The Washington times., 1905-02-03
CONTINUED From First Page.>

~. to count with confidence upon the
permanent development OF the new pol
icy.
The. Car has listened at last to the
councils of prudence and common sense
offered by certain of his ministers. VINO
nave dared to put the situation in It's
lTne nsht before him. He IS eonVlnced
OF the reasonableness of their recon-
mendations, and it is undoubtedly MS
honest intention at the present moment
TO adopt them.
Ducal influence.
The first effect will be to bring down
On him the full force Of the grand ducal
influence, which five weeks ago induced
him TO abandon his intention to grant
the main demands of The zemstvos' pro-
gram.
We may expect. as then. a hurried
visit of Grand Duke sergius from Mos
cow and the unemployment of whatever
arguments and threats have heretofore
served to turn the Gear from liberal
policy. with perhaps more drastic ones
added.
His majesty's position is in fact more
pitfa bic than ever. Ese has again given
evidence Of his good intentions, but in
manner which will speedily expose him
10 grave peril at the hands or ms re-
once more to their behests.
One Hope of Really Ruling.
There is, indeed. but one way in which
he could effectively establish reform
rule in Russia without exposing him
self to almost certain assassination.
He might secretly authorize man
like NJ. de White to make preparations
for a coup d. etat. by which the Car
would be suddenly rescued from his
entire surroundings ard established
under a faithful guard in another
sweeping out the whole of the rascally
official crew. including, of course. the
grand dukes.
It would require courage and great
course. and it is not expected that the
Emperor could summon up SUFFICIENT
resolution for so radical step.
New Strikes Start Up.
Meantime this couciliatory attitude
and vague promises of reforms are not
meeting with the popular response that
was expected. The ar lforities were sur
prisea yesterday by fresh strikes in two
of the principal cotton mills and a large
iron works The sole reason for the
strikes was to make a protest against
the unrepresentative character of the so
called delegation of workmen received
by the Gear
These strikers, who had returned to
sent to Tsarskea-Seio were individuals
selected by the authorities and were not
chosen by the workmen, who repudiate
them There is little doubt that SOME
pretenSe OF granting concessions will be
approved even by the reactionaries, as
| they realize that the country cannot be
ruled by bayonets alone. and that an at
tempt must be made to gain some de-
gree of popular good will. -.s-ss
| The test will be when il is discovered
whether there IS any real substance. III
/ the reforms. The Cars present mood
| is to grant a genuine measure OF popu-
| lar liberty and even the creation of a
| legislative body with real nowers,, 1t
| tionaries will faGuce his intention TO
| mere words or empty promises, as they
did with his Christmas proclamation.
Plans of Reforms for Workingmen.
| NJ. Kokovtseff. minister of finance. ex-
plains the attitude of the government
/ toward the workmen In government
controlled and in independent factories.
| Owing TO the workmen refusing to abate
| their great claims, NJ Kokovtsen is
unable 10 bring them and their en-
ploy'ers to a definite agreement, but ne
remains a mediator In the hope. that
both sides viii ultimately make CON
| cessions
| He announces that he has completed
| a scheme for the payment of eompensa-
| ton to disabled workmen.e which will
| foTtnWIth@ become law, and is now con-
| sidering scheme for the protection of
workmen in case of bankruptcy of their
| employers.
Regarding trade societies. which have
| hitherto been under the ministry of the
| interior. which could. close them at will.
the ministry Of finance Will seek to le-
galize the societies under separat e
/ law. and will also alter the law which
| makes strikers liable to prosecution. so
as to make strikes a legitimate means
| of struggle with employers
| NJ. kokovtsems explains that work IN
| these directions has been delayed by the
anomalous position of the factory In
ST ectors, whose work the ministry of the
| Interior insisted upon controlling. The
| ministry OF finance has now succeeded
| in preventing this
The Norl<men are inforr1Ied that they
i cannot nope for an eight-hour day,
since in western Europe the hours of
| labor average nine and nine and a half
| daily, and In Russia the men have many
| more holidays
Official returns show that the average
| pay of a laboTer In Russia is 90 kopecks
/ daily. They receive no pay for. hoH-
| days. The average wage for mechanics
| in St Petersburg is 81 kopecks daily