Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-05-09
EARLY CONFLICT
Made More Imminent by
Recent Happenings.
Workmen's Leaders Suddenly
Driven From St. Petersburg.
Acts Of Police Cause Misirust and IN.
dIgnation Against Government.

st. Petersburg. May S.-The danger of
an early conflict between the govern
hlent and parliament has been greatly
increased by what has happened with
in the last "A hours. The good impress
sion produced by the parliament, the
Few premier and the Emperor, that
they are sincerely DESTROYS of working
i'll harmony, with parliament was ac-
ccrted in good faith by the leaders of
the Constitutional Democrats enabling
them To counsel moderation has largely
been dissipated and in its place the old
feeling Of mistrust has been revived
The Liberals have been literally
dumb-founded in view OF the semi
official assurance on the subject by the
unexpected PRONUNCIATION late Monday
night Of tn" obnoxious fundamental
Law in a slightly modified form. At
one stroke il put an end to the claim
which tho new cabinet tried to foster.
namely, that the downfall in Whites
cabinet was due 10 imperial disapproval
of the original draft of laws. An ar
ticle in the law not mentioned in Mon
day nights dispatches. exempting
crown lands from taxation and ex-
preparation. and another reserving the
10 the empire, run counter
to the already expressed will Of the ma
jority and are bound to produce
clash.
The only commendable new feature of
the fundamental law is a provision to
the effect that imperial orders must be
count ersigned by the president Of the
council of ministers or the members of
I no xt-hn &c .f
fected. But SO long as the cabinet is
responsible to parliament it is easy for
his majesty To dismiss unwilling min
listers ana appoint these to DO his bid
ding.
The indignation aroused by the Em-
peror's attempt to build an artificial
ds ke around the prorogatiyes of the
crown have been intensified by the as
founding action of the police last night
in dispensing a meeting of some menu
Der nf the lower house Of parliament
ana uf the upper house or new council
of tie empire at the hall of the Eco
romcal Society. Without any warning
the baildng was surrounded by the Is
mailovsky guard regiment and a de-
tuChmcnt of cavalry and a hundred
policemen marched into the hall where
bility. ana 4 member of parliament for
ST. Petersburg, was presiding. and or
dered the Teeting to dispcrse under IN
StluctionS from the chief of police.
In spite OF vigorous protests that the
meeting was entirely legal. the police
captain who was in charge Of the po-
lice and troops We're ineXorable and The
members Of Parliament were compelled
hn h.,ll 1f
ter drawing up Of a formal protest
which MAS signed by IS members Of
Parliament.
NJ. ROditCheff. Il member Of Parlia-
ment for st. Petersburg. hurried after
to the han where the Consti-
tutiondl Democrats We're holding their
meetings and announced To the MEM
berS assembled the action taken by the
police. An understandable scene Of fury
followed. after which Roditchem, in
speech which was cheered to the echo,
dec Jared that the governments appeal
for confidence had again been false and
the people must rely upon themselves
1t was decided that one of the first
things after the assembling of Parlia-
ment shall be a demand for the dismiss
sal of the chief of police
aroused Dy me cutlery caused by the
closure of the meeting, the police to-
night published an explanation of their
action justifyng ii under the strict let
ter of the law which permits of the
presence Of only members at meetings
Of societies. The presence Of members
Of the Parliament and other outsiders,
the explanation says. made the meet
ing illegal. The explanation has not
delayed the public irritation, as the
law IN this respect has not been en-
forced strictly.
AS if these indictments were not sufi-
nient to excite the members Of Parlia-
ment, the local authorities with a fatui-
Continued on Page Three.)