The sun., 1907-03-10
DUMA REASSURES RUSSIA,
CONS7JTI TIONAL DEHOCRiTS
SHOW REtL LEADERSHIP.
SiOlyD pin Programme Held Back and Check
Put an Radical Demonstrations Peas.
ants support Fight for Personal Liberty
Danger In the Extreme Factions,

ants support Right for Personal Liberty
| Danger In the Extreme Factions.
Special Gable Despatch to THE sun.
ST. PETERSBURG. March 9.-The first
steps of Russia's second Duma have had a
wholly satisfactory influence on the nation
at large The widespread fears that the
Constitutional Democratic leaders would
! fail to put the Assembly on its feet through
diminution Of their party support within
the House have been dispelled by the
ability Of their leading men.
One of the chief of the elected members
of the Council of the Empire said to the
correspondent of THE sun to-day that
the only visible material for national leader
ship in the parliamentary struggle is within
the Constitutional Democratic party. He
expressed the hope that although the Left
groups of radical revolutionaries out
number the Constitutional Democrats two
to one they can be guided by the latter's
political talent toward seeing that unless
they fight warly at first they will deliver
the entire national cause to the triumphant
bureaucracy or abandon it to anarchy.
The success of the Constitutional Demo-
Gratis is illustrated by the grouping of
parties. 1t should be understood that
the Social Revolutionaries are more rea-
sonable and more practicable of COM
bination than the Social Democrats. They
have affixed the adjective social in order
to be allowed candidates, because to call
themselves plain Revolutionaries would
disqualify them in the eyes OF local gov
ernors, who would declare that it meant
men who were prepared to murder existing
rulers.--They are really the advanced
radical element of the nation. They num-
ber forty-five. and since the Duma met
have amalgamated with the Peasant Labor
combination. which numbers eighty-eight
and forms probably numerically the strong
est party in the Duma.
The Social Democrats are much more
difficult from the viewpoint of the Consti-
tutional Democrats. Their programme Is
akin to that of the German Social DemOc-
racy, especially in the direction of re-
fusing TO accept anything which conflicts
with their abstract theories They are
regarded, along with the ultra monarchist
league of the Russian people, as the chief
danger to the life of the new Duma, Just
as the Constitutional Democrats with the
revolutionary labor combination are the
chief danger to the existence of Premier
Stolypin's Ministry.
1t il encouraging to the Constitutional
Democrats that the peasants continue to
receive messages from the electors, es-
pecially In Simbrisk and Tchernigoff, telling
them not TO hasten the agrarian question.
which is complicated and difficult, and
which will require gradual settlement,
but TO give all their energies to securing
the personal liberty of the people.
NJ. ChelnokOff. the Secretary of the Duma,
is much more important person than will
appear in the debates. in which his Office
will generally prevent him from joining
He is a gentleman from Moscow province,
and has been tine colleague Of NJ. Golovine. /
the President of the Duma, for several |
years in the Moscow Zemstvo. which fear |
Iessly led the campaign for free govern
ment ChelnOkof's reputation is that he /
|, trusted implicitly by the peasantry and |
II equally at ease with them or with the |
.Har Evidently Moscow has decided 10 |
take the Dumas fate in her hands She
furnishes the President and Secretary,
and two Muscovites, Maklakof and Tess
enkO, will likely be the majority leaders
1n the floor of the House.
The group of st. Petersburg professors
whose CounSels were 40 fatal in the later
stages of the first Duma is apparently
-.
eliminated.
President Golovrle announced to the
lower house when il met This afternoon
hat the transaction of public business
would begin only when the credentials
VI one-h1lf Of the entire Assembly had
,een verified. This will occupy several
lays. II will defer Prime Minister
appearance before the House
Until the latter part Of next week
The adoption Of Golovines plan is
loubls victory FOR the Constitutional Demo-
rats, inasmuCh as it enables them TO con-
olidats the opposition to the Government
,efore the appearance Of the Governments
programme. IL also prevents the evtrem-
sts in the House from forcing demon
tratiOn on the amnesty question.
Golovine has promised the first word
fter half the credentials have been verified
0 Gerhus who on behalf OF the Social
democrats or the Baltic provinces wishes
o introduce a resolution to-day demand
lg amnesty for political offenders.
To-day's session. like the previous one.
ras marked by great wariness on the part
the factions that are in opposition 10
he Government. The only departure
rom decorum took place when the Right
sked that five more assistant secretaries Z
@ appointed for the House. so that they
night have a representative on the secre-
lrial force.
Mahmoudon, on behalf Of theI Tatars,
hose black velvet skullcaps mark their
roup on the back benches. arose at this
nd declared solemnly: I'VE have no
se for Stolypin's lackeys."
President Golovine said quietly: There
Iust be no personal attacks X s