The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-27
ABOLISH DRUM HEAD
RUSSIAN DoUMA WANTS TRIAL BY
 JURY.
Emperor Sends Message Saying It Will Be Asked In Only the Most Severe Cases---CartOon-
 fst Arrested.

St Petersburg. March 2s.-At the close of two days debate the lower house of parliament this afternoon adopted the preliminary constitutional Democratic resolution providing for the abolition of drunhead court mar tial and instruotins the committee to draw up and present bill to this effect with as little delay as possible.
 The vote was almost unanimous, only twenty-five extreme reactionists vot- ing in the negative. After the vote had been taken, Premier Stolpin, who had just an hour and a halfs con- ference with Emperor Nicholas, an- nounced the governments position, stating 90 long as 'the bloody miasma of terrorism overshadowed the land." 1t did not feel justified in withdrawing entirely such unfortunate repressive measures, but that orders had been given that drumhead courts martial be hereafter employed In cases only ex- treme and vital necessity.
 The government expected the lower house to do its part in bringing about the tranquilization of the country. which would enable the ministers to dure.
 The members of the house gave the premier a corteous and attentive hear ing.
 During the debate the members of the secret police arrested a man in the members lobby on suspicion that he was connected with an attempt on the life of the premier, but later the pris- oner was Identified as a Russian news paper cartoonist.
 M. Stolypin in his speech today, paid high tribute to the oration deliver ed yesterday. M. Maklakoff. the Con- stitutiona1 Democratic leader in the House. declaring that it was difficult to answer that brilliant and able jurist.
 The Premier fully agreed with M. Maklakofr's arguments from an ab- stract standpoint, but from other points of view he was forced to main tain that it was the right and duty of the government to protect the exist ence of the State to the utmost by all the means in its power. In every State of the world. the governments right to suspend the usual laws when life was in danger was not questioned.
 Even dictatorships were sometimes justified by the unavoidable necessities of self defense. To the question whe- ther the government now considers 1t possible to rue the country under the ordinary laws, the cabinet must answer honestly. hardly yet" And, in answer to a second question, namely, what
  to agitation, 1t could be found in two documents emanating from the Social Revolutionary Party.
 The first of these set forth plans for undermining the loyalty of the army In order to make possible the estab- lishment of a democratic republic. The second was resolution adopted by the general convention of the party on the necessity for the continuance of terror ism.
 Continuing, the Premier said:
 Tn your hands rests the reconcilia- ton of Russia. If you fulfill your task, this law and other oppressive meas ures will die a natural death. We are arraigned as bloody handed execution CTS. but Russia Is able to distinguish between blood on the hands of hang man and on those of an experienced surgeon. History will sal that we were surgeons inspired with an honest de- sire to cure the country"