The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-12-12
GEN, PARSENOFF
 TALKS BLOOD Russian Commander Says Rev. oIutionists and Liberty Will Soon be EnguIfed in
 Massacre
BIG WORkMEN'S MEETING
 DISPERSED BY COSSACKS
Government Will Not Grant Universal Suffrage-Prenier Witte Always
 Was One Being Planned?

St. Petersburg, Sunday, December 10, via Eydtkuhnen, December 11.zsIt is learned on high authority that the gov ernment has finally decided against uni versal suffrage, and practically in favor of the old project of twenty-one workmen representatives and the extension of the ballot to the small rent payers. merchants and the educated classes. However, the law must still pass the council of the empire and receive imperial approval. If the decision is upheld it is apt to end all question of the support of the zemst- voists.
 The railroad men claim that they have been informed that the southwestern sys- terms have responded to the appeal for a general strike. Cooler heads, however are advising against precipitate action which might result in failure. and are urging a postponement of action until leaders throughout the country have been consulted.
 It Is believed that if the attempt at reaction is persisted in the moderate lib- erals who are disgusted with the tactics of the revolutionists, fearing anarchy, and
  surely be driven back into the camp of the extremists. Premier Wittes friends declare emphatically that he has never been In favor of an armed revolution, and they intimate strongly that the ar rests of the strike leaders must be charged to Interior Minister Durnovo, who insisted that he had proof which could be estab- lished in the courts that M. Krustaleff was planning an armed revolution and that besides attempting to subvert the gov ernment he had attacked its credit in 4r- culars advising the workmen and peas ants to withdraw their funds from the savings banks. Notwithstanding this. doubt Is expressed as to whether M. Durnovo can establish his case, as the specific law, making agitation for po- litical strikes, which will interfere with the railroads, telegraphs, posts, etc., d criminal offense, has not yet been pro- mulgated. It is expected, however, that the law will be promulgated before the end of the week.
 It is understood that General Dudlin, prefect of St. Petersburg, has refused to carry M. Durnovo's orders, that he has resigned and that he has been succeeded by Baron De Meyendorf, commander of Emperor Nicholas body guard.
 A humorous sidelight on the situation
 
 and porters of the asylum for the insane in striking and demanding that the chief physician be chosen by the equal direct and secret ballot of the employees.
 The printers of the Russ. the chief or gan of the liberals. an edition of which was seized last night. have now struck because the proprietor has refused to pay them for time lost during the last strike.
 The situation is exceedingly ominious. Public opinion Is practically unanimous that the government has entered upon the fatal path of reaction and that Witte's ministry must fall. Reaction and revolu- tion confront each other in death strug- gle Both General Trepoff and General Count Ignateff, according to popular im- pression. are being held in reserve to ex- ecute the programme of repression. It is again said that the entire Cossack strength of 10000 will be mobilized in a supreme effort to crush the revolutionary forces.
 General Parsenoff said: "I think we arc coming to rivers of blood in which the revolutionary party will lose their game and Russia her liberty"
 Certainly the appearance of St Peters burg and the events here today seemed to justify this black picture of the flu 1 ture. The capital resembles great mill ! tary camp. The patrols everywhere were | doubled and grim looking canon rumblee | through the streets. What happened ] smacked strongly of the old regime. A | large workmens meeting was dispersed | by Cossacks.