New-York tribune., 1905-01-21

meeting unarmed. saying they were unwilling
10 meet violence with violence
Admission TO Tsarskoe Selo viii be refused 10
the deputation however and the government
believes this viii render a meeting on SUNDAY
impossible.
The employers. at the same time. after con-
ferences with the Ministry of Finance, which
was the first TO recognize the gravity OF the SIT
uation, determined TO offer concessions in wages
and other conditions Of labor 10 indiVidual en-
ploves. but declared that It was Impossible 10
grant an eight-hour day without general legls-
lation affecting competitors and price regula-
tIons for piece work. Compliance with the en-
Moves demands for payment of wages during
the strike was held 10 be out of the question,
and the employers declined also TO permit OF
aictation Of terms by other than their own en-
ployes
The priest George Gopon, is an interesting
personality He is idolized by the workmen.
who. since the beginning Of the strike have
furnished TO him z bodyguard. He has peen
accompanied everywhere by score of Two
schiks and has not been sleeping at his own
home for week for fear of arrest. AS swine
herd when boy, he showed such capacity for
learning that he was sent TO the Poltava Ecclesi-
astical Seminary His leaning toward politics
led to HIS exclusion from the seminary, and this
exclusion prompted desire TO get close to the
people and share their lot. He was determined
TO become a priest in distinction from MONK
snd overcame many obstacles. finally being
graduated from the st Petersburg Ecclesiasti-
cal Academy. He then took up work among
the laboring classes, whose leader he speedily
became. He shows an evident genius for or
ganization. Father Gopon is believed to be the
heart and soul of the whole movement
Up TO an early hour this morning no disturb
ance has been reported. There are heavy guards
at the waterworks and lighting plants. and in
the factory district. Patrols Of cavalry are con-
stantIy in motion through the city.
The following is the text Of the strikers pc
tition 10 the Emperor:
Sire: We. worzmen. inhabitants of ST Peters
burg of ali classes, our wives. children and in
digent parents, come TO you, our sovereign. ask
ing for protection. We are poor, prosecuted,
are Insulted, treated not men, but as slaves
who ought to bear their cruel fate IN silence.
We have suffered, but We are being plunged
deeper IN the mire and deprived Of our rights.
Urinstructed, stifed by destitution and inJus-
tice. We are perishing. We have no strength
left.
Sire we have arrived at the extreme limits Of
endurance; we have reached the terrible moment
when death is TO be preferred to a continuation
Of our intolerable sufferings. We have left our
work and informed our employers that we VIII
not resume until cur demands are conceded
for means OF livelihood, without which life is a
burden and labor continual torture
investigate our case. They have refused We
have been denied the right TO put forward our
claim, it being held that such right Is not rec
ognized by law.
other points in their case the petitioners con-
dnue:
Any one Of US who dared raise HIS voice in the
interests Of the people OF the working classes
has been thrown into prison or transported.
Kindness and good feeling have been treated as
crime. The bureaucracy has brought the
country to the verge Of ruin by shameful way
1t is Turing Il to its downfall We have no
voice In the heavy burdens imposed We do not
know for whom why this money is wruns
from an impoverished people, and we 90 not
know how IT is expended.
This state Of things, contrary TO divine laws.
renders life impossible II were better that we
Then, good luck to capitalists and exploiters
and poor, corrupt officials robbers Of the Rus
sian people
Assembled before thy palace we plead our
salvation. Refuse not thine aid. and raise thy
people from their tomb. Give them means Of
working out their own destiny. Rescue them
from intoerable ofhcialdom. Throw down the
wall that separates; free thy people order that
they nay rule the country with thee Create
for thy people the happiness wrenched from US.
leaving us nothing but sorrow and humiliation.
We pray your majesty graciously TO receive
our demands, which inspired by desire for
your majesty's and our welfare and the con-
sciOusness of the necessity Of escape from an in
tolerable situation. Russia is too great and her
needs too varied and numerous for officials
only to rule National representation is indis-
the country's real needs.
Refuse not thine aid, but order a conVocatiOn
OF representatives of all classes, including work
men. Let all be free and equal in the elections,
and to this end permit the election of q
stituent assembly by general secret ballot. That
is chief demand, in which all else centres.
1t is the sole balm for wounds, which will
otherwise speedily bring death.
single measure however, viii not heal all
our wounds. Therefore acquaint thee frank
ly and openly behalf of the whole Of the
Russian working classes, as TO a father. with
our further demands.
After making these demands. the petition ends
as follows:
There SIRE are principal needs, satisfac-
misery, make her prosperous, and enable work
men TO organize in defence Of their interests
against the capitalist exploitation and official
robbery which are sitting the people. Order
and swear they shall be satisfied and you will
make Russia happy and glorious and inscribe
your name forever in the hearts Of our people
ana their posterity; while should you repulse
ana reject our prayers, will die in this square
before your palace We have nowhere else to
go Only two paths are open TO US, either tow
ard liberty and happiness or to the grave
Should our lives serve as a holocaust for suffer
ing Russia, we shall not regret the sacrifice but
shall bear it willingly.
Princes Droutsld Sakolnsly Diubanski Kir-
sakof and Shamansky, representing the nobili-
ty Of the government Of Aiinsk have petitioned
the Minister of the Interior, on behalf of the
whole OF the northwestern districts OF Russia
for equal rights for all nationalities and classes
IN the empire. The Minister has replied that