Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1917-03-16

KILLING OF RASPUTIN
PART OF STRUGGLE
Liberals Demands for Better
Service and More Vigorous
Prosecution Of War Not
Needed.
tav "opnrse JOURNAL SPECIAL leAseo VINE

unrest Ill huSSld ana ulSpultS bC-
tween the government and the duma
have occurred repeatedly since the
beginning Of the European war and
apparently the dissensions came to a
head when Emperor Nicholas sus-
pended the duma and the council of
the empire on March II. The many
changes in governmental places and
the continued growth Of liberal feel
ings both in the duma and council of
the empire led to predictions that a
change in the fundamental govern
ment Of the Russian empire would
come with the end of the war.
Sturmcr German Sympaihlzer.
Affairs In Russia, which had led to
the installation Of two premiers up
to March, 1&lf when Boris Sturmer
tuok INC Hcna@l1 J4fc government,
reached crisis in November last year
when Sturmer, who was accused 10y
liberal leaders in Russia with SYM
pathies with Germany was removed
and his place taken by NJ. Trcpoff.
The removal of Sturmer resulted from,
clash between the duma and the cab
met, in which the duma was Nictori-
GUS. After the appointment of NJ,
I'repoff it was believed the crisis in
Russian governmental affairs had
been passed safely,
Discussions arose quickly, however,
and the council of the empire threw
it's political weight on the side Of the
duma. on December u, Germany
Z gnnouuCed its pcaCc offer and three
days later both the duma and the
council of the empire voted in favor
Of the rejection of the peace terms.
Ecforc adjournment on December 30,
the duma adopted 4. resolution ne-
nouncinc dark forces" in the en-
pirc
Mystic Monk Killed.
IN the interim Gregory Rasputn,
the mystic monk who was reputcd
To have great authority with Emperor
Nicholas and the members of the i'm
pcrial family cordial to Germany. was
murdered dramatically 10y Russian
noblcmon of liberal mcinations on
january /. aud his body thrown into
the NcVa. The liberals soon received
setback when on January 10
it was announced that Prince Colt
7ne had been appointed premier to
succeed VI. Tropoff. ON January 10,
Emperor Nicholas in his new year
ukasc announced the appointment of
many new members to the council OF
the empire This action resulted in
the progressive majority in the coun-
Gil being succeeded by men of con-
servative lcauinSs opposed to the lib
cral movement in Russian affairs,
Power Behind the Throne.
Four days later the emperor be-
cause Of the changes in the govern
mcnt, which included the appointment
of Alexander d. Protopopoff. whom
Berlin newspapers described as the
power behind the throne" as min
lister Of the interior, announced the
postponement of the opening of the
sessions of the duma and the council
of the empire. Meanwhile, the dis
continued between the
liberals in control of the duma and
the so-coIled reactionaries, who gain
ed control of the government in the
elevation of Prince Golitzine to the
premiership. President Rodzianko of
the duma and one of the foremost lib
eral leaders, clashed verbally with
Minister Protopopoff and reports
from Petrograd were that a duel be-
Country Discouraged.
The Pctrograd press on January II
was reported to be pcssimistlc over
the postponement of the sittings OF
the duma and the council of the en-
pire, The emperor in a rescript to
Premier Goltzine on January II
PROMISED a more benevolent attitude
towards the duma by the government
and urged the premier to devote his
attention to the question of supplies
for the Russian armies. which the
duma had severely criticized.
The imperial order was taken In
some Russian quarters to mean thai
the government and the duma and the
council of the empire soon would be
working together and without conten-
tions. The session of the duma was
reopened on January II. On March
s it was reported that the council Of
the empire had adopted Il resolution
calling upon the government to cX-
plain what measures 1t had taken IL
check the disorganiZation of transport
service and to guarantee that tn"
army and country should be supplied
with food, fuel and raw materials.
This was followed by reports of unrest
in Petrograd over the shortage in
food supplies.