Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Bibliographic data

Monograph

Identifikator:: 1794855874

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-179223

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Polner, Tichon I. http://d-nb.info/gnd/172311195

Title:: Russian local government during the war and the Union of Zemstvos

Place of publication:: New Haven

Publisher:: Yale Univ. Press

Year of publication:: 1930

Scope:: XXV, 317 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Monograph

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter V. The Zemstvos and the Zemstvo Union

Collection:: Economics Books

78 THE ZEMSTVOS DURING THE WAR government authorities certain methods by which they could, if they so desired, interfere with and even stop the regular zemstvo work, by standing upon the letter of the law or acting in strict compliance with ordinances that might be issued by the Ministry of the In- terior. In solving the problems which were now besetting the zem- stvos on every hand and required immediate action, there would be no time to engage in legal conflicts with the administration. In the abnormal conditions of war-time it would be impossible to accom- plish anything without genuine enthusiasm, in the face of official obstacles, and without rallying the public to the standard of the zemstvos. Half a century of bitter experience, however, had taught the zemstvos that it was precisely the unification and organization of the popular masses in their support that the Government was most afraid of. In the war zone, the zemstvos met with sympathy and con- fidence from the military authorities. But in the interior of Russia the officials of the Ministry of the Interior showed suspicion, fear, and even ill-concealed hostility. Here and there it was possible for the zemstvos to maintain friendly relations with a provincial gover- nor, but there was no certainty or security anywhere, while hostile orders might be expected at any moment from Petrograd. Provincial and District Committees. In view of all these circumstances, the leaders of the Union de- cided to leave it to the discretion of the local zemstvo workers to establish, if necessary, special committees of the Union—provincial, district, and for smaller areas—to operate side by side with the regular zemstvo institutions. As extraordinary organizations, such committees would not be subject to the limitations of the zemstvo statutes, and would be more free to act as might be necessary. It should also be borne in mind that the executive organs of the zem- stvos, composed of only a very few individuals, were overwhelmed with current business. The heavy demands of war work inevitably increased their burdens considerably and it became necessary to re- inforce them by the addition of specialists and expert workers, and by combining the zemstvos with other efficient and capable local organizations. This was precisely the intention of the resolution of the zemstvo representatives adopted on July 30, 1914, which provided that “the

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