Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-06
Attend Opening Of Sec-
ond Russian Parliament.
Wild Mob N St. Pstersburg's
Streets When Oouma Opens.
Premier stoIypin Shuts Himself Up
In One Of Cars Palaces.

st. Petersburg, March 1.-THE opening
today Of the Douma, or Lower House
of the Russian Parliament, although
in itself devoid of incident, was made
the occasion of a great revolutionary
demonstration by the st. Petersburg
proleteriat and the students of the city.
which resulted in several encounters
between the police and the populace
and more or less serious injury to a
number Of the latter. The situation was
such that the authorities finally were
forced to fill the streets with military
patrols as in the ominous days of the
Trepoff regime.
After the adjournment of the House
a tumultous crowd. by this time esti-
mated to number close to 10000 per-
sons. with red banners flying and ac-
companied by the music of revolution
airy chants. started like the followers
OF Father Gapon on Jan. 90. 1905, to-
ward the central quarter of the city,
where the Winter palace of the Emper-
or is located. Few elements of the pre-
lude Of Red Sunday were lacking and
the command "fire" would have pre-
cipitated a similar massacre. Blu. the
present project OF st. Petersburg. Gen.
eral Dracheffski. followed another
course and dispersed the procession by
charges of mounted gendarmes armed
with whips. and by an imposing dis
play Of force he prevented the demon
strators from reforming. During the
long hours OF tho morning and after
noon the police guarding the Tauride
palace acted with great forbearance.
giving the spectators free rein in sing
ing and cheering. and only interfering
to prevent the people from forcing their
way into the palace.
When the deputies emerged after the
adjournment the temper Of the crowd
was fired by speeches from Social Rev
olutionary members. 4 dozen of whom
mounted the shoulders of their follow
ers and harangued those present upon
the necessity OF organizing to support
Parliament against the government.
The general Revolutionary motto
Through fight our right" was adopted
as a general slogan and simultaneously
red handkerchiefs begun 10 flutter
above the heads of the crowd and then
the crimson banners appeared like
magic. The crowd singing the Mar
sellsise" and battle songs of the Russian
revolution moved slowly down the
broad Fourchtadtzkaia. stopping at in
tervals to listen to speeches and To
sing songs. 1t demonstrated on the way
in front Of the house of he chief OF
the secret police. when a shall force of
police made an attempt to disperse the
people, but soon fell back in face of
the resolute bearing of the manifes-
tants. who followed them with cries OF
"hangmen. bloodhounds.
In the meanwhile the authorities had
hastily concentrated strong force OF
cendarmes. which charged the head OF
the procession when it reached the
Iitcfny prospect. one Of the main BUS
fuess avenues of the city. The gem
darmes piled their whips vigorously
and in one case used the flats of their
sabres. The crowd attempted to re-as-
semble in front OF the detention prison.
where hundreds of political prisoners
are confined, and again in front OF the
general court buildings. where the po-
Etical trials are held, but in each m
stance it was dispersed.
The gendarmes by this time had been
reinforced by attachments of the crack