The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-25
APATHY MARKS
OPENING OF The
RUSSIAN COUNCIL
Kerensky Is Received With
out g. Cheer and Fails to
Rouse Delegates

Petrograd, Oct. 2b-The opening Of
the Provisional Council of the Rus
sian Republic at Petrograd Saturday
probably satisfied no one. There
seemed to be an absence of the en-
thusiasm, and even anxiety, which
might have been expected. The coun-
Gil met in the hall of the Marinsky
Palace, the former meeting place Of
the State Council.
When the council opened there
were only $50 members present out
Of 500 odd which form the council.
The Bolsheviki were absent, but they
drifted in in the middle of Premier
Kerensky's speech. They had been
meeting at the Smolny Institute, de-
Gliding on the line of tactics which
they would pursue in the councils.
The papers declare that Lenine and
Zinovieff took part in these delibera-
lions.
Premier Kerensky mountd the tri-
bune amid dead silence, and without
arousing a single cheer began his
speech. He was loking old and
drawn. and evidently was a little agi-
tated at his reception.
After declaring the council open he
defined the role of the Provisional
government as guardian OF the au-
thority Of the people. which it had
twice defended against assaults.
There were three problems before
the council, the Premier declared
defense of the country, restoration Of
the fighting efficiency of the army and
increase In Industrial production.
The success Of the enemy in the
Gulf Of Riga was due, .Kerensky de-
<,Y, % ~,
but to the weakness of Russia. He
paid q tribute to the sailors, who had
faced q foe ten times as strong and
acquitted themselves CALAMITY, and
went on to say he could not say as
much for the army, whose strength
and resistance was not as great as ii
might be.
Though Russia desired peace with
out annexations, he declared, she
would never submit to violence or
the outraging of her ideals of right
and Justice.
One Of the best things in Kerensky's
speech was where he declared: Let
the friends and enemies of Russia be
known. The history of a people cam
not be measured by days. Whatever
the trials of today, your friends can
reckon on, our corporation"
The Premier demanded from the
Council. one behalf of the country,
the concentration. of energies in put
ting down anarchy, which was des-
troying the life Of tie country.
The food question is getting worse
every day, especially on the front
shortly to be threatened with cold and
hunger. All the measures taken have
failed. he added. owing to the apathy
OF wide masses of the people who dc
not realize the responsibilities of the
country and trust in the PROVISIONS
Council to restore the economic and
financial life.s Elementary equity mus
be established, he declared, industrial
efficiency raised. and the fundamental
war strength Of the army restored in
full measure. &
AT the conclusion of his speech the
Premier called uuon Mime. Breshkov.
skaya, whereupon. the old woman o,
1.-THE GRANDMOTHER of the Revo.
| luton" - mounted the tribune. An.
| archy, she said. was mainly caused b,
the fact that the land was held from
the peasants who could not under,
stand liberty without land. Russia
she said, must decide this question II
| accordance with the demands of tn,
| peasants first of all.
The Council then proceeded to cleo
M. Avksentieff. former Minister Of TIL
Interior. as president.
i The scandal which all were expect
ing took place when Trotsky, leat1e
Of the Bolsheviki. occupied the trf
4 bune, and in a violent speech said h,
had decided not to take part in tn,
/ Council. He said the object of TIL
Democratic Conference had been t,
provide a body before which the Pro
visional government would be respon
sfble. But the council was only con
aultatfYa. = -