The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-09
W|TTE WILL Be
KILLED IF He GOES
BACK To RUSSIA

ST Petersburg. Nov. 9.-Count Witte
has ben sentenced to die, II he returns to
Russia, according TO a report current In
Moscow. by the League TO Combat the
Revolution" an organization 10 which
IL attributed the assassination OF Deputy
Herzenstein in Finland last summer
Vice President Psnkisoff OF the Odessa
committee OF the Constitutional Demo-
Gratis. has been fined $500 and oanished
from that city as long as martial law
continues because, without permission OF
the authorities a meeting to discuss the
approaching elections WAS held i'm his
mouse. Twenty-four others present among
them doctors, lawyers and municipal
councillors, we're fined $500 each with the
alternative OF Imprisonment. Governor
General Kaulbars declares he will aot al
low meetings for electoral purposes, legal
or Illegal.
Thousands moro OF the poorer classes
are dlsfranchised by the Interpretation
given by the senate TO the new election
fsw-city employees. railroad men ana
even locomotive engineers, the most skill
cd and highest paid labor in Russia. Out
side of factory workingmen the ranks OF
the Socialist party arc recruited chiefly
from railroad men.
This new Interpretation is supple
mentary to the senates ruling of oct. 20,
which, IL was estimated, cut from the
election lists over half a million persons
who voted i'm the last election. These two
rulings. undo. to a great extent, the oN-
tension OF the suffrage proclaimed by
Count Witte last December. The object,
frankly avowed by a member of the cab
met, was 10 rid the electorate OF a class
OF voters too easily swayed by the infiu-
ence OF revolutionary agitators.
Yet, this official, one OF the few sur
viving ministers OF the old regime. doubts
II either this restricting OF suffrage OF
Premier Stoypin's policy OF agrarian. pol
itical and religious reforms will make the
new Douma less antagonistic TO the gov
eminent than the frst one. He thinks II
probably will be found necessary TO dis
miss the coming Doums earlier than the
other, and make a sweeping revision in
the election laws before summoning a
third body.
According TO advices received here from
Vladivostok, there is constant friction IT,
tween the Russians and Japanese In Man
churia. The Japanese. according 10 the
newspapers OF Vladivostok. are constantly
pressing northward In Manchuria with
the apparent intention OF establishing
themselves I'm the Hinterlsnd OF Nladi-
vostok, where their presence would con-
utute a serious menace TO the fortress,
involving the possibility Of the resumption
Of hostilities
The charge that the japanese are forti.
flying the Island OF Saghalin in violation
of the terms OF the treaty of Portsmouth
is reiterated by the User Zhisn.
The Russian government. through the
foreign office, has opened negotiations
with other governments with a view OF
concluding supplementary extrsdition
treaties, covering .fugitives accused OF
the preparation or appropriation OF ex-
plosives for use in the manufacture OF
bombs. several governments having re-
fused TO deliver up such offenders, on the
ground that their offences were political.
The action OF the Russian government is
based on the law OF Feb. %. subjecting
such offences TO the regular criminal pro-
ceedure.