The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-12-21
GREAT STRUGGLE BEGINS -
General Strike Is On and Capital May
May Be Cut Off.

st. Petersburg, Dec. 21.-2:35 a.m.-
The first guns in the battle which may
determine the fate of Premier Witte 5
experiment with moderate constitution
alisn and introduce either reaction or
complete revolution, were fired yes,
strike was successfully inaugurated.
The leaders of the government of the
proletariat last night were making their
last preparations here for a general en-
day The workmen s council has been
sitting continuously since o'clock yes
terday afternoon receiving reports and
issuing final orders.
The leaders profess to be greatly en-
couraged at the news from Moscow and
the reports from district meetings
which were held in all sections Of St.
Petersburg yesterday, declaring, that
there is now no question that the tie
up will be complete, They admit that
many of the St. Petersburg workmer.
especially the married men, would pre-
fer to continue at work, but they are
counting on the great majority favor
ing the strike to swing the recalcit-
rants into line and produce a paralysis
Of industry even more complete than
during the strike of January last.
If their expectations are realized,
st. Petersburg today will be isolated
from the rest of the world, with rail
road traffic stopped and telegraph wires
and cables cut.
Workmen's Declarations.
The workmen' s council last night is
sued a stirring proclamation declaring
that the government had cast to the
winds the principles of the imperial
manifesto of Oct. 80 and was now bas-
ing itself On reaction, trickery and de-
ceit. The proclamation ended with sum
moning all the people of Russia to join
in a. general strike and not to cease the
struggle until the demands for a con-
stituent assembly, universal suffrage.
the release of the arrested leaders of
the proletariat, land for the peasantry
ETC., are granted.
The editors of the radical papers are
determined to print the MANIFESTO this
morning. It is utterly revolutionary in
it's phrasing and consequently the ed1
tors are taking infinite precautions tc
prevent the confiscation of the issues by
the police. r@
The leaders of the government yester
day also devoted the day to reviewing
( their plans for the conflict and In con
sequence the consideration of the pro
posed election law was not finished. The
final decisions will be reached at an
other session of the cabinet to be hello
at the TsarkoeSelo Friday.
Indications are multiplying that the
government grim warning to the peo
law into their own hands if the rail
road strike is called will bear fruit. M
Ne1nechaieff is counting upon this as
we'll as on financial reasons to keeL
many of the petty employees in line.
At the meetings of various liberia
and revolutionary organizations helt
last night the sentiment as a rule was
IN foyor of the trike
In response to number of requests
from editors Of local papers, who were
expecting their employees to strike, thu
workmen's council has decided to ALLOW
the radical organs to appear. In Mos
cow, however, all the newspapers will
I be compelled to cease publication.
The physicians union decided las
night that the dictates of humanity re
quired the members to attend all sicl
persons, but it was resolved to devot
all fees received to the strike fund an,
to boycott all doctors not doing SO.