The sun., 1918-12-14
Convention Here VIII Try to
Solve Home Problem and
Restore Peace.
NO REDS ALLOWED IN
goo Delegates, Representing
100000 in U. S., Hope to De-
4. eide on New Government.

pervaded Beethoven Hall at 21o East
Fifth street. yesterday, during the
opening session Of the second annual
convention OF the Federation OF Rus
sian Organizations in America. The
entrance to the hall was carefully
guarded by two husky young men in
uniform who were instructed to keep
a watchful eye for red ties and repre-
sentatives OF the late Gar Nicholas,
for the convention represents all
shades and phases OF Russian political
opinion except the two oxtremes-Bol-
shevism and monarchism.
Last year delegation OF Bolshevists
managed to gain entrance to the con-
vention and almost succeeded In stam-
peding 1t. There was little or no trouble
from the disciples of Lenine and
Trotzky yesterday. however, for most
OF them remained at home Debating
whether they should attend the revolu-
ton in Central Park which was called
off on account of damp grounds. A
representative Of the Black Hundred
slipped in between the doorkeepers.
however, and enlivened the proceed
!lngs by referring caustfcally to each
one OF the speakers as Mr.. Trotzky."
Aside from that incident the session
was fairly amicable. As one Of the
delegates put 1t, there was. plenty Of
opinion, but very little hard feeling"
Seek Form OF Government.
To reporters Il was explained that
the principal object OF the convention
was the Endorsement Of some form %;
government for Russia One would
suppose from the broad deld of choice
offered by the situation in Russia
itself that this task would be easy
enough, but this idea was dispelled
after a few minutes conversation wit:
the Interpreters Each little group OF
serious thinkers represented at the
convention has its own idea OF how the
affairs of the homeland should be ad-
ministered. and no one OF these theories
comedies with any OF the existing
forms Of government in Russia.
All the delegates. including the Men
single takers, the Kerenskyites and
the Millikofiites. agree. however, that
the Bolshevik government is out II
the question as It represents anarchy
and Is therefore no government at
all. They also agreed that a return
to Czarism is equally repugnant.
A considerable portion OF the dele
gates seemed to think that the Omsk
government might have been desir-
able il II hadn't been for Gen. Kol-
chak's coup d'etat. Just what Kol-
chalk had done to the Omsk govern
ment was not entirely clear to those
not we'll versed in world politics. but
the big outstanding fact was that
the General had simply coup Dictated
the government out OF all Semblance
to its original self.
still Favor Omsk Plan.
Still another objection was advanced
against the Omsk form OF Government
and that was that II only represented
Siberia and did not include central
Russia and Ukrainia, but the delegates
thought that with the coup d'etat out
OF the way and constituent assembly
over Russia, 1t might answer the pur-
pose. However, the convention has
two days moro In which to make its
choice.
There are approximately 200 dele
gates from all parts of the United
States attending the convention and
they represent something like 100000
of 1000, 900 or more Russians In the
United States. This does not mean
that the remaining 100000 are either
mOnarchists or Bolshevists, for as one
of the interpreters pointed out, many
Of the Russians here are unorganized
and therefore cannot be considered as
either extremists or rationalists. The
only real basis Of comparison, the in
terpreter maintained. was to contrast
the membership OF the federated Rus
sian organizations with the number
OF recognized Rolshevists and mon
archists here. The Interpreter didn't
know just how many OF the latter
there were. but he insisted that the
extremists were well outnumbered by
the rationalists as represented by the
delegates at the convention.
That point having been made clear
TO the newspaper men the latter turned
their attention to the business at hand,
which happened to be the election OF IA
chairman. After several polls had
been taken 1t was found that the dele
gates were hopelessly divided between
Gen. Konstantin OberutcheR. who was
favored by the Mensheviks and the ex-
ponents Of the constitutional assem-
bly, idea, and 1. NJ. Konstantinov, who
had the backing OF the Church party
and the fraternal organizations. Prof.
Galatsky, who represents the Society
OF Russian Unity. came to the rescue
with the proposal that a joint chair
manship be established, and this
scheme were enthusiastically Endorsed
by everybody excepting the two can
didates.
The craftsmanship was offered
to N. N. Aaraloff. a Representative of
the Peasants Union, but he declined.
the honor, for fear as he explained.
that some OF the delegates might walk
out in Indignation. John Brow was
elected in his place. and N. v. Wish
neniski was chosen secretary,
At the afternoon session a resolution
was passed conveying to President
Wilson assurances OF the loyalty of all
the members OF the Russian Fedora
ton and the intention of the federation
to uphold thesT'resident "in his stand
for the victory OF democracy over
autocracy and the freedom Of oppressed