New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-16
JEWS MAY BE GAMERS.
Present Russian agitation Nay Re
salt IN Equal Rights.

81 Petersburg, March 15.-Out or the Nlolcnt
snt-Semitic agitation OF the reactionists. which
enabled Premier Witte and the Liberal section
Of the Cabinet 20 force Interior Minister Dur
novo TO issue instructions 10 the provincial
authorities to prevent massacres and prosecute
The persons guilty OF instigsting them. may come
unexpected good 20 the members of the op-
pressed race. The entire Jewish question has
been raised IN acute form. and may be settled
forthwith
The Emperor is said to be amazed at the rev
citations made by the Jewish deputation which
the Premier received in audience on March e
and 10 have informed Count White that 1t was
urgently necessary TO settle the question I'M
mediately Count White. who has steadily sup
ported the plea for equal rights for the Jews but
who heretofore had contended that it was mat
ter for the National Assembly to settle, is under
stood 20 have talked quite bluntly 10 his majesty
regarding the innumerable difficulties which MS
opponents were raising this and other ques-
tions. and he is said 10 have gone 10 the extent
of requesting permission to resign the Premier
ship
The Emperor. Fl is added. would not listen to
g. insisting that Count Witte must remain in
Office. and at the same time instTucting him to
prepare a project providing for the equality OF
abe Jews for presentation 10 the National As
sembly. Such BILL according the Jews equality
except in eligibility 10 places in the official and
military services. is now said 10 have been pre-
pared
Leading Jews Of the empire. like Baron Guns
burg however, knowing the hostility of a large
class of Russians 20 the Jews and fearing an
adverse decision, which would only further pref
Udce the position OF their co-religionists are
opposed TO the submission OF the question TO the
Assembly. They maintain that the manifesto
OF October 80 specifically declared that all sub
5ects were equal before the law. that the ques-
ZION is de jure already settled. and that il is the
duty Of the government TO Immediately promul-
gate a law providing equality and TO protect the
Jews in the exercise OF full rights,
The efforts Of "a section Of the Social Demo
cratic and radical elements 10 produce another
uprising and general strike as a protest against
the TepresSious are rot meeting with much sue
cess ana seem 80 Toe doomed 10 failure Tor the
present The leaders, however declare that #
the repression continues, as they expect, ii will
require only some sudden sensational develop
ineut 10 again set the country af1ame-
Professor Courtenay. member OF the Acad-
envy of Sciences IN an open letter to-day de-
scribes the horrible fortunes 10 which he asserts
the political prisoners al N arsii" We're SUD
Jected 10y Chief Of Police Greun. He cites as
examples TWO cases in which prisoners We're
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 con-
Tossing their guilt
Tho League IF the Russian People and other
reactiouary organizations, claiming to represent
half million members have presented an ad-
dress TO Minister Of War Rudiser, thanking the
troops for their work in restoring order and
requesting that II he communicated 10 the SOL
dierS throughout the empire
one Of The districts Of 81 Petersburg prov
ince has protested TO Premier Witte against the
action Of the local government agent in vetoing
the election by the peasants Of a resident OF
that district who works in the PutilOh factory,
at ST. Petersburg, where the great strikes oc-
CURED last year.
Reports Of meetings Of the small landowners
10 select delegates TO the provincial assemblies
say the attendance has been light on account OF
the distance the delegates have 10 travel For
example, at ChukhlOma- Province OF KrOstroma,
there We're only seventy out of LAY delegates
present. Among the delegates almost invariably
the percentage Of priests is notable. In the
southwest where there are many German col
onieS Germans have been chosen. In the Ore
districts The peasants elected two members who
arc now under arrest. one Of them has already
been sentenced To exile.
TO assure freedom Of ballot I'm The elections
for members of the National Assembly. the
Council OF Ministers is preparing series Of
regulations for the punishment Of those inter
1ering with the normal course of the elections
by threats Of violence. corruption or other IL
legality.
Persons guilty OF preventing members Of the
National Assembly or Council OF the Empire
the duties TO which they have been elected shall
he deprived Of civil rights for from four TO six
years, with Imprisonment at hard labor
For damaging the houses Of Parliament or
throwing bombs with the purpose Of injuring
them The penalty prescribed is ten TO fifteen
years OF Imprisonment AT hard labor, or # such
person shall be armed, he may be sentenced
10 hfteen or twenty years Of Imprisonment or
- life Imprisonment at hard labor.