Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-10-27
Democracy Grolus When
Nations Are In Peril

Special to The Christian Science Monitor
Geneva. Switzerland-The important
session held by the duma or August IA
teresting communication to the Journal
de Geneve by its correspondent In Pc
tr0grad, in which he gives a summary
Of the speeches made.
In no respect, he says. was this recent
meeting of the Russian peoples repre-
sentatives less interesting than the ms
toric session of August. 1914. A year OF
war has passed, and Russia is faced with
the gravest situation. The enemy adj
vances daily. Warsaw is occupied, Riga
and Wilma are threatened, Poland and the
Baltic provinces are ruined and thousands
of fugitives are nocking into the center
OF Russia. There are not enough guns
or rifles and munitions are lacking.
This critical situation comedies with a
remarkable evolution in the internal az
fairs of the country. Fresh elements nave
been introduced into the cabinet. the
! duma has been called upon to collaborate
| with the new government, private initia-
tive Is no longer refused. promises of re-
| form are made, and the breath OF free
dom and of brotherhood is passing over
Russia.
These are the two aspects OF one and
the same problem, on the one hand, the
military necessities, urgent and over
whelming. on the other. a political and
economic task which. though at first
sight it seems less urgent. is the neces-
sary condition to the adequate solution
of the military difficulties.
The sitting of the duma. states the cor
respondent, opened at IL O'Clock under
the presidency of M. Rodzianko. The
premier, the ministers of commerce., in
dustry, agriculture and OF transport, as
well as the state controller, We're present.
M. Rodzianko opened the proceedings by
reading the telegram from the French
chamber, which wa enthusiastically re-
ceived. Two speeches by M. Pourichke-
witch and by the Polish deputy. Dymcha.
on the situation in Poland and the. rela-
tons between Russia and Poland fol-
lowed, and the bill for the establishment
Of a munitions committee attached to the
ministry of war was then considered.
There were two bills relating to the same
subject to be examined, one introduced
by the government and the other by the
cadets.
A third intermediary bill drawn up by
the parliamentary war and budget COM
missions was adopted by the duma with
two important amendments One of these
amendments, introduced by the October
lists. provided for the presence of four in
dustrlal representatives, two of whom
could be workmen If desired by the CEN
trail industrial committee. This amend
ment was only adopted by a feeble ma
" y SAO AoO Pol = 6IO SIc 6OCIdI
democrats refraining from voting, as they
are opposed to the presence of workmen
On the committee.
The other amendment, emanating from
the, deputy, Maklakof, deprived the min
lister of war of the power of annulling
the decisions OF his colleagues in the cab
met, leaving him merely the right to veto.
but obliging him to bring the matter inn
medtately before the council Of ministers,
with whom the final decision will rest.
The debate was of a comprehensive char
acter and touched on every aspect Of
Russian affairs.
NJ. Dourof, deputy for Tomsk, made a
speech in the course Of which he said
that the actions of the government so
far had occasioned the defeat Of the
army and the ruin Of the country, and
he then went or to speak Of the supply
OF horses for the army. the forage. the
soldiers equipment and the supply Of
linen. AS regards the commissions for
procuring horses. he said. these are not
always equal to their task. Their hon
esty and their good faith are doubtful.
You have only to remember. M. Dourof
continued. the actions of one of these
commissions in the province of Koursk.
Why are horses not Communicated in
every district without distinction? Why,
for example, has the district of Kouz-
metz (Tomsk) been exempted, when it is
noted for its supply of horses? 1t is not
the interests OF the peasants. but those
Of the three or four horse breeders which
have been considered. M. Douroff then
went On to speak of the provisions with
regard to barley. ESPECIALLY the supplies
from Siberia. The Siberian societies sold
the. barley to the government for 45 ko-
PEGS, he declared, whilst in Russia it was
sold for two rubles.
It is evidently, he continued. a repeti-
ton of what occurred during the Russo