The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-24
MORE QUIET AT CAPITAL
Authorities Declare It Their
 Purpose to Stand Firm.
Strikers Said to Have Received Assur- ances of Support From Sources Which Hitherto Had Not
 CO-operated With the
 Party of Labor.


 that several factories ir Moscow have closed and that the>~workmen in the old capital of Russia are repeating the tactics of their fellow workmen of the new capital, marching from shop to shop and from mill to mill, demanding that the establishments be shut down.
 The whole city is reported to be insa state of great excitement over the news of the bloodshed hereN yesterday, which has precipitated immediately the strike that had been planned for Wednesday. Moscow has more work men and less troops than SE Peters burg, and besides Is just now the heart of the Liberal movement and the dan ger of bloodier occurrences there than have been witnessed here are propor- tfonately greater. A rising at Moscow is also more likely to have greater re- suits industriaIly and politically than in St. Petersburg.
 According to private reports, the workmen in several other big cities, notably Kharkof, where large locomo- tive works are located, already have completed plans for general suspen- sion of work. Moreover, reports are current that the workmen who other wise would soon be forced back into the shops or starve. have received as- surances of financial support from the
  the sinews of war to the liberal and revolutionary agitation, but have not been in touch with labor movements. If the strike becomes general all over Russia and especially If the railroads are drawn in, 1t might immediately force the nation to make peace with Japan.
 situation is Grave.
 The situation appears grave from ct apparently somewhat bewildered, de- clare their purpose to stand firm. main taining that it is their first duty to pre- yerve order, scouting the idea of actual revolution. Seemingly the ministers are most concerned over the effect of the present situation abroad. where they declare exaggerated reports cre- '~eAessA false Impression.
 What if any steps have been taken to deal with the general situation. however, has not been disclosed, but there are extremely significant reports tonight that Emperor Nicholas in making the decision at the extraordina- ry meeting of the council of the empire at Tsararskoe-Selo today to declare St. Petersburg in a state of siege, an- nounced that he had resolved to issue @ manifesto the people with a view to calming them, promising to create a mixed commission of workmen and of- ficfals to investigate and decide the questions of the demands of the strik- CTS, especially the one affecting hours of labor, which Russian law fixes at eleven. The representatives of the workmen according to this report, are not to be appointed, but selected by the laboring men themselves. This would be the first concession to the representative principle.
 According to reports the Emperor will also promise to investigate yesterdays events in St. Petersburg.
 One Blank VOlIey.
 There was no repetition of the de- pIorable occurrences of yesterday with the exception that a single blank volley was fired to awe crowd near the Warsaw station. Careful investiga- { tien shows that no bullets were fired. The military everywhere had a firm grip on the situation and the police used every precaution such as forbid ding the sale of petroleum and advis- ing people to remain indoors.
 The tension. which was somewhat re- faxed in the morning. continued to in- crease during the day. Conditions ap- peaTed to be ominous when. shortly after dark. the workmen in two electric light plants walked out. refusing triple pay to remain, and punged the city into utter darkness including the Nevsky Prospect, which Is in the fashionable residence quarter. The water supply also was cut off and a veritable panic ensued.
 Tales that dynamite was In the pos session of the strikers. and that it was their purpose to sack and burn the town was in circulation and many peo- pie were terror stricken. Reserve troops were called out to guard the darkened portion of the city. The people in the streets except a few strikers and roughs fled to their homes. Police officers visited every house and store, ordering all not to venture out at their peril and to turn out the lights In their front windows shop keepers and even private house owners boarded or barred their windows and doors. After about four hours soldiers from the engineer corps with the aid of German engineers from factories. started up the plants. When the lights were turned on. Except for the patroll- ing cavalry and infantry the streets were deserted.
 At midnight. when life in the Rus sian capital is usually bright, St. Pe- tersburg resembled a city of the dead invaded by hostile army. The facades of the buildings were black and every restaurant and place of amusement were closed The only sound to be heard was the deadened batter of the hoofs of the cavalry horses and the tramp of marching men over the snow as the Emperor's legions moved to and fro.
 10000 Troops at Palace.
 The guards at the palaces of the Grand Dukes are especially heavy and over 20.000 troops are massed at Tsar- skoe-Selo
 The factory and mill districts were practically deserted today The strik CTS had no plans for demonstrations, and so special plan had been arranged The absence of any definite objective lead the strikers to drift towards the principal thoroughfares. the Nevsky Prospect. which has been the center of today's less thrilling events. As the afternoon wore on. the crowds in the Nevsky Prospect became dense and the authorities. possibly fearing that the u,i..ht ha cnn. arlal int, La..ri-