Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 March 1907 — THE RUSSIAN DOUMA. [ARTICLE]

THE RUSSIAN DOUMA.

Ruaita'i Parliament Made Vp of Mnny Conflicting Parties. The second Russian Douma, nonholding sessions in the Tauride- palace at St. Petersburg, is the center of world-wide interest. The life of the solved by the Czar, but the present body, differing from the first, has welldefined aims and is expected to achieve a substantial program of constructive legislation. Unfortunately, however, the douma of J 907 is a hody of groups, so that any positive fiction must be effected through coalitions. Coalitions as a rule are not very stable, so that surprising changes may mark the career of the new Parliament. Still on Important matters it- should not be bard to secure working majorities such as are often found in the French Chamber of Deputies or- the German Reichstag, where the representatives" of the people are divided into manysmall groups. At present the douma consists of 495 members, with 29 more’ yet to be elected. These are divided into , Monarchists, or reactionaries. Moderates, Constitutional Democrats. Poles, Progressives and Socialists, or Revolutionists. In addition there are Independents, or unattached members. The Socialist group are the strongest numerically and the Constitutional Democrats rank next to them. In the organization of the douma the candidate of the Constitutional Democrats, Feodor Golovin, was elected, speaker, even the -Socialists throwing their strength to him in opposition to the Monarchical candidate. Golovin is a man of great energy and enjoys the confidence of the people. He is 40 years of age and was at one time president of the Moscow Zemstvo. With the exception of the Socialists, who are anxious to abolish throne and dynasty, and the Monarchists, who are opposed to constitutional government, all the members of the douma believe in constitutional government nnd it should not be bard, with this as a basis, to form a coalition which will give to Russia much remedial legislation.