Evening star., 1918-01-19
BO[SHEV|KI LOSE
ASSEMBLY CONTROL
NJ. Tchernoff of Social Revo-
Iutionists of Right Elected
Chairman.
VIOLENCE BEFORE SESSION
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
PETROGRAD, Friday, January 49,
The long delayed 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 Kerensky
government, and the nominee of the so,
cial revolutionists Of the right for
chairman Of the assembly, was elected
by a vote Of 244 to ISL. The candidate
Of the bolsheviki was Maria Spiridonovo
long a prominent revolutionist, 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 revolutionists
of the center and right the remainder.
Presided at Opening.
President Sverdloff of the central ex-
ecutive committee of the congress OF
workmen's and soldiers delegates presid-
ed at the opening.
A proposal to have the Oldest dele
gate. who was a social revo1utionist
preside was howled down. NJ Sverdlofi
read a declaration from the congress
Of workmen's and soldiers delegates
demanding that the constituent as
sembly approve bolshevik laws con-
cerning peace and land This was ap-
plauded loudly by the bolshevik dele
gates and hooted by the right and
socialists. Delegates belonging to the
constitutional democratic party were
absent from the opening session.
The threatened demonstrations against
bolshevik control of the opening ses-
sion of the assembly were confined to
parades of small groups of men and
women. These groups were composed
of well dressed people, except in one
instance, where there was a larger
number of soldiers and peasants
Dispersed by Red Guards.
At q corner near the American EN-.
bassy this group was fred 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 a
heavy patrol Of bolshevik troops. Most
Of the shops were closed. shutters and
bars being up.
The Tauride Palace, in which the dele
gates to the assembly began to as
a very heavy guard Difficulties in
registration and party dissensions de-
layed the opening of the assembly,
which had been set for noon, for four
hours.
London Hears Of Clash.
LONDON. January ia collision be-
tween bolsheviki and members of the
Society for the Defense of the Consti-
tuent Assembly, who were marching
toward the Tauride Palace, occurred
about noon Friday, according to a
Petrograd dispatch to Reuters Ban
ners and flags demanding that the as
semb1y be called were pulled down and
torn.
Machine guns and rifle fire broke out
from all sides. NJ. Logvinoff, a member
Of the executive committee of the con-
gress Of workmen's and soldiers dele
gates, and several others were killed.
Many were wounded. including several
women.
Tho constituent assembly, according
to a proclamation issued by the revolu-
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 government
The bolshevik government issued a
call for election soon after the success
of the revolt Of last November. The
elections were completed early in De-
cember.
Attempt to Open Assembly.
An attempt to open the assembly was
made on December 12. but no progress
was made. The results of the elections
were unfavorable to the bolshevik ele-
ment, the social vevolutionists, of which
party former Premier Kerensky is a
gaining the greatest number
Of delegates. A number of constitu-
tional democrat delegates to the as
sembly were arrested early in Decem-
ber by the bolshevtki, who have been
to be using various measures
to gain control Of the assembly. even
going as far as to call special elections
to replace opponents Of their ideas.
A dispatch to the LondonsDaily News
from Petrograd on January Is said that
it seemed probable then that the as
sembly would contain a majority
gainst the bolsheviki. On the previous
lay the social revolutionists had issued
4 manifesto denouncing the bolsheviki
Is usurpers. The constitutional demo-
srat party was formerly one Of the
strongest in Russia. its leader being
Paul Milukoff. former foreign minister.
Much uncertainty exists as to- what
effect the convening Of the new body
will have upon tho foreign and domes-
.ic policies OF Russia
There have been intimations from the
,olshevik side that tho new body would
legislative body set up IL
he assembly should definitely chal-
enge the bolshevik power.
It Is recalled that tho chairman of
he assembly. M. Tchernofr. was under |
Ire as a member of the Kerensky gov /,
,rnment, being accused Of pro-German-
SIN and of having relations with the |
nemy. He was afterward rehabilitat- |
ID, however, and continued strong |
influence in social revolutionary circles, |
n November Ae was one of the politf- /
al leaders who attended a conference |
t Russian headquarters. when an ef- I
-