The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-11-17
A General Political Strike
Again Begun.
A TACTICAL BLUNDER
Thus it is Regarded by Many Friends
OF The Masses. -Dissention Among
the Leaders. A Blizzard Raging
Over st. Petersburg Probably
Prevents BIo0dShed.
tBy the Associated Press.)

ST. Petersburg Nov. 16-12:3l a. m.
which blew down on St. Petersburg
tonight prevented bloodshed in the
Russian capital The bitter cold. by
forcing the strikers TO remain in doors,
did more TO preserve order than tie
Cossack cavalry patrofling the streets.
Heavy military reserves are stationed
in all the industrial districts. but Up
10 midnight there was no riotin2.
There were rumors of collisions in Va
rious parts of the city. but on lnVesr-
cation they turned out to be false.
The SOCIAL Democrats had an i'm
pressive response on the part OF all
.organiZa tions OF Workmen to their
summons for general political strike
TO demonstrate their solidarity With
the struggle OF their Polish comrades
for autonomy and To protect against
the execution of the mutinous sailors
ar Cronstadt. The men walked out or
all the big mills and factories ana
Inc employees OF the Baltic ana war
saw railroads, the printers and other
classes of laborerS struck, but the
shops in tie center of the city were
not closed. Troops took charge OF
the electric light stations. which were
operated by sailors. so that the CITY
MAS not placed in darkness tonight.
No dispatches have arrived from
the interior, however, to show that the
Workmen in other cities ars respond
..nt TO the demand for cooperation.
and diSsension has broken OF among
the leaders. some of whom believe the
strike to be haSty and i'll advised ana
who say that if it does not succeed
The result wifi be loss of prestige. Al
meetings tonight this faction urged
The leaders TO announce tomorrow
that the strike was only intended as
a demonstration. but the radicals.
whose aim is to keep up the revoiu-
tionary. agitation at all hazards re-
fused to listen TO such counsels. They
insisted that it was vitality necessary
for the success of their propaganda,
among the army and the navy that
they should get credit for saving the
lives of the mutineers and that ii they
could force the Government TO recede
from its position regarding Poland
they would have ii by the throat. AT
strike headquarters tonight reports
were being received and the leaders
refused TO admit that the question of
abandoning the strike had yet been
raised.
Renewal of Panic.
The situation has caused renewal
of the panicky feeling among the IN
habitants whose nerves were already
shattered by the events of the last
fortnight and hundreds of persons
who had just returned are again leay
ing for Finland. The foreign resi-
dents are becoming more and more
alarmed and many of them are hastily
preparing to go abroad for the winter.
In case the Finnish Socialists should
join their Russ an comrades and tie
up the Finnish railroad the only
egress would be by water, and the
freezing of the gulf of Finland fort
night hence would close the last exit.
The foreign embassies share me pub
lie alarm. and the British embassy is
advising the immediate removal of
women and children.
Witte Meets With Cabinet.
Count Witte and his cabinet were in
session throughout the afternoon and
evening discussing the situation, and
n number of prominent Liberals were
called in for consultation. Grand
Duke Nicholas was present part of
The time The possibility that the
government might be compelled, if
the situation grew worse, TO declare
martial law in st. PeterSDu.g was
considered. but as far as can be
learned no definite decision in this
matter was reached.
While the League of Leagues is dis
posed to back up the strike. the work
men are undoubtedly alternating much
public sympathy by their recklessness.
Many rebels openly declare that the
strike is a tactical blunder, which may
prove disastrous, but their temperate
counsel is rejected.
NJ. Hessen, editor of the Prayo. and