Mayor Adam began life as an errand boy in Scotland; then he came to America, worked hard, and finally became proprietor of a huge department store, Then he turned to politics. He has brought to his office the same system which made his department store a success. One of these days he may be governor of New York. In the meantime Buffalo is getting the sort of administration it needs, and is seeing abuses reformed without a suggestion of radicalism See page 701 Men who have made their fortunes by monopolies are not usually champions of Henry George, Mayor Tom Johnson is an exception. He is doing what he can to make Cleveland the best governed city in America, and he is succeeding in a remarkable way See page 698 BRAND WHITLOCK, MAYOR OF TOLEDO The mantle of "Golden Rule" Jones has in a way fallen upon the young lawyer-novelist, Brand Whitlock He seems more interested in criminals than he does in franchises, and it will be interesting to discover whether the principles of non-resistance as he conceives them, will give as good administration under him as they did under his predecessor See page 700 The Russian Douma EVENTS OF THE MONTH Foreign Affairs After prolonged discussion and innumerable amendments, most of which were voted down, the lower house of the parliament accepted unanimously its first official document - the reply to the speech from the throne. The unanimity was secured only by sacrifice of party programs and the six leaders of the Right left the assembly before the vote was taken so that they might not prevent progress. They were, however, in sympathy with the general tenor of the reply, objecting only to some details. The Constitutional-Democrats, known also as the "Cadets," manifested their strength as a party. The president, two vicepresidents and the secretary of the secretary of the douma belong to this organization. Fear lest the douma should be speedily dissolved before it had an opportunity to set forth its purposes impelled the almost continuous session of fifteen hours before The windows are at the back of the visitors' gallery. The steps lead to the main entrance of the assembly room for the deputies mutual understanding and and harmony between the Emperor and his people." The details of the douma's answer are reviewed in an article on another page and mention of them here will therefore be omitted. Considerable offense was felt at the refusal of the Czar to receive the presi The Response from dent of the douma and the delegation from that body the Throne bearing its reply. The wiser members, however, succeeded in persuading the others that this was merely a point of etiquette and it would be poor policy to stand on their dignity and thereby spoil their prospects. Professor Maxim Kovalevsky cited the custom of Great Britain and Germany requiring such addresses to be transmitted through the court officers. The douma's demand for a general amnesty met with a refusal on the ground that the continuance of terrorist crimes and consideration for general safety made compliance impossible. The pardon of those arrested by adminis trative order and the partial abrogation of martial law were mentioned as possible ameliorations to be granted. The douma's proposition for the improvement of agrarian conditions met with no favor. Uni versal suffrage is the only one of all the demands which the throne is willing to grant. Naturally such a response aroused resentment and a resolution was adopted by the douma which read as follows: By its refusal to satisfy the popular demands, the government clearly shows its disregard of the real interests of the people and its plain unwillingness to relieve from the shadow of new disasters a country which is harassed by poverty, lawlessness and the continued, unpunished arbitrariness of the authorities. The lower house of Parliament considers that it is its plain duty to proclaim to the country its complete distrust of an irresponsible ministry. It regards as a most necessary condition to the pacification of the country and fruitful work by Parliament the immediate resignation of the present cabinet and its replacement by a ministry possessing its confidence. |