The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-02-23
CZAR NICHOLAS
APPEARS IN DUMA
Broke All Precedent in Russia and Gave
Recognition to the Legislative
Branch of the Government
Event Hailed as Impor-
tant Happening.

Petrograd, via London, Feb. 23.-ThC
presence of Emperor Nicholas at the
opening OF the Duma yesterday was
hailed by the press and public as one
of the most important events in the po-
litical history of Russia. 1t is pointed
out that the appearance of the emperor
in the House has emphasized in the most
striking manner the increasing DISPOSE
tion of the government and people to
lay aside internal politics and devote all
their energies to concerted effort to
bring the war to a successful issue.
The event is alluded to by prominent
members of the Duma as "the beginning
of new era" and likened in its far
reaching significance to the emancipa-
tion OF the serfs and the manifesto of
1905.
This was the first time that a Rus
sian emperor had ever visited the legisla-
tive body or in this formal way had rec
ognized it as one of the parts of the gov
ernment. 1t bears on the Importance OF
the political crisis through which Rus
sia has been passing. Critics of the gov
ernment have protested that since the
last adjournment of the Duma the gov
ernment has not shown any increased
tendency to reflect the desires of the
populace or yield to the demands for in
ternal reform and that successful prose-
cution of the war was impossible without
some real understanding between the
government and the Duma.
The emperor's presence yesterday is
taken as a token of a new union of the
government and the popular representa-
tives toward which the liberal and pro-
gressive elements in the Duma have been
striving, and will it is Thought relieve
the tension and suspense which has ex
listed since the adjournment of the House.
The session of the Duma was opened
as usual with half hours prayer. The
emperor entered the chamber promptly
at 2 o'clock and during the religious cere.
mony stood under the holy picture of
Nicholas "the wonder worker"
About noon the news that the Duma |
was to receive visit from the emperor,
was flashed through the chamber, but the /
only preparation which indicated that I
an event unprecedented in the ANIMALS /
of the Duma was To take place was a
strip of bright carpet which had been
laid in the hall and the appearance of
the golden book which is only brought
1ut to record the names of distinguished
visitors. Many of the deputies, who re-
turned from the front to resume their
legislative duties still wore field uni
iorms.
The new premier Boris V. Sturmer,
who succeeded M. Goremykin in that Of
ice, made his first address. He declared
hat although Russia did not minimize
he seriousness of the situation in the
Duma and the sacrifices which she was
compelled to make, both the government
md the Duma were resolved that peace
would not be made until Russia had
-ained, in conjunction with her allies, a
decisive victory over the enemy.
Russia had hardly begun the work of
Internal reorganization" said NJ. Sturmy,
when the war interfered. But even in
var time this work must go on. Rus
las better future is coming, nothing can
isturb our faith in that. In the name
f this future, we viii not close our eyes
o our mistakes and shortcomings and {
re must unite our forces. A new page r
4 Russian history is being opened" =
The premier then spoke of the necessi- !,
Y of reforms to meet the new economic ;,
onditions and of giving the people a I
reater hand in the government. He said
hat the food problem and the question
f freeing the country from German in
uence ought to command special atten.
ION. J