New-York tribune., 1905-12-23
TRAINS STILL MOVING.
No Signs of Yielding on the Part
of the 4utocracy.


St. Petersburg. Dec. 22-It is difficult TO judge
whether the general political strike will succeed
or fail The authorities are bewildered by the
strength OF the strikers and the movement has
reached formidable proportions in st. Peters
burg. Even official reports say that more than
8 third Of the workmen obeyed the order of the
vorknen's Council. The strike leaders are con-
sdently asserting that the others will be brought
into line Immediately. The government, how
ever has succeeded in keeping railroad traffic
from St Petersburg moving with considerable
regularity.
In Moscow the striking railroad men and the
lower classes like the cab drivers. who see the
bread taken from their mouths by the strike are
already at each others throats.
The y 600 persons who were besieged in the
Aoparium at Moscow since last night forced the
iron ratings surrounding the building at 9
o'clock this morning and effected their escape
through an adjacent schooihouse. A few were
wounded in their attempts to escape the military
Gordon.
Seventy Of those attending the meeting were
arrested. but they were subsequently liberated
A few revolvers were seized, and many daggers
and revolvers were left behind in the. garden
surrounding the schoolhouse.
A message by telephone from Moscow says
persistent rumors are in circulation there that
all the artfllery1nen, with the exception Of those
Of one battery, have refused to go on duty.
The same message says that plot has been
s,o-a-ad IN seize Governor General Doubas-
soft
Demonstrations OF the strikers at Moscow con-
tinued all day, but in every case they were dis
persed by Cossacks and dragons. Several per-
sons were injured, but one was killed Whole
sale arrests were made. All business has been
stopped. Several OF the baker shops have been
plundered The strikers using the strongest
measures to enforce the complete cessation of
business, but notwithstanding these measures
the postal service continues At a meeting Of
bankers to-day it was decided to open the banks
tomorrow
The scanty dispatches received from the in
terror do not indicate whether the order to strike
is meeting general response.
The government has entered a vigorous
offensive against the revolutionary leaders and
is making arrests by the wholesale. 1t has is
sued communication saying that all necessary
measures have been taken TO prevent disorders.
The proIetariat organizations marshalling
all their forces to throw into the balance. The
prevailing impression is that with the limited
funds at the disposition of the unions, either
the strike must spread rapidly and enter a new
and more violent phase the game will be lost
by the revolutionary elements. Some Of the
strike leaders. already discouraged by the pros
pect OF failure. do not hesitate TO say that the
decision to accept the challenge of the govern
ment while the organizations were unprepared
was a bunder and that it can be redeemed only
by forcing a conflict which will arouse the
populace
Several attempts at red flag demonstrations
in the Vassili Ostrow and other industrial dis
tricts to-day were dispersed by Cossacks- There
were several attacks on strikers by non-union
workmen. who fear that the strike will cut off
the gratuities usually received by them at
Christmas.
The success Of the strike generally speaking,
depends on its development at Moscow and
other places In the interior. Evidently the lead
ers hope to precipitate matters at Moscow with
the view of setting ur provisional government
there If they can effect split I'm the army, and
also 10 obtain possession of other towns, as they
did in the case of Kharkoff, but their plans
have not rnatured They seem TO be striking
wildly and blindIy. The government it is now
apparent, took the revolutionists off their guard
and forced the issue. preferring a test OF
strength before the worInaen's organization was
Complete
The railroad mems committee made heroic ef-
forts TO stop trains from being run out of st.
Petersburg to-day and succeeded in inducing
practically all the station and roundhouse men
and many of the trainmen who remained on
6uty yesterday to Join the strike. Nevertheless,
Continued second page
Extra cars on every train TO Chicago, st LOUIS
end Cincinnati via the New YORK Centr2i Lines 10
hoI fraye which IS larger IMAM ever