Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-01-19


first meeting, according to q Rus.
sian wireless report Of the ses-
sion received here today.
Petrograd, Friday, Jan. 1S.-(By
The Associated Press.)-The long de-
layed constituent assembly was opened
today. On the first test Of strength
the Bolsheviki were defeated by the
social revolutionists. NJ Tchernoff,
minister of agriculture in the Keren-
sky government, and the nominee Of
the social revolutionists Of the right
for chairman of the assembly, was
elected by vote of pa to ISL. The
candidate of the B. lsheviki was Maria
Spiridonovo, long prominent rev0lu-
zionist, who was released from exile
in Siberia after the overthrow Of the
Romanoffs.
The opening of the assembly was set
for noon but controversy over regis
tration caused delay until 4 o'clock.
Slightly more than 400 members were
in their seats. OF those the Bolsheviki
and the social revolutionists of the
left, who are working together, have
about $50 votes and the social revO-
lutionists Of the center and right have
the remainder.
M. Svefdloff read a declaration from
the congress of workmen's and SOL
diers' delegates demanding that the
constituent assembly approve Boil
sheviki laws concerning peace and
land. This was applauded loudly by
the Bolsheviki delegates and hooted by
the others. Delegates belonging to
the constitutional Democratic party
Demonstrations Quiet Affairs.
Demonstrations Quit Affairs.
The threatened demonstrations
against Bolsheyiki control of the open
ing session of the assembly were con-
fined to parades of small groups Of
men and women. These groups were
composed of we'll dressed people, ex-
cept in one instance where there was
a larger number of soldiers and peas
ants.
At a corner near the American en-
bassy this group was fired upon and
! dispersed by the red guards. Five per-
sons were killed and dozen wounded.
For the most part, however, the
streets were quiet throughout the
morning and afternoon, being under
heavy patrol of Bolsheviki troops.
Most of the shops were closed, shutters
and bars being used.
The Tauride palace, in which the
! delegates to the assembly began to as
semble early in the morning, was
under heavy guard. Difficulties In
registration and party discussions de-
layed for four hours the opening of
the assembly which had been set for
noon.
Caused Kerensky's Fall
The constituent assembly, according
to a proclamation issued by the revO-
| lutionary government last March,
will issue fundamental laws, guaran-
teeing the country the immutable
rights of equality and liberty" FAIL
ure to issue call for elections to the
assembly was one of the causes con-
I, tributing to the downfall of the Ker-
ensky government. The Bolsheviki
government issued cali for election
soon after the success of the revolt
last November. The elections were
completed early in December.
Many Killed in Fight.
London. Jan. ia collision be-
! tween Bolsheviki and members OF the
Society for the Defense of the Con-
stitutional Assembly who were march
ing toward the Tauride palace, &C.
CURED about noon Friday, according
to a Petrograd dispatch to Reuters.
Banners and flags demanding that the
assembly be called were pulled down
and torn.
, Machine gun and rife fire broke out
from all sides. M. Logvinoff, men,
Der Of the executive committee Of the
congress of workmen's and soldiers
delegates, and several others were