The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1905-02-03
CAR TALKS
TO SUBJECTS
WoRkINGMEN LISTEN TO LEG
TURE BY NICHOLAS.
Old TO GO BACK TO WORK
Russian Emperor Informs Delegation
of Strikers They Have Been
Led Astray.
Old TO GO BACK 70 WORK

st. Petersburg, Feb. 1.-Emperor
Nicholas this afternoon received at
Tsar-skoe-Selo delegation of "a work
ingmen representing the employees OF
the factories and workshops of ST.
Petersburg. The depntation was ac-
! companied by Minister of Finance
kokovsof and Governor General ire
potf, and proceeded by the imperial
railroad to Tsar-sKoe-Selo, where car
riages were awaiting them and they
were driven to a point near the i'm
perial pavilion. On arriving there
the workmen were admitted to one OF
the halls of the palace The emperor
entered the hall accompanied by Grand
Duke Mikhailovich, General Hesse, the
minister OF the imperial court and the
commandant of the palace The work
men bowed deeply to the emperor,
who said:
Good day, my children
The workmen replied: 1--WE wish
your majesty good health
The emperor then said: 81 have
summoned you in order that you may
hear my words from myself @nd com
municate them to your companions.
The recent lamentable events with
such sad but inevitable results nave
occurred because you allowed your
selves to be led astray by traitors ano
enemies of our country. When they
induced you to address a petition to
me on your needs they desired to see
you revolt against me and my govern
ment. They forced you to leave your
honest work at a period when all Rus
sian workmen should be laborlng un-
ceasingly in order that we might van
quish our obstinate enemy. Strikes
and disgraceful demonstrations led
the crowds 20 disoraers which obliged
and always will oblige the authorities
to call out troops. AS a result inno-
cent people were victims. l know
that the lot of the workmen is not
easy Many things require improve
ment; but have patience. You win
understand that it is necessary to be
just towards your employers and to
consider the condition of our indus
tries. But to come to me as rebel
lious mob in order to declare your
wants is crime In my solicitude for
the working classes I will take mea,
sures which will assure that every
thing possible will be done to improve
their lot and secure an investigation
of their demands through legal chan
nels. I am convinced of the honesty
of the workmen and their devotion TO
myself and | pardon their transgres-
sion. Return to your work with your
comrades and carry out the tasks al,
lotted to you. May God bless you.'
At the conclusion of this speech the
emperor told the members of the de-
putation to communicate his words to
their comrades and said he would sup
ply them with printed copies OF his au.
dress.
After leaving the palace the deputa-
tion proceeded to neighboring church
where they prayed and after kissing
ikons placed lighted candles before
the srines. Subsequently they were
given dinner in a building which for
merly was the high school of Tsar-
skoe-Selo. One of the members of the
deputation proposed the health of the
emperor, which was drunk with
cheers.
At 4:30 p. m. the delegates drove to
the imperial pavilion, whence they
took train for st. Petersburg.