The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-01-24
RUSSIA WATTS
Authorities Were In Con-
troll Last Night.
STRIKES WIDESPREAD.
u Railroad Tie-Up Is General
Russia Must Ask Japs
for Peace.
60P0N REpUDlATES THE CAR
A. Midnight the Streets Of the Capital
Were Deserted Except for Patrol.
ling Troops---lmpsriai Princes
Are Guarded.
6oPoN REpUDlATES THE CAR

81. Petersburg. Jan. 7s.--The most
startling feature In the situation to-
night Ia the news that several factories
OF Moscow are closed and the workmen
In the old capital OF Russia are repeat
Ing the tactics OF their feliow-workmen
at the new capital. marching from shop
10 shop and mill 10 mill demanding
thai the establishments be shut down.
me whole city IL reported TO bs In
state OF great excitement over the news
OF bloodshed which preelpitated tho
strike scheduled for wednesday, Mos
cow has moro workInen and less troops
than ST. Petersburg, and besides, II In
just now the heart OF the liberal move
ment. and the danger OF bloodier oc-
currences than have been witnessed
here are proportionatcly greater. The
rising at Moscow IL also more likely
TO have. greater results industrially and
politically than that In st, Pesersburg.'
According TO private reports the
worlumen In several other cities. notab-
by Kharkotf. whore large locomotive
works are located. have already COM
pieted plans for general suspension of
work. Moreover. reports are current
that workmen who otherwise would
soon be forced back into the shops or
starve. have received assurances OF
financial support from ssources which
have hitherto furnished the sinews Of
war TO liberal and revolutionary agi-
tatIon. but have not before been In
touch with the labor movement.
May Make Peace.
II strikes become general all over
Russia, and especially II the railroads
are drawn in, II might Immediately
force the nation to make peace with
Japan.
The situation appears grave from
every standpoint; but the authorities
although apparently somewhat bewild-
cred, declare their purpose to stand
firm, maintaining their first duty to
preserve order and scouting the idea
OF actual revolution. Seemingly, the
ministers are most concerned over the
effect OF the present situation abroad,
where, they declare. exaggerated re.
ports create false impression. What,
II any. steps will be taken to relieve
the general situation, however, is not
disclosed, but there are extremely sig
nihcant reports tonight that the en-
peror, In making decision at the ex-
traordlnary meeting Of the council of
the empire at Tsarskoe Selo today to
declare st. Petersburg In a state OF
Siege, announced he nad resolved 10
issue a manifesto to the people with a
view to calming them, promising to
create a mixed commission of workmen
and officials, to investigate ana decide
on the demands Of the strikers. Rep.
resentatives Of the workmen, accord
Ing to the report, are not to be ap-
pointed, but to be selected by the la
boring men themselves. This will be
the first concession to the representa-
tive principle,
Conditions oninous.
Tension which was somewhat relaxed
in the morning, continued to increase
during the day. Conditions appeared
omlnous when. shortly after dark, the
workmen in two electric light plants
walked out, refusing triple pay to re-
main, and plunglng half the city in
darkness. The water supply was also
cut of, and q veritable panic ensued.'
Tales Of dynamite in the possession
of strikers and their purpose to sack
and burn the town have been in cir