The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-12-11
leader Of the Working
 men is SeiZ u.
BRAINS OF REVOLUTION
Renewed Rum0rs of Resigna-
 ton 0i CCu1t Mitte.
Reported That General Mistchengo, Now on His Way Home From Manchuria, wrn As-
 sume Dictatorship.

St, Petersburg, Saturday evening. Dec 9.-Another crisis Is at hand in volving the indefinite prolongation Of the postal and telegraph strike, and the probable immediate precipitation Of general strike throughout Russia and a possible final struggle between the Government and the proletariat.
 This sudden change for the worse is the result of shedding of the first blood in the telegraph strike. This after noon. almost simultaneously with the action of Mir. Durnovo, minister of the interior, in throwing down the gaunt- let to the labor organizations by ar- resting M Krustaleff, president of the Executive Committec of the Workmen's Council without warning, several com panies of Cossacksf clattcred through the streets leading to the headquarters Of the council In Targovia Street.
 Having barred the approaches. force Of troops and police surrounded the building, after which service men rushed in ard seized Krustaleff.
 The latter nfaie no resistance and the affair was concluded quickly.
 It was impossible for Krustaleh to conceal the, pspars of the organization.
 The authorities evidently expect to ind evidence proving the ultimate in- tention to be an armed uprising against the Government ~~
 BAOOU8Me4 beGnu8. The disturbances in which two strik- CTS and cne police were killed and two others injured occurred in front of the .postoffice. The strikers for two days have been trying to persuade the volunteers and regular carriers to re- fuse to work. At the door of the building the strikers. enraged by the refusal to volunteers to quit, drew knives, wlereuuon a carrier attemnted to defend himself with a revolver. Both the carrier and companion were killed on tine spot
 by the strikers. and workmen who sympatbized with them. Both sides engaged in a fierce fusilade during which policeman and several work fnen were wounded. As the strikers were withdrawing cossacks came gal strikers turned and threw an imita- ton bomb and the Cossacks, wheeling in order tos avoid what they presumed to be a deadly missile. the crowd man aged to get into opeu courtway close the door and escape.
 The news of the arrest of Krusta- Jeff created an immense sensation among the workmen. All the social- lsts labor and kindred organizations are holding meeting tonight at which most inflammatory speeches are being maqe n denunciation of the govern ment and all are talking of a general strike In order to save thcir leader.
 Brains of the RevolutiOn.
 Krustaleff, as he Is called, though that ts not his name, is regarded as the brains of the revolutionary movement. He has displayed genius in organizing both the industrial and political strikes which have terrorized the government. His offer of support to the telegraph CTS yesterday prevented collapse of their strike.
 In soue nt,arters if iu halie,.aa @ha& the government, realizing that a strug- gle with the workmen and tho social tsts is inevitable in January, arr rested Krustaieff with the intention of deliberately .precipitating matters by challenging the organizations be- fore they were fully prepared 70.
 This show of strength also gives color, to the report that the Douma election law, which it is now expected. will be promulgated next week. is to De followed by energetic measures to restore order, even if it be necessary to decIare nlarl,al law in various parts or the empire, on the ground that it wound be Impossible to nUId the eiec- tions Tn the present state of the coun- try.
 At the same time 1t is understood that it Is the intention ot the Govern ment to go a step furtner or the direc- ton of appealing to the peasants by providing Tor purchase by them on the insta1inIent plan of a portion of the crown appenoages and the private es- tates that have been hypotnecated to the Government land banks and unre- deemed
 While such a progress undoubtedly would bring the sympathy of that sec ton of population which desires the restoration of order above everything, especially of those business interests, like the manufacturers of St. Peters burg, who yesterday passed q resolu- tion in favor of the prosecution of the asitators to the full extent of the law . 1t would provoke the Socialists and Revolutionaries to desperation.
 Believe It to Be Suicide.
 The moderate Liberals also believe that such policy would be suicidal and would be sure to bring in its wake repression. then an armed conflict with the proletariat. and finally bloody rev. olution. Many persons believe that Count Witte will not lend himself to such a program, that his fall is im- minent, and that when he goes, he will leave reaction and revolution face to face. It Is again rumOred that the Premier already has resigned and will be succeeded by General Count Alexis Ignatieff Another rumor is to the ef- feet that Lieutenaue-General Kitchens
 
 Manchuria, who Is now on his way to St. Petersburg. will assume the dicta- torshfp.
 The Associated Press is unable to ob- tain confirmation of many of these rumors. On the contrary, it learns from high source that Count Witte's position, so tar as the Emperor Is con- cerned. is perfectly secure. and that his majesty is giving him the widest cooperation.
 Nevertheless. the Counts failure to accomplish something tangible has caused him to lose ground steadily in public opinion.
 Even The slovo the organ of the legal orders. turns savagely on him, declaring that he is a failure. and urg- ing that it will be impossible to re- store public confidence until power has passed to the hands of the Douma. when Count witte must give way to a cabinet selected by the National As- sembiy
 A strike has begun on the following railroad lines: Kurksv. Moscow and sebastopoL Riga and Lion, Kharkoff