Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-08-01
A Political Club Permitted.


airy organizations There have been revo-
lutionary clubs for years. but. until few
months ago. the police regulations would
not permit two three more people to
organize for political purposes or to meet
for political discussion. This seems very
strange to the people of the United States.
where freedom of thought. speech and ac-
ton is as commonplace as the air we
breathe, but you must remember that poll
tics has been unlawful In Russia until last
October when the czar declared himself in
favor Of q parliament. to be elected by the
people. with free meetings. free speech and
a free press. These promises are not car
ried out. Public meetings Sare broken up
regularly and the speakers are beaten and
arrested by the police; newspapers are con-
fscated and suppressed whenever they
| print anything that the police do not ap-
prove of. and multitudes-it is estimated
| that the number is 5000 citizens-are
| now In prison for being so innocent as to
| accept the terms of the Ocstober mani
festo in good faith.
| The car does not know this. At least 1t
| Is claimed by his defenders that he has
| been misled by the representatives Of the
| police, who evidently find it difficult to ad-
] just themselves to the liberal ideas that are
| being introduced in Russia. But neverthe-
| less. there have been remarkable changes
| Such q club as this could not have existed
/ six months ago. 1t would have been raided
| by the police and every member they could
| get their hands on would have been sent to
prison. Today its doors stand open; its
| magnlnCent apartments are VISITED daily,
| and its members meet to lunch and dine
| and hold conferences and hear speeches
| and engage In discussions on political sub
| jects. just exactly as they do In the United
| States
The members of the club indicate the
| character and standing of the Octoberist
party. They are the leading business men
of st. Petersburg, prominent lawyers, doc
| tors and other professional men, the same
| class that belong to the Union League clubs
in New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. The
richest man in st. Petersburg was pointed
out to me there the other night, dining with
a friend, and the third richest man In the
1 empire came In later. and attended politi-
cal conference that was held after dinner.
Several officials of the government were
present. members Of the families of cabinet
ministers, generals of high rank In the
army, literary men and others-not only
| from st. Petersburg. but from different
parts of the empire, including several Poles
| and two Jewish bankers. Several members
| of the douma and the council imperial the
new Russian house of lords) were present
The freedom with which everybody talked
| Is evidence that the members have accepted
| the guarantee OF the October manifesto as
| genuine, and have no fear of arrest. al
| though their comments and criticisms of
| the policy of the ministry In dealing with
| the present crisis would have landed every
one OF them In the dungeons of the fortress
of st. Peter and st. Paul had they been ut
| tered year ago. In the sitting room and
| afterward in the smoking room the i'm
becility of the prime minister and his asso-
| ciates in the cabinet was the chief topic of
| conversation. and there appeared to be no
difference of opinion on the subject. Sew
l-eral members of the douma and the i'm
perial council were present, the Octoberist
party being stronger, proportionately, In
the latter than in the former body. If the
car ever decides to appoint q parliament,
tary cabinet 1t can furnish him plenty Of
good material.
Prominence of Count Heyden.
Count Pierre Heyden is perhaps the most
prominent and influential Octoberist in the
douma, but he doesn't like that name and
calls himself ''progressist." He is pic
turesque figure, being eccentric In manners
and In dress, and he resembles the tradi-
tional pictures of Uncle SAM, with
long tuft of ''billy-goat" whiskers on his
chin. He Is president of the Imperial Eco
nomical Society. national organization
founded by Catherine III $50 years ago to
promote the industries and agricultural in
terests of Russia. 1t might be compared
to our national board OF trade or National
Manufacturers Association IL those were
broader in scope and were semi-oficial He
is also president of the zemstvo of Pshof,
the legislature OF his native province. Count
Heyden has used both of these organiza-
lions very effectively in promoting the po-
litical evolution now going on in Russia,
and has been one OF the most active and
powerful instruments in bringing about the
present situation He Is q very persuasive
speaker, with keen sense Of humor. an
OQQ way OF looking at IDlnRS ana an orig
inality of expression. but Is always gentle,
conciliatory and diplomatic. For this rea-
son the. president frequently calls him to
| the tribune to soften up the radical MEM
bers when they go on q rampage and
threaten impetuous action.
Another important Qctoberist is Michel
Stochoyitch. marshal OF the nobility in the
province of Orel and one of the largest
landowners in the empire; yet he is In ia
vor of liberal land law for the distrIbu-
ton of uncultivated private territory
| among the peasants who will farm it. He
has travelled extensively, talks English
without an accent and is a very accom-
plished gentleman. He has great capacity
for work, high administrative ability and
ment he would have been assigned to some
important official position; in England he
would have been member of the cabinet.
and In the United States he would have
seat in the Senate. but his liberal views
have made him an object of suspicion in
Russia and on two occasions have gotten
him into trouble-once because he entered
a vigorous protest against political perse-
cutions and again when his address deliv
cred at the centennial anniversary of Push
kin. the popular Russian poet. contained
revolutionary Views.
Stochovitch has therefore been compelled
| to limit his activity to his own province.
where he has been elected marshal or pre-
| siding officer and leader OF the nobility.
and in the zemstvo, where he has intro
duced many popular reforms, extended the
educational system. adopted sanitary regu-
| lations, laws restricting the liquor traffic
and other beneficial movements.
Author Of Sensational Speech.
Prince Sergius Dimitrivitch Uruson of
Moscow. who made the most sensational
speech that has yet been delivered in the
douma. exposing the responsibilities OF the
government for the massacres OF the Jews.
| is also an Octoberist. but calls himself q
constitutional reformer." He ID one of the
| ablest men in Russia and Is the only menu
l Der OF the douma who has served in the
ministry Of the present car He was APP
| pointed minister OF the interior when Count
/ de Witte formed his cabinet. but dropped
y aA ~ ssc.ssaay - pI0Mote naLmony
/ Ing the persecution of the Jews. He had
i twice been sent into disturbed districts to