STOLYPIN SUPREME.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1087, 28 March 1911, Page 5

STOLYPIN SUPREME.

TSAR OVER-RULES THE DUMA. By Tclceraph—l'ress Association-Copyright St. Petersburg, March 20. There are indications that, owing to the Tsar's exercise of his prerogative, tho power ami prestige of M. Stolypin, the Prime Minister, who recently resigned because tho Council of Empire rejected tho Electoral Bill, but whose resignation was not accepted by the Tsar, will be unlimited. The sittings of both Houses have been suspended, enabling the Tsar, under paragraph S7 of the fundamental laws, to exercise his prerogative to pass the Zcmstvos Bill for the Western Provinces, subject to future amendment by the Legislature. At a meeting of the Octobrists, M. Guchkoff announced his resignation of tho presidency of the Duma. All tho Ociobrist members threaten to resign. The Octobrists consider the application of paragraph 87 a coup d'etat, inasmuch as the measure is not an urgent one. UKASE REPLACES THE BILL, (Rec. March 27, 10.10 p.m.) St. Petersburg, March 27. An Imperial Ukase has been issued authorising the creation of Zemstvos, or provincial councils, in tho Western Provinces, as proposed in the Bill rejected by the Duma. THE SITUATION IN RUSSIA. M. STOLYPIN AND HIS WORK. Writing of the political situation in Russia some months ago, the correspondent of "Tho Times" said:—"lt is not by tho nature of things likely that the courtiers and all tlioso others who have profited by the old system should accept the inevitable results of the new regime— the regulation of accounts, the more equitable distribution of favours, the displacement of incompetent, unscrupulous, or corrupt officials." All these people were fighting tooth and nail against the public criticism to which the new constitution in Russia had opened the door. The Cadets tried to carry the bureaucratic fortress, but did not succccd. "M. Stolypin and the Third Duma," continues "The Times" writer, "represent an endeavour to deal with the same vital issue, but on very different lines. M. Stolypin is for reform from within. H6 has refused to follow tho practico of surrounding the Sovereign with creatures of his own, to bo recompensed for their support of him by their nearness to the source of all favours. He has on occasion shown the sttirtliness of a Turgot in refusing to make exceptions to tho laws for his privileged and powerful enemies. He lias instituted a series of far-reaching investigations into tho acts of local administrators, and this courageous action challenges the .whole credit of the Empire unless it is to be. followed by equally thorough reform. He has carried through on his own initiative, and even by his own authority, one first-class measure, the Land Law of November 22, 1906, which, with all the difficulties and defccts in its application, is already rapidly creating a new rural Russia. Lastly, though it was lie who successfully dissolved the First Duma, it is ho who has maintained the existence of a National Assembly when the Reactionaries recovered from their panic, did everything to remove both it and him. "The real problem in Russia has all along been the creation of a middle term between tho Government and the people. . . .■ It is these factors which make the strength of the leader of the Duma, M. Guchkoff. His family, of peasant origin, roso to wealth and the highest civil dignities in Moscow. After brilliant studies at Moscow and at Berlin, he [throw himself into a life of adventure, now working at famine relief, now riding througli Central Asia, in Armenia durinjjj'fJ^massacres, in Macedonia at a moment of insurrection, in South. Africa in tho ..ranks of tho Boers. But he found time enough to strengthen his roots -in commercial Moscow; and when he returned from the Japaneso war ho .sturdily opposed the wholesale propaganda of the Cadets, and helped to organise tho Octobrists as a party of Conservative Reformers. This party has so far held tho balance in the Third Duma. Containing a number of 'men of high social position and .administrative antecedents, and backed in the main by the commercial world, it set itself to serious work of detail, and lias based its criticism on patriotic grounds, calling before all things for real reform of the Army and Navy. As M. Stolypin is still in a measure n hand stretched out from the Government towards the country, M. Guchkoff is a hand stretched out from the country towards the Government. It was in the clasping of these two hands that lay the guarantee for fertile legislative work."