The Oskaloosa herald., 1905-01-26

GEAR NICHOLAS OF RUSSIA.
city is reported to be in a state of great
excitement over the new of the blood
shed here Sunday, which has p%recipitat-
ed Immediately the strike that had been
planned for Wednesday. Moscow has
more workmen and less troops than s..
Petersburg, and besides, is just now t.
heart of the liberal movement, an6 nc
danger of bloodier occurrences there
than have been witnessed here are pro-
portionately greater. A rising at Mos
COW is also more likely to have greater
results industrially and politically thaa
that in st. Petersburg.
Other Cities Affected.
According to private reports, t.
worHmen in several other big cities,
notably Kharkoff. where large locomt.
tive works are located, already have COM
pleted plans for a general suspension of
work Moreover, reports are current
that the workmen, who otherwise would
soon be forced back into the shops or
a~starve, have received assurances of
financial support from the sources which
have hitherto furnished the sinews Of
war to the liberal and revolutionary agi-
tation, but have not hitherto been in
touch with the labor movement.
May Force Peace.
If the strike becomes general all over
Russia, and especially if the railroads
are drawn in, it might Immediately force
the nation to make peace with Japan.
The situation appears grave from every
standpoint; but the authorities, although
apparently somewhat bewildered, de-
clare their purpose to stand firm, main
tanning that it is their first duty to pre-
serve order, scouting the idea of actual
revolution. Seemingly the ministers
are most concerned over the effect of the
present situation abroad, where, they
declare, exaggerated reports create a
false impression. What, if any, steps
have been taken to better the genera
situation, however, has not been yet dis
closed, but there are extremely signif-
cant reports that Emperor Nicholas, in
making the decision at the extraordinary
meeting of the council of the empire at.
Tsarkoe Selo on Monday to declare st.
Petersburg in a state of siege, announced
that he had resolved to issue a manifesto
to the people with a view to calming
them, promising to create a mixed COM
MISSION OF workmen and officials to in
vestigate and decide the questions of the
demands of the strikers, especially the
n affecting the hours of labor, which
Russian law fixes at IL. The representa-
tives of the workmen, according to this
report, are not to be appointed, but Sc
lected by the laboring men themselves.
This would be the first concession to the
representative principle. According to
reports the emperor will also promise to
investigate Sundays events in st. Pc
tersburg.
Crowds Were Dense.
The factory and mill districts of the
city were practically deserted Monday.
The strikers had no plans for demonstra-
tons, and no special meeting points had
been arranged. The absence of any def
mite objective led the strikers to drift
towards the principal t~horoughfare, the
Nevsky Prospect, which was the center
of the days less thrilling events. AS
the afternoon wore on the crowds in the
Neysky Prospect became dense, and the
authorities. possibly fearing that the
cars might be converted into material for
barricades. stopped street railway traffic
and reinforced the already considerable
number Of cavalry patrols. Towards five
o'clock, driving up the Neysky Prospect,
the correspondent saw through the
gathering gloom the blaze OF campfres
in the palace square, with the dark
forms OF troopers sitting around them.
The Nevsky Prospect itself was ablaze
with light. Strikers and curiosity seek
ers promenaded the two miles OF side
walk between the admiralty and the
Nicholas station, and %squadrons OF hus-
sars and cuirassiers rode up and down in
endless procession. The crowds seemed
peaceful enough, the watchword evil
IDENTIFY being Don't abuse the troops"