Los Angeles herald., 1905-11-20
RADICALS
DEFEATED
No Move for 8 Hour
Day in Russia
Conservatives VictOrs in
WOrkmen's Council
Interest Is Now centered In Moscow,
Where zemstvo Congress Has
opened--sharp Conflict
ls Looked For
BY Associated Press.

BY Associated Press
ST. PETERSBURG. Nov. 20, $40 a.
m.-The conservative leaders In the
Council of Workmen are again victor-
ious. At 2:55 o'clock this morning they
carried resolution against any attempt
to introduce movement for an eight
hour day.
When the council convened last night
a Socialist representative introduced an
amendment to the resolution calling off
the strike, providing that the men In
returning to work hereafter labor only
eight hours, laying down their tools at
o'clock in the afternoon instead of 6.
while insisting on the same rate of pay.
Encouraged by their earlier victory, the
conservative leaders at once opened q
vigorous opposition to the resolution.
pointing out the determination of the
employers to regard any attempt to OBJ
tain shorter hours by revolutionary
means as the signal for lockout of the
great mass of the workmen of ST.
Petersburg and that they were in posi-
ton to enter on a prolonged combat Of
endurance at the very outset of a long
cold winter.
Decisive Fight In January
A number of orators even questioned
the wisdom of an eght-hour day itself,
declaring that Russia at present was
not ripe for it, while others who are In
sympathy with the movement for a
shorter day declared that it would not
be wise to fritter away their strength
at this time when a great and decisive
combat in January was imminent.
Apprehensions that the defeat of the
Reds in the council might inspire them
to take violent measures yesterday
against the troops or the merchants
who refused to close their places of
business Saturday when ordered by the
leaders, were happily without founda-
ton, though rumors of collisions be-
tween workmen and troops in tho
Vasiliosthov and Putiloff districts were
in circulation.
At police headquarters, however, 1t
was said that there had been no dis
orders and at strike headquarters the
Associated Press was Informed that
there had been no collision, though per-
haps a few shots might have been fired
in the air by overexuberant demon
strators. Nevertheless the patrols In
the streets were doubled yesterday.
These were generally commanded by
officers, showing that
in spite of the rumors of dissatisfaction
among the troops the government was
not afraid to trust the soldiers of the
guard at large without commanding Of
ficers.
Councils Proclamation
The high-soundng proclamation with
which the Council of Workmen an
nounced the end of the strike. declar-
ing that the demonstration had served
it's purpose by saving the lives of the
mutineers at Cronstdt. of course IS
practically a blind to cover the defeat.
as the trials Of the mutineers are still
in progress. 1t is at the same time
shrewd tactics for use in the propa-
ganda which the council is actively
pushing among the army and navy.
Such a claim, however. cannot disguise
the fact that the strike was inaug-
urated to compel the government not
only to abolish martial law in Poland
and to compel the calling of con-
stituent assembly, none OF which OBJ
iects has been achieved.
The refusal of the affiliated organiza-