The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-03-26
Elections OIf3r Radically from
 Those in United States
PROVISION FOR WORKMEN
Lack of Organization Among Political Parties Makes 1t Practically Im- possible to Determine the
 Results Before Hand.

St Petersburg, March 1S.-(Correspond- ence of the Associated Press)-The elee- tons to the imperial douma and the coun- cil of the empire -Russias first parlia- ment-bear only a slight resemblance to elections in the United States The ma chinery of election is both complicated and confusing and the lack of political organization on the part of the innumera- ble parties in the field serves to increase the uncertainty of the results
 For the douma or lower chamber prac- tically the old machinery employed by the peasants in their communes and villages for the regulation of petty questions of self government is employed and In the cities the machinery for the election of doumas or town councils Is used. The members of the imperial douma are elect ed by provincial congresses composed of representatives of four classes, the peas ants, the workmen the land owners and the city population as a class. Certain of the larger cities, however, like St. Petersburg, Moscow and odessa elect teItdln nulnDtI Ol representatives, HI spectve of the provinces in which they are located The number of such city representatives is based upon aggregate population. For instance St. Petersburg elects sib men to the douma and the procedure is as follows:
 Procedure in St. Petersburg.
 The city is divided into twelve districts identical with the districts formed for the electon of members of the city eoun- ell In each of those districts polling place is opened by the supervisor or president and commission appointed by the municipality and here the qualified city voters on a specified day from o'eolek in the morning until 2 o'oieSs a night have the privilege of voting for delegates who are to be chosen from each district to the city congress.
 The delegates or "viborschiki" as they are called, must be qualified electors and residents of the district. The parties of course have tickets in the field but the electors can vote for any elector resident of his district without regard to tickets If he chooses. Without regard to whether they secure majority of the votes ae- tually cast. the five electors receiving the highest number of votes become the viborschki of the district. The qualifca- ton of voters in the cities is very low, including practically all except the float ing population
 Special Provision for Workmen.
 A special provision is made for the workmen in factories and mills. The workmen of each factory employing over fifty men choose. according to their num- bers, delegates to the city congress, in the case of St. Petersburg twenty-four. The city congress thus made up is pre- sided over by the Mayor and chooses from among it's members the representa- tives to the douma This balloting is conducted by balls. The name of the qualified candidate. i e. member of the congress are read and after each name is pronounced, each delegate deposits either a black or white ball, but for the whole series each delegate has the privilege of casting only six affirmative votes. The process is long and tedious, but is supposed to give every candidate an equal chance.
 The members from the provinces are also elected in the last instance by
  delegates representing the provincial classes. The steps and methods of elec- ton, however, are very different, especial ly in regard to the peasant class. The peasants comprise almost 80 per cent of the total population of the empire and in thirty-two of the fifty provinces are assigned a majority of the delegates to the provincial congresses. The peasant or Moulin elections begin with the com or x-flla iipif tho lpadG of ten families-women being allowed to vote where the husband is dead-seecting one of their number of represent them at the Volost or Cantonal meeting. This first step is very primitive and follows the ancient traditions of village com munal life in Russia, where the De siatnlk" or Tenth man" is usually named in rotation to fulfill such public duties as his group is called upon to exercise, his mission being regarded rather in the na- ture of a duty than privilege and honor
 Where Politics Begin.
 The real politics begin with the Volosta assembly, perhaps representing a score of communes, which chooses two representa- tives each to the assembly of the dis trict. each province being divided up into a number of districts, each a replica on a small scale of the provinces or govern ments" as they usually are called in Rus sia, of which they form a part. These district assemblies choose from a list of candidates of their own number who have a right to be elected by the ball system the delegates to the provincial congress- the land owners, the inhabi- tants of cities which do not eject special representatives to the douma and the worlmen of factories which are numerous enough to entitle them to special repre- sentatives.
 Land Owners Divided.
 The land owners are divided into two classes. those possessing land in excess of the amount required to qualify for a vote and the smaller holders of land who through combination among themselves, have together enough to qualify The basis, consequently is land holding The amount of land acquired, however, varies according. to the quality of the land. There are only two degrees in the cleo tions of the land owners. They assemble by districts and choose delegates direct to the provincial congress, the number being apportloned in each case. In the cities the inhabitants and the workmen elect in the same fashion to the provln- cial congress. that they do in expected cities like St. Petersburg, as described