The news & observer., 1905-11-19
DEMAND END OF STRIKE.
Workmen Breaking Loose From Con-
troll of the Leaders.
(By the Associated Press. }

(By the Associated Press.) \
st. Petersburg, Nov. 1S.-(1:4J d
IN. m.)-Though, according to surface
indications yesterday, the outlook foi
the speedy ending of the strike was
gloomy, the revelations made at a
meeting last night of the council OF
the workmen's delegates showed that
large portion of the workmen were
breaking loose from the control OF
the leaders and were anxious 20 re-
turn to work, and plebiscite which
will be taken today in the various
factories probably will result in a de-
cisiOn to abandon the strike Mon lay
At the meeting of the council which
was held in the same hall where
Father Gapon, Maxim Gorky and 9TH
or leaders denounced the Emperor on
the eve of January % cred sun
day. delegate after delegate from
different factories arose and ~eported
that the workmen, under the influence
OF the ultimatum issued by the en-
ployers announcing that the factories
would be shut down indefinitely un-
less work was resumed on Monday,
an dwith the pleading of their wives
and of the conservative workmen
ringing in their ears, were demand
ing that the strike should be ended.
This precipitated q hotly contested
debate between the moderates, who
declared that the strike in the lirst
instance was a strategical mistake and
that it would be a graver error in
tactic to attempt to force the men 10
remain in line and the last ditch"
faction, especially the unattached
delegation who are members Of the
council by virtue of their member
ship in socialist organizations. One
fiery speaker who in order to be
better seen and heard mounted the
balcony which Father Gapon in dis
guise had delivered his last address
in that hall, Numbered his denuncia-
ton of those who wishes to disoon-
tinue their struggle.
After long discussion, motion
to call off the strike was rejected ana
j. vas decided to call meetings of
workmen in the factories today for
the purpose of laying the situation
before them and to abide by their de-
cision.
The leaders. however. were detern-
ined not to permit the strike to die
without final great demonstration
of their power to render St Peters
tion of the resolution calling for a
referendum, it was decided to lend
every effort to close every store, mar
ket and office, beginning at eleven
o'clock this morning and to stop all
street and carriage traffic in the
streets so dS to bring the life OF the
Russian capital to complete stand
still. The stoppage of the electric
plants. which the government had
succeeded in getting in partial opera
tion was entrusted to electrical work
ers in the various districts. who were
empowered to use any and all means
deemed advisable for the injuring OF
the machinery and the shortening of
the dynamOes, even to the extent of
destroying the plants.
Another resolution called for deni-
onstrations to effect the release of
the four delegates who had been ar
rested. 1t was decided to mass 5000
men in front of each prison where the
delegates are detained and to hold
them there until they are liberated.
The prefect of the police mas pub
lished an appeal to the well disposed
classes warning them that the strike
leaders intend to take aggressive ac
tion today and asking them to- CO.
operate with the police against the
agitators who are making life un-
bearable.''
The strikers laid stress on enc lur-
aging news from the interior which
they said would be able to place be-
fore the workmen today. but last
nights dispatches showed little con-
firmatory evidence of such news.