The Mena weekly star., 1907-06-20
IH RUSSIAN SITUATION
The Douma or Lower House of Parliament Dissolved by Inn
 peria1 Edict.
NEW ELECTION CALLED NOVEMBER I4
Contrary to Expectation of the Au. tnorities There Was No Riotina Reported from Any Part of tha Empire-RevoIutonsts May Nol Call General Strike.

Gmpire-Revolution May Mol
 Call General Strike.
 St. ePtersburg, June 1s.-Emperof Nicholas affixed his signature Sunday morning to an imperial ukase abolish Ing the present docma and ordering that the elections Of members to it's successor, which IS to meet November l4 to be held unGer the new election law which provides against the sub mergence of the educated classes by the uneducated masses"
 This act constitutes a virtual coup d'etat and oyerrides the fundamental laws solemnly proclaimed by the czar on the eve of the convocation of the first douma, which declare that the electoral law can never be changed without the consent Of parliament it. self.
 This breach of the constitution is justified by the great law of necessity the advisers of the emperor holding it impossible, under present conditions to secure a parliament capable of cooperating harmoniously with the crown and rescue Russia from an archy and revolution
 The dissolution of the second dou- ma was received throughout St. Pet ersburg with perfect tranquility, thanks to the precautionary measures, and in no place in Russia, so far as is known, were there any serious dis turbances.
 The chances of the proclamation of general strike in answer to the governments coup d'etat are steadily lessening. The question is now un- der discussion at a secret conference of the central committee of the social democrats which is being held in Fin land, but a strong current of oppo- sition is known to prevail, not only on the part of the moderate leaders, but also among the adherents of the radi- cal members. faction of the mod crates urge that the government is now strongly intrenched that strike would be futile and only weaken the prestige of the party and involve the rank and file and the in- dustrial proletariat generally in a series of reprisals and immense pc cuniary loss.
 Telegrams from practically every city in the empire announce that the news of the dissolution of parliament was received quietly and with almost an entire absence of demonstrations. Even at Odessa and Kiev no disturb ances occurred. The prefect of police of Kiev issued orders that no demon strations on the part of the reaction ists or revolutionists be allowed and that no open discussion of the disso- lution of parliament be permitted.
 The course of Gen. Drachieffski, prefect of police of St. Petersburg in prohibiting hostile criticism of the government was followed almost uni versally by the governors general throughout Russia completely mug zling the liberal press.
 The few newspapers appearing here Monday make extremely guard ed comments on the situation, the radical Russ contenting itself with expressing the hope that two cleo tion campaigns in one year will widen the political horizon of the peo- pie and make them firm adherents of the idea of parliamentaryism
 A close study of the new election law which Is a bulky document of so pages of complicated phraseology has somewhat dispelled the feeling of gloom in liberal circles. The idea Is gaining ground that the government has failed in it's intentions and that there Is a possibility there will be an oppositional majority in the third parliament as in the case of it's predecessors. Even under the new law it is thought that the constitu- tional democrats will retain control of the cities, though perhaps they will be swamped by the social demo cratic proletariat in the elections of the second and poorer categories of urban voters.
 According to the opinion of for eign diplomat who is in close touch with the court, the government has done either too much or too little. It has violated the fundamental laws, or constitution, and laid itself open to the charge of accomplishing coup d'etat without altering the election law sufficiently to produce the de- sired results.
 The feeling in court circles against Premier Stolypin who has under taken full responsibility before his majesty for a speedy eonvocation of parliament on the present basis of suffrage is said to be bitter and he