New-York tribune., 1917-05-04
Russians Favor
Republic Built on
Lines of France
Constitutional Democrats
Won Over to Plan, Says
New Bureaus Head
Faith in Government
Socialist Delegates Will Add
Votes to Those Opposing
Monarchy

Russia is TO be a republic. modelled
closely after the French form of gov
ernmcnt A. a national convention
Just held m PetroRrad. the Constitu-
tional Democrats, who in the past have
always favored constitutional mon
archy. adopted resolutions pledgIng
the party 70 vote for a republican
form Of government at the Constitu-
tional Convention. which will meet M
Pc.rograd i'm three on four months.
This information was made public
yesterday by A. J. Sack. chief of the
newly organized semi-oflicial Russian
Information Bureau in this city. II
has the Endorsement and support Of
the Provisional Government Of Rus
sia. Mr.. Sack is noted Russian
journalist and New York correspond
ent Of the Russian Ministry Of Finance,
the Petrograd Telegraph Agency and a
number of newspapers and periodicals
in Petrograd and Moscow.
Mr.. Sack said about coo delegates
would sit in the Constitutional Con-
ventior. and that the Constitutional
Democratic party would be represent
ed bv from 300 to $50 delegates. The
various Socialistic factions. he esti-
mated. would have from $50 to 200
delegates. who would vote with the
Constitutional Democrats for re
publican form Of government. thus
giving an overwhelming majority TO
those opposing a limited monarchy.
Convention Extremely Interesting
The convention of the Constitu.
tional Democrats in Petrograd was ex-
trcmely interesting" Mr.. Sack contin-
ued. at was attended by about 1900
delegates from all parts of Russia, and
the entire proceedings breathed the
new spirit which has come over the
country. Prince Paul Dolgoroukof'
one of Russia's most distinguished
men. presided at the opening session,
and Senator VI. NJ. Vinayer, Jew, the
second day.
The most important event Of the
convention was the report Of Profes-
sor F. f. Kokoshkin. a member Of the
first Duma and Russia's greatest au-
tboritv on constitutional law, who in
sisted that the party must declare
openly against a constitutional mon
archv-one Of its principal political
tenets in the past-an pledge itself
for a republican form of government.
Resolutions to this effect were adopted
Immediately.
"Professor Kokoshkin will undoubt-
edly be one Of the leaders IN the fran
ing Of the new constitution. lie de-
clared himself i'm favor Of presidential
election by direct vote, and cabinet
RESPONSIBLE 10 parliament as IN France.
Report of TroubetzkOy
Another matter Of intense interest
was the report of Prince Eugene Trou-
betzkov. distant relative Of the sculp-
tor. who had made an extensive tour
of rural communities TO study the at
titude of the peasant toward the de-
posed Car and the Provisional Gov
ernment
Prince Troubetzkoy reported thai
the peasants had suddenly lost their
faith in The Little Father and now
saw him symbol of police cruelty,
craft and every kind OF corrpution
and vice. The prince said this could
be explained only on the ground that
the illiterate peasants found that with
the departure of the Gar police op-
pression and government graft van
ished They concluded that these
vices in government were creatures of
the monarch. He remarked that the
peasants. throughout the country,
were solid for republic"