New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-12-20
AN EMPIRES LIFE AT STAKE.
Russian Workmen of All Classes Vote in Favor Of a
General Strike
STRUGGLE TO BEGIN THURSDAY NOON.
ssdas Of Railway Say That All Lines VIII Be Closed Guns
Posted in the Capita-Troops IN Provinces Few.

olas. The review was made the. occasion of
remarkable demonstration of fidelity to his
majesty.
The 'Molva" says that the responsibility for
general strike will rest upon the shoulders of
the government 1t charges that it is the pur-
pose of Count witte to postpone the assembling
of the douma until next summer, and in the
mean time to 'pacify'' the country in the old
bureaucratic way.
committee representing the Moscow Bourse
arrived here to-day to implore Count Witte to
do something to ward off a general strike, and
also to settle the post and telegraph strike i'm
mediateiy, as the only means OF preventing fnan-
ciaI ruin. The committee told the Premier that
already there had been thousands Of small bank
many firms was going to protest, and that large
concerns were hanging by thread. It said that
while one week of the general strike would beg
gar the proletartat. it also would spell the ruin
Of countless industries.
An open letter to the NOVA" written by
Alexander stakovitch. Of ore prominent
zemstvo leader. places NJ. Durnovo in the double
capacity of Acting Minister of the Interior and
seller Of forage 70 the War Department in the
name of his wife. NJ. stakovitch bought $4,000
pools of oats from M Durnovo's wife last
spring at 46 but delivery could not be made
on account of lack of cars. In the NEAR. time
owing to the failure of the crops. the prices had
risen. and this autumn, NJ Stakovitch- says, NJ
Durnovo secretly sold the oats to the War De-
partment at 64. at the same time presenting
bill against the department for $3.50 for storage
It is considered that the exposure will make it
Cabinet
Instead of the expected PRONUNCIATION of the
election law and of a manifesto giving the
Crown appanages to the peasants. the Emperor's
name day was marked by the declaration OF
martial law in the Province of suwalki on the
German frontier of Poland. and by the gazetting
of decorations and promotions. mostly in the
army. which cover forty-seven columns in the
"OfHcial Messenger"
An order for the Improvement Of the condi-
ton of the army and the navy. which preceded
the announcement of measures for the improve
rnent Of the status Of the privates, adopted "as
a token of the Emperor's good will toward his
army" provides for an increase of the pitiful
annual pay from 81 50 year to So in the case
of ordinary privates and of from IS to Sc In
the case of privates of the Guard. At the same
time the pay of the non-commissioned officers
is increased in proportion. in the case of the
highest of the sergeants major amounting
to $50.
One Of the most significant actions to-day
was the refusal of eleven thousand employees OF
the Pution Works to observe the holiday of
st. Nicholas They insisted on working on the
understanding that the money earned by them
would be used TO swell the strike funds. It is
stated that the strike fund of the railroad men
now amounts to $4,000.
Several barristers of ST Petersburg have re-
solved to offer their services for the defence
OF Lieutenant Schmidt the leader Of the nutiny
at sebastopoI. who is now in the ouchakon
Fortress.
In spite of the statement that two army corps
are being sent TO the Baltic provinces. it is
learned that not so many troops are available
TIE government has sent two regiments from
ST Petersburg in reply to the frantic appeals for
achievements. but it is considered too danger
Gus to deplete the garrison of the capital further
during the present crisis. and the government
can only await the arrival of the cossacks and
other troops which are being hurried forward
Continued on eighth page.