Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-06-23
TENDENCY TO TALK
FATAL DEFECT
Of DOUMA
RUSSIAN MINISTER
DEFENDS DISSOLUTION
Nations Pressing Business.
Neglected While Parliament.
Wasted Time Discussing
Visionary Reforms.

st. Petersburg. June 2s.-1n answer to
various objections leveled at the government
for its recent course Of action. the Asso-
eiated Press has secured the following dec
l~aration Of the position and policy Of the
cabinet from one who is considered one Of
It's most liberal members:
The VIII Of the people is the supreme
law, higher than the written constitution.
and both the decree Of dissolution and the
new election law are the fruit Of this con
victlon.
THE emperor the nation to
choose representatives under the electoral
law for a distinct and two fold purpose. to
amend ana ratify the budget and to draft
and enact laws. The second douma has
shown itself incapable Of either task. Ny
department introduced geo bills during its
sessions. which related TO needs that could
not properly be deferred. other ministries
introduced a corresponding mass of press
ing legislation. but during three months an
If these bills remained untouched, In
stead the douma shamefully wasted time
discussing the rights Of man.
For example. II devoted a whole session
10 denouncing the use Of handouts, which
are used in Great Britain and America. and
throughout the whole world. We were con-
WINGED that all doumas elected under the
DIG FitCNhIdl law NRAlt ~ 'iN ~ NhlN
and unwilling to work.
owing to the impossibility Of obtaining
The douma's consent to changes in the cleo
toral law. which would give a business-like
third douma. the government Itself was
obliged to decree the changes.
'Th new law favors genuine Russian
stock at the expense Of aliens. and favors
taxpayers at the expense Of non-taxpayers.
We issued the law as did the Prussians
in 1915. Most Of its features are modelled
on various German nrecedents,
1T is the distinct purpose Of the EN-
peror to obtain a parliament which viii re-
spcct property II his calculations are at
fault he viii not hesitate to dissolve a third
douma or a fourth. until the result is ac-
com?lished.
las though their appetitcs grew by eat
ing, the Russian people have had the habit
always Of clamoring loudest for additional
rights just after the government has made
substantial concessions.
Five years ago a consultative assembly
would have been deemed sufficient rs pub
lie opinion. but the emperor actually grant
ed an executive assembly. But the people
we're not appeased and clamored for a par
ministry. The douma and the
gradually will learn to cooperate,
but the ministers will remain his maies-
tvs ministers, There is no likelihood that
there will ever he a stable majority in the
douma, because the diversity Of the races
and the economic interests are such that
monarchy is the only bulwark against an
archy breaking up the empire.
This is SO patent that the constitutional
democrats which is a sensible party. will
ultimately rally 10 the support Of the state,
The constitutional democrats cater TO the
Jews and other races in order to get votes
and subscriptions, but three-fourths Of that
party are patriotic Russians and recently
rejected the Polish project OF autonomy.
The members Of the group Of toll are Of a
similar mind Even among the social revo-
there are but few genuine repub-
icrns.
"The disfranchisemen Of aliens means
he acknowledgements Of Russians. The rec
rrds of quorums present in the douma day
by day showed that the aliens almost al
WAYS were in the majority, and were able
.n dictate the douma's action.
such a state Of affairs is intolerable in
he Russian empire. The Polish preten-
sions revive the old question Of mastery he
.ween the two slavic races which cannot
,xist side by side. Poland is dead for
,yer. The Russian Poles should say good
I'VE To their political dreams"
The minister further stated that the cabi-
act had no intention Of promulgating any
legislation until the assembling
# the new douma. The cabinet, he said
vim submit the new electoral law To the
louma for amendments and ratification.
The minister closed by saying;
Russia is now temporarily absorbed in
Internal reforms. hut the time is not far
Instant when she will reassert herself
broad in the defense Of her legitimate ex-
,andfng interests"