Los Angeles herald., 1906-07-23

Hold Secret Conference
After a hurried secret conference this
morning II was decided, on account OF
the possibility of the meeting being
broken up and the members arrested,
that they go Immediately to Finland
and decide upon the future course to
be pursued. and small groups left this
afternoon and evening by train.
Whether word was given them to meet
at Viborg or Helsingfors Is unknown
but It seems probable that Finland In
future Russian history will become syn
onymous with the tennis court" of the
French revolution. Even Count Hey
don the leader, and other members Of
the right are understood to have de-
parted.
It is quite improbable, however, that
parliament as a body will attempt for
mally to set UP its authority against
that OF the government.
The constitutional democrats and in
tellectuals generally recognize that they
have no weapon with which to fight the
| government bayonets. The initiative
therefore, naturally will fall to the
lproletariat This the social democrats
and the group of toll in parliament all
along have recognized, and the
most elaborate preparations have been
made to repeat the tactics of last fall
~
eral strike. But the plans at this time
have been perfected with much more
deliberation, and Involve not only the
paralysis of cities, telegraphs, railroads
and all means of communication
throughout the empire, but a complete
strike of peasants in the country as
well.
They confidently believe the loyalty
of the troops has been so shaken that
|
will give way and that when put to the
test the army will be divided against
itself
A council of workmen's representa-
tives already has been elected at Mos
COW, and with a similar council here
in conjunction with the group of toll of
parliament q rising of the people will
be engineered.
Leaders Plan General Strike
The leaders at recent meeting in
Moscow issued Instructions to branch
organizations throughout the empire
warning them against premature di
vided action and specifically instructing
them, when the signal is given, to ex-
tend the strike gradually and carefully,
avoiding collisions at the beginning
M. Chernoff, who escaped Friday
from the offices of the Misla when
raid was made upon a sitting of the
central committee of the Social Revolu-
tionary party which was being held
there, is regarded as one of their most
skillful leaders.
While M. Stolypin, who succeeds M.
Goremykin as premier, undoubtedly is
a much stronger man than his prede-
cessor he probably will be unequal to
the task of plotting the country through
the revolutionary upheaval which is
just ahead, and the general belief is
that a dictatorship must come sooa
What Action Means
The governments action, as indicated
in an interview by the Associated Press
with Controller of the Empire Won
Schwanebach. will prove that the dis
solution of parliament does not mean
an annulmert of the prin nciple of popular
representation granted last fall and is
certain to have little effect upon the
people.
1t is the intention of the government,
however. to follow up the dissolution
with the PRONUNCIATION, under authority
of the fundamental law, of the govern
ment's agrarian programs in the hope
that it will somewhat appease the
peasants and give the government a
minority in the next parliament.
The Vacillation which existed at
Peterhof, even to the last moment, Is
evident from the fact that two drafts
of the ukase declaring st. Petersburg
in a state of extraordinary security
were read. The stronger one, which
proclaimed full martial law, was dis
carded at the eleventh hour.
Plan Kept Secret
Perhaps the most remarkable feature
of the events connected with the disso-
luton of parliament is that the govern
ment carefully avoided notifying the
representatives of the foreign powers
of what was coming.
No word of official warning was re-
ceived even by the representative of
Russia's ally, France. The only inti-
nation that something was about to
happen was the appearance of guards
at the embassies. legations and con-
sulates shortly after midnight. but this
morning, Immediately after the guards
had been stationed. notes were sent eX-
planning the measures taken to protect
the foreign representatives. Up to this
evening no other communication had
been transmitted to them.
The representatives of the powers
were busy today dispatching long tele-
grams to their governments advising
them of the sudden turn of events
There were several conferences of dip
lomats this morning concerning the ad-
visibility of asking for warships, or al
least hiring steamships to take off
foreign subjects in case of necessity
but no concerted action was decided
upon.
Tonight the trains are filled with for