The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1917-03-24

The Duma, Backed by the Arm y
Gains Entire C0ktrOI of the
Government.
CARS BROTHER NOW REGENT
New National Cabinet Announced
With Prince Lvoff as Premier
War Party in Power.

Petrograd, Mar. 16.-The Emperor
of Russia has abdicated and Grand
Duke Michael Alexandrovitch, his
younger brother, has been named as
regent.
The Russian ministry, charged with
corruption and incompetence, has
been swept out Of office.
One minister, Alexander Protopo-
poff, head of the interior department,
is. reported to have been killed, and
the other ministers, as well as the
president of the imperial council, are
under arrest.
A New Cabinet
A new national cabinet is an
nounced, with Prince Lvoff as presi-
dent of the council and premier, and
the other offices held by the men who
are close to the Russian people.
For several days Petrograd has been
the scene of one of the most remark
able uprisings in history. Beginning
with minor food riots and labor
strikes, the cry for food reached the
hearts of the soldiers, and one by one
regiments rebeIled, until finally those
troops that had for a time stood loyal
to the government, took up their arms
and marched into the ranks of the
revo1utionists.
Duma Wouldn't Heed the Gar.
The president of the Duma, Michael
V. RodziankO. was the leading figure
among the deputies who unanimously
decided to oppose the imperial order
for a dissolution of the house. They
continued their sessions and NJ Rod
the front, that the will of the people
must prevail.
Even the imperial council realized
the gravity OF the situation and added
its appeal to that of the Duma that
the emperor should take steps to give
the people policy and government
in accordance with their desires and
in order that there should be no in
reference with carrying on the war
to victorious ending
The Emperor Returned Too Late.
The emperor fastened back from
the front only to find that the revolu-
ton had been successful and that
new government was in control. The
empress, who, it is alleged, has been
influential in the councils, opposed to
the wishes of the people, is reported
to have fled or to be in hiding.
Although considerable fighting took
place, it is not believed that the cas-
ualties are large.
In the admiralty building the coun-
Gil of ministers secretly assembled for
conference and the last regiments
loyal to the government were drawn
up as a guard.
The Council Besieged.
While the council sat in the last
meeting that they were destined to
hold, the building was surrounded and
the besiegers poured rifle and machine
gun fire upon the defenders. For
few hours the fiercest battle of the
day continued; the streets were swept
by steady fusillade and the crowds
scattered from the nearest shelter,
some being compelled to spend the
night in courtyards or corridors of Of
flee buildings or wherever they first
found refuge.
Toward morning there was sudden
1ull, broken by exultant shouts, which
deepened into roar and was succeed
ed by the Russian revolutionary Mar
seillaise. The regiments defending
the admiralty had surrendered. and
gone over to the revelutionists.
The ministers in the admiralty
building then were arrested and the
Russian national colors were replaced
~by the red flag of the revolutionists.
Back to Normal Life.
With the reopening of bread, sugar,
tea and meat shops, lines of women
with shopping bags and baskets, often
extending to the length Of a block,
were formed to replenish stores ex-
hausted by the long siege. The most
phenomenal feature of the revolution
has been the swift an dorderly tran
sition whereby the control of the city
passed from the regime of the old gov
eminent into the hands of its oppo-
nents. Until Sunday disorders in the
streets, which never went beyond
quiet gatherings or mild demonstra-
lions, could not properly be termed a
revolution at ALL
The imperial palace at Taarskoe-
Seio is said to be in a state of siege,
but thus far no firing has been report
ed between the guards defending the
palace and the revo1utionists and
troops.