The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-27
Only a Few Minor Skirmishes Occurs in Outskirts
 of Moscow
THOUSANDS OF MEN ARE
 STILL REFUSING 10 WORK
Authorities at St. Petersburg Seem Confident that Backbone of the Trouble in Empire has
 Been Broken.

St. Petersburg, January H.-(2 a. m.)- Although the strikes at Reval, Libau, Kieff, Odessa and a few smaller places are extending, the situation Is nowhere acute. An increasing number of work men are out at Moscow, but there is nc general tie up or disorder there The whereabouts of Father Gopon still re- main a mystery. although 1t is believed the priest is in Moscow.
 The Russian capitol presents almost a normal appearance, and the authorities are confident that the backbone of the strike has been broken. Some factories and mills already have resumed. and a general resumption of operations Is ex- pected on Monday. The authorities ex- pect that the failure of the strike here will have a discouraging effect upon the workmen in other cities, to which the trouble has been spreading lately, and believe there Is no longer danger of a complete suspension of all the industrial concerns of Russia.
 Minister of the Interior Sviatopolk- Mirsky has promised a delegation of ed itors who called upon him to protest against the arrest of number of prom inent writers, who are now confined in the St Paul and St. Peter hall, to se- 
 Strike Steadily Spreading.
 Moscow, January 26-Although the strike Is steadily spreading. the move ment thus far has not been accompanied by collisions of great gravity. Today s events were restricted to minor slir- mishes on the northern and extreme out skirts of the city, in which the troops successfully resisted all efforts of the crowds to break through the cordon. No bloodshed Is reported. Both the authori- ties and masters have shown remarkable coolness in the face of the situation. the former avoiding provocation by studi- ously concealing the troops and the lat ter by displaying a readiness to meet the mems demands
 During the Associated Press correspond ent's visit to the factories south of the river, which employ hundreds of thous- ands of men, he saw no more than two hundred workmen in the streets, and dis covered that the men were all staying indoors It appears that when the strik- CTS made the rounds of the mills. calling on their comrades to quit work under threat of wrecking the plants, the mas- ters decided to allow the men to take a holiday with full pay, provided they re- mained in their dwellings. and the work men unanimously consented, the result be- ing that the intimidators were disarmed.
 Negotiating for Settlement.
 Tn the meantime, the workmen and masters are negotiating for a settlement of their differences Several firms already have offered an advance In wages which would bring up the average earnings of their workmen to s10 per month, and lodging. One firm has offered to knock off one hour from the legal working day of eleven hours, but this is a burning question on which the majority of the masters are unwilling or unable D agree to concessions. The Panilowsky textile factory alone continues working. The dis trict across the Moskova river is heavily guarded, the authorities remain confident, and the police patrols have been reduced. The situation, however. is none the less uncertain, as 1t Is still question whether the workmen will remain quiescent if ;he strike becomes general.