Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1906-05-10
Emperor Participates in
Ceremonies and is
Cheered.
NO VIOLENCE SHOWN
ST. Petersburg in Gala Dress
Poles Alone Show Dis
satisfaction.

ST. Petersburg. May 10.-Ideal wealth
er greeted the opening of Russia's first
parliament. The city is in holiday at
tire. and flags and bunting fioated in
profusion on all sides Banks. stores,
schools and many factories closed in
honor of the occasion, but there was
no general holiday, the government dis
couraging suspension of business in in
dustrial districts owing to fear of
crOwding workmeH into the center of
the city might provoke disorder.
Troops i'm Evidence.
Troops were TO be seen everywhere.
Detachments Of infantry. cavalry and
gendarmes were stationed at strate-
getic points, and large reserves massed
around the public buildings, and ap-
proaches to the winter palace were
lined with soldiers for distance of
nearly half a mile.
Travel in Launch.
At 10 o'clock the imperial yacht
Alexandria with an important party
aboard arrived in the river Instead
of proceeding to the winter palace the
yacht stopped at a landing stage of
English quay, where the emperor en-
press and dowager empress entered the
launch and moved up the river.
Other members of the court landed
and were driven in carriages TO the
winter palace. Launches containing
their majesties landed at Peter and ST.
Paul fortress, where they repaired TO
the cathedral in which repose the re-
mains of the RomanOffs
Make DevotiOns.
There. before the tombs of the en-
perOr's ancestors, the imperial family
knelt for 20 minutes and made their
devotions. The emperor's arrival was
not heralded by the customary salute
for the reason the passage of the river
hardly attracted the notice of the thou
sands of spectators lining the stream.
Absent for Over Year.
After their devotions their majesties
reentered the launch, crossed the river
and entered the winter palace for the
first time since the ceremony of bless
ing the waters, Jan. 10. 1905. when the
emperor escaped death from a charge
OF grape fired from a gun of the salut-
ing battery.
Two hours later vast hosts of mill
tary and civil dignitaries began arriv-
ing at the palace TO listen to the en-
peror's message TO the representatives
of the people.
speech ConciIiatory.
St. Petersburg. May 1O.-The emper-
or's reception passed off without any
untoward incident. The tone of the
speech from the throne was concilia-
tory.
IL expressed the emperor's wish re-
lief should be given 70 the peasants in
their unfortunate condition and called
on members of parliament to put their
hearts into their work and to cooper
ate with him in solving the present
problems of Russia and in handing
down a united and prosperous empire
to his successor.
Cheers for Ruler.
The emperor and empress after leav-
ing the palace boarded the imperial
yacht and returned to Peterhoff. The
crowds on the banks of the river and
Islands heartily cheered the imperial
party. There were no other incidents.
Members of the lower house of parla-
ment after the ceremonies at the pal
ace repaired to Tauride palace. where
the house will assemble.
Called to Order.
st. Petersburg, May 10.-The lower
house of parliament was called to or
der by Baron Frisch and the secretary
of the empire, with the hall about two
thirds filled. Frisch read the imperial
ukase convoking parliament and invit
ed the members TO come forward and
sign the oath. A recess was then
taken.
Democrats Elect President.
St. Petersburg, May 10.-The OPEN
ing of the lower house was preceded
by a religious service of thanksgiving
in the big corridor of the hall.
Professor Mouromtseff, candidate OF
the constitutional democrats. was elect
ed president. Ambassador Meyer was
accorded a rousing reception from the
crowd in front of the Tauride garden.
One Instance of Disorder.
So far as known the only disorder
reported occurred near the winter pal
ace between an officer and party OF
toughs who declined to make any way
for him. Finally one of the toughs
struck the officer in the face, where