Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1912-12-05
|OUMA IS TO OPPOSE
A PASSPORT TREATY
Russian Gear Will Throw Every
Obstacle In Way of the New
Measure.

Washington, Dec. Reliable in
ormation has reached Washington
that the fourth Russian duma will be
hopelessly "standpat" or reactionary
and that this is almost certain to prove
a serious obstacle to the negotiation
of settlement of the passport ques-
ton which will be satisfactory to
Americans.
| The new and reactionary duma will
be under the domination and control
of the Russian government. Like the
government it will be anti-Semitic.
That the Russian government in all
the obstacles it places to the making
of a passport arrangement suitable to
this country will throw the blame on
| the duma as convenient way OF
evading responsibility is to be expected.
Gar Holds Complete Sway.
| If the new duma We're to be really
representative of popular feeling and
! progressive there is no doubt that 1t
ment in negotiating q new treaty to
| replace the one which has been abro-
gated. But the Russian government
makes careful arrangement to prevent
it from being truly representative, and
the result is that 1t is an aid to reaction
1 III lIl6 5CZaFlS OOIHtilIlS. TAIHeF lIldu a
| help to more liberal regime.
The new duma has not actually been
chosen but the electoral college which
| is to elect the delegates to the duma
!! has been completed. The electoral col
I iege is strongly reactionary and this
makes it certain what will be the tenn
per of the fourth duma
| 1t will be we'll to bear In mind in
the course of the negotiations over the
passport question that any statements
referring to popular opinion as re-
fected in the duma are to be taken
with a grain of salt. The likelihood is
| that opinion OF the duma, that is OF
whatever the Russian autocracy wants
| it to be-.
Bold Stroke BY Guild.
Interesting In this connection Is the
fact that Ambassador Guild, at a re-
ception which he gave in st. Peters
burg recently, had among his guests
Hessen, the Jewish editor of 'Retch,
the foremost journal of the opposition,
and also Milukov, leader of the opposi-
ton in the present duma Both men
are not viewed favorably by the gov
eminent, and in entertaining them the
American ambassador exhibited much
independence. 1t is suggested, how
ever, that this very exhibition of in
dependence Is an Indication that Am
the negotiations.
The system of choosing the duma Is
not calculated to make it really repre-
sentative of the people. To an extent
it is like the system used here In
choosing a president. But the dums
than the president in this country
Instead of electors being elected by the
people and the electors then electing
| members of the duma, the plan ir
many instances is for the people tc
elect electors, who in turn choose other
electors who in turn select the mem
bers of the duma.
Equals Of American Bosses.
This plan is followed in the grea
this, but obstacles to the expression o
the popular will are interposed ut vari
GUS steps. AS an example, 1T was for
hidden to publish the names of the can
didates of the progressive parties ani
this made the conduct of certain o.
] the prediction campaigns eXtremels
difficult One instance is cited where
the property qualification of a Moscow
radical was arbitrarily changed, so tina
he lost his standing and was compelled
to withdraw.
Tho latest returns obteinable here
show that out of 1926 electors chose,
at the polls to elect candidates to the
duma. a total of 2,340 belong to thu
reaetionary parties. that is. to tn.
rights and the nationalist. This give.
them about two votes to one vote FOL
the progressive elements.
Country Voters Progressive.
In the large cities, in spite Of all tn,
opposition. the progressives formed
over "a per cent of the electoral col
lege. But frop, the country came
great reactionary vote, representing
not the peasants. who are progressive
but the landed proprietors. This indi
Gates that the new duma is far from
representative of the popular will. I
is an interesting fact that about 8
per cent of the electors are priests.
The facts as to the composition O
the electoral college in Russia, which
will make up the new duma, are likel,
to prove of the utmost importanc
with reference to the passport ques
ton.
Russians Arc Peeved.
The Russian government Is deeply re
sentful of the action Of the emit
States in abrogating the 1892 treat,
and the belief here is that If the nego
tiations which are being pressed b,
Mr.. Guild reach the point where tn
Russian government has actively I
oppose them. it will set speech kin,
going in the duma in opposition t
the demands of the United States
This will then be held UP as showing
that Russian popular sentiment is ad
verse to the making Of new treat
along American lines. Good reaso
exists for believing the state depart
ment Is well-informed as to the situa
ton with respect to the new duma an
that 1T will know in what spirit t