Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-03
LAND HUNGER
OF PEASANTRY
Burning Question in Russian
Provinces Today.
A DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS
Threatens to Disrupt Ranks OF the
Democrats.
DIVISION IN THE LOWER HOUSE
Many Suggestions in the Debate Over
appropriation of Church, Crown
and Private Lands.
Threatens to Disrupt Ranks OF the
Democrats.
DIVISION IN THE LOWER HOUSE

ST. PETERSBURG. June 1.-TWO days
OF debate on the great and burning ques-
ton In Russia-the satisfaction of the
land hunger of the peasantry-has de-
monstrated that the lower house of par
lament, which proposes to solve the ques-
tion irrespective of the wishes of the
government, has no longer plain sailing
ahead With the practical discussion even
OF the general principles which the house
laid down In it's address in reply to the
speech from the throne a divergence of
views has developed which threatens to
split the ranks of the constitutional dem
ocratic majority and possibly wreck the
party.
The government in its enjoyment of the
spectacle of its enemies fighting among
themselves seems oblivious to the fact
that failure to find a solution of the
question. no matter on whose shoulders
the responsibility falls. will arouse the
peasantry to fury. All reports agree that
the mujiks in the interior are land mad
and are thinking and talking of nothing
else but the coming allotment.
1t is like the cry of forty acres and
mule" among the negroes after the civil
war in the United States. Even the door
porters in ST. Petersburg. who belong to
the peasant class. are arranging the re-
turn to the villages as soon as the grand
distribution is made.
dopeful signs in DIVISION.
Nevertheless the divisions which have de-
veloped in the lower house OF parliament
are In reality hopeful signs OF resistance to
the program OF universal forced expropria-
tion of church, crown and private lands,
and of refusal to give way to the
cialistic demand for the complete abolition
OF the rights of private property and the
naturalization Of land, and evidences a
saner appreciation of the responsibility
parliament Is assuming. Even some of the
peasant members who at first were filled
with hallusinations that the land belonged
to those who titled 1t no longer attempt to
defend the idea that they should not pay
for IT.
But, on the other hand, there is ample
evidence that some of the leaders, like Prof
Hertzens tein. the member from Moscow
who has made himself a popular hero
among the peasants by his radical speeches.
are merely playing politics. believing they
must win the support OF the peasants at
any cost. In the case OF Prof. Hertzen-
stein, who is deliberately sacrificing his
reputation the foremost economic ex-
pert in Russia, suspicion is not lacking that
he Is seeking by advocating a realization of
the widest dreams of the peasantry to
promote favorable legislation for his core
ligionists.
The Conservative Program.
Several points OF the program In the
lower house already are clear. The con-
servative program of the government de-
nying all right to forced appropriation
and offering instead to purchase lands for
peasants through the Peasant Bank. and
emigrating to Siberia will be rejected.
The right of forced appropriation viii be
insisted upon, but whether the land
fund thus created will be distributed in
Zee simple. or by lease, the advocates
of naturalization desire, is matter
which is stu to be fought out. as must
also questions in connection with payment
first. whether landlords shall be remuner-
ated In government bonds, and second
whether repayment shall be made by
holders or leagues or by general taxation
The landow ners Of the central provinces,
headed by Prince Solkonsky. together
with the landowners of Poland and the
western provinces under the leadership
OF Prince Poniatowski and Baron Pom
While admitting the necessity for a GER
tain amount of appropriation. take a
strong position against division of the big
estates which they contend would mean
ruin and they equally oppose the nation
anzatlon or land as a step backward
They take the position that with political
liberty and abolition of vexatious state
control the measures projected by the
government Will practically suffice
Oppose Naturalization.
Another group OF owners. headed by the
constitutional democrats. NJ. Petrajkki of
ST. Petersburg and Prince Lvoff of the
province of Tula. advocate appropriation of
the crown. church and private lands but
declare they never will consent to its ma
tionalization. They believe a state fund
for leasing of land would only strengthen
the power of the bureaucracy over the peas
antry and result in new form of servitude.
The peasants OF the borderlands. espe-
cially those In the Baltic provinces. al
though insistent appropriation, oppose
the naturalization Of land, believing that
this would result IN civil war Several OF
the constitutional democratic leaders. like
M Poditchofr and Prof Milukofr, although
supporting partial naturalization, which is
included In their project. really believe in
private ownership. They say the lease sys-
TEN would be merely temporary. The ex-
IRENE peasant-workmen group-wilI hear
OF nothing except the complete nationalist
ton OF land and the absolute abolition of
private ownership.
The debate on the general principles laid
down by the house will hardly be completed
before the end of next week when the re-
suits VIII be elaborated into an actual bill