South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20

The constituent assembly, accord
ing to a proclamation issued by the
revolutionary government last
March, will issue fundamental
laws, guaranteeing the country the
immutable rights Of equality and
liberty" Failure to issue a call for
elections to the assembly was one of
the causes contributing to the
downfall of the Kerensky govern
meLt. The bolshevik government
issued a call for election soon after
the success of the revolt Of last
November The elections were COM
pleted early in December.
Attempted TO Open Dec. 10.
An attempt to open the assem-
bly, was made on Dec. -, but no
progress was made. The results of
the elections were unfavorable to
the bolshevik element, the social
revolutionists, Of which party for
mer Premier Kerensky is a mem
Der, gaining the greatest number Of
delegates. A number of constitu-
tional democrat delegates to the as
sembly were arrested early in De-
cem5er by the bolsheviki, who have
been reported 10 be using various
measure to gain control of the as
sembly, even going as far as to call
special elections to replace OppO-
nents of their ideas.
A dispatch to the London Daily
News from Petrograd on Jan. Is,
said that it seemed probably then
that the assem- bly, would contain
a majority against the bolsheviki
On the previous day the social revo-
lutionists had issued A manifesto
denOuncing the bolsheviki as usurp-
erers. The constitutional democrat
party was form erly one OF the
strongest in Russia, its leader be-
ing Paul Milukoff, former foreign
minister.
Quit Convention.
The bolsheviki members and
those Of the left wing of the social
revolutionists withdrew from the
constituent assembly early this
morning. The Constituent delegates
under fear Of a permanent dis
persal and threatened with treat
ment as a "counter-revoluntio
organization hurriedly adopted de
crees awarding the lands TO the
peasants and proposing to send
delegates to all the warning nations
to arrange a world peace.
The DEGREES were adopted at five
o'clock this morning as a wall Of
menacing bayonets in the hands Of
the sailors on guard pressed the
constituent members whom the
sailor commander ordered to dis
perse and go home. The closing
hours Of the session were full of
exciting scenes including the
attempt on the life Of VI. Tzeretelli.
the withdrawal OF the bolsheviRi
and social-revolUtionary members
was followed by the defeat of the
demand made by the lefts that the
assembly first take up the question
Of the adoption of the Smolny in
stitute program, which proposed rec
ognitiOn of the boIsheviki author
ity for the approval Of all DEGREES.
Tumult Increases.
Tumult increased toward the end
Of the session and many members
of the assembly rushed toward
Chairman Tchernof and urged him
Immediately to put the question of
peace. A sailor, who was standing
beside NJ. Tchernoff, raised a hand
and addressed him in a loud voice:
we are getting tired CO homei
Goodnight"
Sailors in the aisles leading 70
the exits then drew closer while
the chairman continued 70 read the
peace resolution
The spokesman of the sailors then
returned TO the batform and in
sisted that ali present should 90
home. NJ. TchernOff thereupon
calmly put the question OF the
adoption of the resolution which
was passed instantly. The chairman
then announced the adjournment
OF the assembly until noon and the
remaining members declared their
determination u remain in the city
and hold another meeting at that
hour.