER'S REPLY REJECTED.
The members in the meanwhile sat
stOlidly silent, and when the Premier
had finished and bowed to the assem-
bly, not a murmur of applause was
heard throughout the house, where
the pages. Immediately began to dis
tribute printed copies Of the speech.
A wonderful scene followed when
Roditchef, the leader of the Consti-
tu1onal Democrats, mounted the ros-
trum TO reject. in behalf of his party
The. Governments reply. With burn
ing words he flung down the gauntlet
70 the Government, thunders of ap-
plause greeting his sallies of defiance
The Grand Duke Nicholas Nikolaie-
vich shrank back into the corner o.
the imperial box as the orator fiayed
the administration, and the Premier
and the other members of the Cabinet
seemed TO shrink lower into their
chairs.
When Roditchen turned toward the
oenches occupied by the Ministry and
rarffn,.d - De-. os Cof.,r.r