SOCIALISTS AND THE DUMA.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8307, 10 December 1906, Page 6

SOCIALISTS AND THE DUMA.

v Per Mail Steamer Sierra). ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 7. The obanoes of tbe Socialists in the coming elections of members 6t tbe Duma were dealt a sweeping blow yesterday, by the interpretation given by the Senate to a new election law, whioh at one stroke disfranchised thousands of tbe poorer classes. City employees, the operating personnel of the railroads, and even Jooomotive engineers, and the most skilled and highest paid labour in Russia; are affeoted by tbe iuterpre tation. Outside of factory workmen, the ranks of tbe Socialist party are reoruited chiefly from the railroad men. * This interpretation is aupilementary to the Senate'.) ruling of October 20tb, from whioh it wrb estimated thai over half a million persons who voted at the last election had been cut from the election list. These two'rulings together undo to a great, extent the extension of the suffrage proclaimed by Count da Witte in December last year./ The object was to.day frankly 1 avowed by a member of the Cabinet to rid the electorate of that class of voters whioh is too easily swayed by the influence of revolutionary agitators. This official, who is one of the few surviving Ministers of tbe old regime, doubted whether restrictions of tbe suffrage in execution of Premier Stolypin's programme of agrarian, political, and religious reforms would be effective in producing a new Parliament leas in opposition than the first. Cabinet has expressed, iheoonvlotion that it probably would be found ueoessary to dismiss the new Parliament with shorter shrift than the first one, and make a sweeping revision in the election laws before summoning a third body.