The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-03-15
JEWISH QUESTION
REVIVED BY GAR.
Witte Instructed to Prepare Bill
for Race Equity-Jewish
ST sS.a. Leaders Object.

st. Petersburg, March 15.-Out Of the
violent antiSemetic agitation of the re-
actionists, which enabled Premier Witte
and the liberal section Of the cabinet to
force Interior Minister Durnovo to issue
instructions to the provincial authori-
ties to prevent massacres and prosecute
may come Unexpected good to the mem
beers of the oppressed race.
The entire Jewish question has been
raised in acute form and may be. set
tied forthwith. The emperor is said to
be amazed at the revelations made by
the Jewish deputation which the pre-
mier received in audience March I, and
to have informed Count White that it
question Immediately. Count Witte,
who has steadily supported the plea for
equal rights for the Jews. but who here
tofore has contended that it was a
matter for the national assembly to set
tie, is understood to have talked quite
Vulnerable difficulties which his oppon-
ents were raising on this and other
questions, and he is said to- have gone
to the extent Of requesting permission
to resign the premiership.
listen to this, insisting that Count
Witte must remain in office, and at the
same time instructing him to prepare
project providing for the equality of
the Jews for presentation to the ma
tional assembly. Such bill, giving
the Jews equality, except in eligibility
to positions in the official and military
services, is now said to.haye been pre-
- Jews oppose Plan.
Leading Jews Of the empire, like Bar
on Gunsberg, however, knowing full
well the hostility Of large class Of
Russians to the jews and fearing an
adverse decision, which would only fur
ther prejudice the position Of their co
| reIigionists, are opposed to the submis-
sion Of the question to the assembly.
They maintain that the manifesto Of
Oct. 80 specifically declared that all sub
| jects were equal before the law; that
the question is de iure already settled,
| and that it is the duty of the govern
ment Immediately to promulgate law
providing equality and to protect the
Jews in the exercise Of full rights.
| The efforts of a section Of the social
democratic and radical elements to pro.
duce another uprising and general
strike, as protest against the repres
ksion, are not meeting with much sue
cess, and seem to be doomed to failure
/ for the present. The leaders, however
declare that if the. repression continues
as they expect, it will only require some
sudden, sensational development again
/ to set the country afame.
Political Prisoners Tortured.
Professor Courtenay, a member of
the academy of sciences, in an open
letter today describes the horrible tor.
i lures to which he asserts the political
! prisoners at Warsaw were subjected by
Chief of Police Greun. He cites as ex
amples two cases in which prisoners
were starved and on four consecutive
nights were beaten with clubs, jumped
on, their hair pulled out by the roots
and the soles of their feet cut with
knives until they signed statements
confessing their guilt.
Submarine Boat Plans Sold.
i A big scandal has been disclosed il
4 the ministry. The plans for the con
struction Of Russian submarine boats
| have been sold to the agents Of q for
y eign power.