Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1917-03-22
ROMANOFF DYNASTY
COMES TO An END
Abdication Includes Russian
Gar, Heir Apparent and
Grand Duke Michael.
DUMA NOW SUPREME.
Provisionai Government Issues Appeal
to People to Give support for a
Genuine Democracy.

Petrograd, March 10. via London March
N.-Emperor Nicholas abdicated at mid
night last night on behalf Of himself and
the heir apparent. Grand Duke Alexis
in favor Of Grand Duke Michael Aiexan.
derovitch.
At 2:30 o'clock this afternoon Grand
Duke Michael himself abdicated. thus
bringing the Romanoff dynasty to an end
The government pending a meeting OF
the constitutional assembly Is vested in
the executive committee Of the Duma and
the newly.chosen council Of ministers. A
manifesto to this effect was issued by the
Duma committee to-day and IL will be
telesFaphed to the general army head.
quarters this evening.
London, March 16.-The provisional
government in Russia has issued the
following appeal to the people. &C.
cording to Reuters Petrograd corre-
spondent:
Citizens: The executive committee
Of the Duma, with the aid and sup
port Of the garrison Of the capital and
Its inhabitants. has succeeded in
triumphing over the obnoxious forces
of the old regime in such a manner
that we are able to proceed to a more
stable organization Of the executive
power, with men whose past political
activity assures them the country's
confidence"
The names Of the members of the
new government are then given and
the appeal continues:
THE new cabinet will base its pol.
Icy on the following principles:
"First-An Immediate general
amnesty for all political and religious
offences. including terrorist acts and
military and agrarian offences.
'Second-Liberty OF speech and Of the
press: freedom for alliances. unions and
strikes. with the extension Of these liber.
ties to military officials within the limits
admitted by military requirements.
Naturalization of all social, religious
and national restrictions.
"Fourth-To proceed forthwith to the
preparation and convocatlon Of consti-
tutlonal assembly. based on universal
suffrage, which will establish a govern
mental regime.
lice by a national militia. with chiefs
to be elected ana responsible to the
government.
"S!xth-Communal elections to be
based on universal suffrage.
"Seventh-The troops which par
ticipated In the revolutionary move
ment will not he disarmed but will re-
main in Petrograd.
"Eighth-while maintaining strict
military discipline for troops on active
service. it is desirable to abrogate for
soldiers all restrictions in the enjoy
ment of social rights accorded other
citizens.
THE provisional government desires
to add that it has no intention to profit
by the circumstances of tho war to
delay the realization of the measures
of reform above mentioned"
London. March H. 3:15 a. ma Reuter- $
Petrograd despatch says that prior to his
abdication the Russian Emperor trans
ferred the supreme ommand Of the Rus
sian armies to the Grand Duke Nicholas.
Washington. March 16.-All doubt that
the successful revolution IN Russia is
both a liberal and an anti-Gerinan move
ment was swept from the minds of off"
calls here to-day by the receipt of further
unofficial details of the upheaval. The
personnel of the revolutionary commit
tee in charge of the now government was
declared to show that the controlling
figures were not only liberal minded. but
enictent men, most Of them known to
favor vigorous prosecution of the war.
Petrograd. March 15.-Events leading
UP to the revolution began a week ago
with street demonstrations of working
men who quit work as protest
against the shortage of bread. Tho
first two days mounted patrols kept
the crowds moving without rcsorting
to violence. When ordered to fire on
the people they refused. Police were
substituted and a battle occurred be-
tween them ana the troops. Regiment
after regiment joined the revolters and
veized arsenals and other strategic
points.
Until Sunday night there was no in
timation that the affair would grow to
the propositions of a revolution. From
then until Tuesday morning almost
continuous fighting in the streets and
throughout the city occurred leaving
the revolutionists in full control. The
latter are proceeding to reorganize the
government.
ENERGIES FROM NIGHTMARE.
To-day the city emerged from weeks
nightmare Of revolution and flguratively
smiled under a brilliant food OF sunshine
following the series of gray days ending
with a snow storm yesterday evening"
Planks were pulled down from windows
long closed. Stores. banks and business
establishments Of every description re-
opened their doors for the resumption OF
ordinary activities seemingly as con-
fdence In the new temporary government
gained in force. Truck sledges and little
sleighs for hire, the most widely APP
preciated conveniences Of Russian cities.
began to appear again in the streets
which for six days had been absolutely
void of any means of private transporta-
ton. Newspapers, with the exception Of
revolutionary publications which sprang
into life with the success OF the re,olt.
hN1 failed to appear. Street car service
ut noon had not been resumed, but 1t was
believed that night would see partial
service.
FEW sIGNe OF CLASH.
The only visible signs Of the desperate
clash Of authority which turned the city
into a battle ground were the charred
ruins of the Jail which are still pouring a
cloud OF smoke skyward. and here and
there the remains OF other police institu-
lions and the homes OF the few individ-
uals who we're regarded AZ offenders
against the rights OF the people. In front
Of other government institutions. which
apparently It was not seen Mt to destroy,
are piles of charred embers showing where
wrcckage and documents had been dump
ed and consumed.
The defenders Of tho old regime-doubt-
less few remain uncaptured by tho po-
lice-put UP a last feeble defense last night
from the roofs OF the wrecked Astoria
Military Hotel and 81. Isaacs Cathedral
facing on two sides the same square. They
were soon silenced by the sharpshooters