Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-10-25
Most Serious Situation
Faces All European
Districts.
RAILWAYS ARE TIED UP
Social Democrats Believe They
Have Authorities at
Their Mercy

st. Petersburg, Oct. 22-Over half
of European Russia is in the grip of
striking railway men, and the strike con
tinues 10 spread in all districts Roads
in the Volga region are at a standstill
and today a general strike was pro
claimed on the two remaining roads
running out of St. Petersburg
Before tomorrow the capital is ex-
pected 70 be cut on from the outside
world by way of the continent. This
will also involve the suspension of pos
tai communication.
Have support.
The League of Leagues has seized
the opportunity 10 come to the support
of the railroad men and has adopted a
resolution in favor of general strike
of all professions. Telegraph operat-
ors are joining in the movement. The
situation is critical and pregnant of
all sorts of dire possibilities.
Factories Closed.
Factories in the affected districts
have been forced to shut down for lack
of fuel Moscow. especially. faces not
only food but a water famine. For
tunately. 81. Petersburg will have COM
munication open through Finland. Tel
eGraphic communication between s..
Petersburg and Kharkoff is broken.
Workmen of the Putilon. Koljo.no. Al
eXanderovsky and Nevusk works
struck this morning.
Think They Have pper Hand.
Social democrats think they have the
"a
the railroads stopped. the authorities
are powerless to- transport troops. This
is all the more serious. as bloody col
lisions have already been reported at
various places and dangerous agra
rian movement has again broken out
in the government of Samara. The
strength displayed by social democrats
has amazed the authorities. who We're
much surprised at the evidence of their
power.
Relief Work Suspended.
The distress in the central provinces
is greatly increased by the enforced
suspension of famine relief work.
Prince Hilkuff. minister of railroads,
whose appeals 10 the strikers at Mos
COW were SO uuavailing that he could
not get an engineer TO bring him To St.
Petersburg, but who. with fireman
stocking, drove his own engine, arriv-
ing here black and dust-grimmed. is
not blamable for the failure of the gov
eminent To keep its promises. made in
the spring. TO increase the wages of
railroad men. That responsibility
rests on the minister of finance.
Held Big Meeting.
Prince Hilkoff expects to meet the
railroad delegates here but apparently
they We're at meetings held last night
and which continued until dawn this
morning. 4 dozen of these of the most
enthusiastic character were held. The
largest, held in the university. was at.
tended by about 10000 persons includ
ing students who are making common
cause with the workmen and with the
leaders are making speeches in favor
of resumption of the student strike
unless they are allowed 10 discuss poll
teal questions.
Passed a Resolution.
The students joined the railroad men
in passing a resolution in favor of inn
mediate convocation of an assembly
elected By direct universal suffrage
ana uSManuinS tnat laws governing IA
bor be satisfied 10y representatives OF
the people and the immdiate grant OF
political freedom and declaring that
thus only can armed revolution bt
avoided.
Called on wiur.
These resolutions were admitted after
a deputa;ion which called on Count
Witte had reported. The count re
Ceived the depUtation as a private indi
Vidual He spoke to them with hi:
usual bluntness and told them plainly
some of their demands would be grant
ed while the granting OF others wa:
impossible. Witte warned the deputa
tion that the continuation of the STRIKE
could only result in blOodshed. either
by compelling interference OF the mill
tary or by the famine stricken popula
ton of cities. turning upon the strill
eTS.
VIII Fail With Government.
Remember" he said the govern
ment may fall. but with il you vii
perish also. playing into the hands o
the Burgeois you are fighting"
In conclusion Witte advised the mel
10 return 10 work. but his advice. how
ever. was UNDECIDED and howled dow