Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1905-01-21
RUSSIA FACES
SERIOUS SITUATION
Authorities Of St. Petersburg Take
Measures to Prevent RiOting and
Oyerawe Violent Minded.
GARRISON LARGELY INCREASED.
Shonsopds of WOrkmen Parade the
streets-concess in Terms OF
Employment to be offered.

S. Petersburg Jan. 2O.---With the
Russian capital seemingly on the verge
NJ an official revolution, thousands OF
workinen parading the streets, agita-
,ors and fanatics sowing the seeds Of
disorder half the city in darkness and
without fire protection owing to walk
outs the situation was hourly growing
more tense tonight, when the authorl-
ties decided 10 adopt energetic meas
ures to preserve order prevent rioting
and Overawe the violent minded at
the same time seeking to placate the
striking workmeu by offering satlsfac-
ton OF their demands in so far as they
are lust and reasonable thus acting
with combined irmness and modera-
tion,
The government tonight augmented
the garrison OF st. Petersburg with
$500 cavalry and 1000 Infantry from
Tsarskoe- Selo and filled the streets, es-
pccially IN the dlsaffected quarter
with heavy patrols OF soldiers.
The refusal to permit delegation Of
workmen TO present petition TO EN-
peror Nicholas ct Tsarskoe-Selo has
made It known that the great demon
etration planned for Sunday, with It's
unlimited possibilities for an outbreak,
will not be permitted TO take place
Acting In conjunction with a confer
ence Of employers It has been deter
mined TO offer concessions In the terms
OF employment, which the employers
declare the great majority OF the work
men would be inclined to accept ~ they
were guaranteed protection from the
more violent factions.
Late tonight II was reported that
Father Gopon, leader OF the workmen,
had been quietly spirited away from HE
bodyguard and taken into custody, In
furtherance of the plan to dlsorganize
the elements that are threatening the
peace Of St Petersburg.
The authorities believe that by sheee
steps they have the situation well In
hand, and announce they expect
peaceful solution of the problem.
The situation had entered an acute
stage today, and the strike had as
sumed an open political phase. The day
was one OF intense excitement. Mil
after mill and factory after factory
closed. Throngs OF workmen paraded
the streets and, when their colleagues
refused TO join them, broke down gatea
and forced out the men. The whole
industrial center is idle.
All the textile mills and every print
ing Office In 81, Petersburg are closed.
One electric light plant and one water
plant have been shut down, and over
100000 men are out.
Throughout the day workmen's meet
ings were held, at which incendlary
speeches were made wild threats ut
tered az to what would come In the
event OF the authorities and employers
falling TO meet their demands. The
nervousness and dread of what the next
few days might bring forth were in
creased by reports that the workmen Of
Moscow, Kharkoff, Kishinen and other
large cities IN the interior, might join
the movement
While the government and employers
tcmporized, the telesraphers and rail-
road employees threatened TO join the
walkout, paralyzing the communica-
tion OF the country. Many foreigners
are preparing to send their families
abroad Every newspaper IN st. Peters
burg has been forced TO suspend pub
lication owing 10 the strike.
The suddenness OF the strike and the
far-eachlng nature OF the worSmen's
organization was largely surprise to
the government and employers. Start
Ing with the walkout of n few thousand
employees OF the Putilof iron works
due purely to Industrial causes, II
spread as rapidly a. u conhagration
through the labor classes OF st. Peters
burg and became general.
AT first only industrial demands were
presented, such as shortening the hours
Of labor and for increases OF wages,
but poverty and discomfort, under the
Indictment of Social Democratic agita-
torr. led TO the formulation OF political
demands.
A petition was drawn up and largely
signed, which, going beyond the COM
plants on which the strike originated,
attacked the whole capitalistic system
OF the country bitterly assailed the
present government as one Of bureauc-
r1cy and demanded the reform of both,
asserting that death was preferable TO
existence under such conditions. This
was TO have been presented personally
TO Emperor Nicholas.
a deputaton OF workmen endeavored
TO see his majesty at Tsarskoe- Selo
ana appeal to him to come at an inn
nense demonstration Of the industrial
classes. II was planned TO have the
Workmen in st. Petersburg, headed by
their leader, the priest Gopon, I'm full
gorgeous cnnoncal garh, march to the
palace and assemble IN the great parade
grounds I'm front Of the palace and
there present the petition TO his ma
Jesty. The deputation will be refused
admission 20 TsalSkoe-Selo. The gov
eminent will render a meeting on Sun |
day impossible.
me employers ut the same time after |
conferences with the ministry OF finance |
WnArl tho frat n n
gravity of the situation determined to |
Offer concessions In wages and other |
conditions OF labor TO individual en- |
ployes, but declaring II was impossible |
70 grant an elght-hour day without |
seneral legislation affecting competitors |
ana price regulations for piece work. |
compliance with the demands for |
payment OF wages during the strike |
was held to be out Of the question and |
the employers declined also 10 permit |
OF dlctation OF the terms by other than |
ueir own employees. They expressed |
me belief that most OF their employees |
we're DESTROYS OF accepting the conces-
SONS and returning to work II they |
Could be assured OF safety from per-
bonal injury.
The priest Gopon is an interesting
personality. He Is idolized by the
morhthen' who since the beginning OF |
me strike have furnished him with a.
Dodyguard. He has been ACCOMPANIED
tNeryWhere by n score OF I2voschiks
una mas not been sleeping at his own |
nome for week, for fear OF the very
NS,upgency Of arrest by the police
pened. mp
AZ peasant swineherder when a boy