Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1905-01-20
$4,000 ARE ON
STRIKE IN RUSSIA
The Industrial Situation is
Regarded as Very
Grave,
MOVEMENT SPREADING FAST
Now Threatens to Affect Dig Cotton
Mills - Socialist Leaders Ars En-.
dsavoring to Convert Strike Into
Vast Political Demonstration.

terday the employees OF the keya Ship
building Works decided to support the
strikers Of the Putiloff and Franco.
Russian works. Subsequently 10000
of the men of the Neva works inform.
ed their managers that they had gone
out on a general strike.
The situation is regarded as threat.
ening.
The strike at the Neva works IN.
wolves the suspension of the construc.
ton of submarine boats of the pro-
tector type which was being carried
out under the supervision of an Amer.
lean engineer and also the work on
two ocean-going vessels similar to
those Of the volunteer feet and sew.
eral gunboats and torpedo boats, be-
sides the preparation Of war material
urgently required for naval and mill.
tary purposes. The completion Of the
gunboats and torpedo boats had been
ordered within two months.
Large forces of military and police
have been sent to the works.
1t is feared that the men employed
1t the Obukhon steel WORKS will join
the movement, thus adding 10000 to
the ranks Of the strikers.
st. Petersburg, Jan. 19.-The strike
situation is becoming very grave. To.
day there are $1,000 men out on
strike and the movement is spread.
Ing to the big cot ton mills, which EN-.
ploy over $4,000 operators. Meetings
have been called for today, at which
the socialistic democratic leaders
will use their utmost endeavors to
convert the strike into vast politi.
cal demonstration, which at the pres
ent crisis, might have most serious
developments. The authorities are
adopting every precaution to avoid an
outbreak, but the socialistic demo-
Gratis are squirting on the strikers, and
there is great danger Of collision
with the troops which would be al.
most sure to be followed by red flag
demonstrations, accompanied by great
bloodshed. The city is full of sensa.
tional rumors and rioting is generally
expected. In conjunction with the
Epiphany celebration, which will oc-
cur today, the meeting of strikers
will make the day critical one for
the police. Thus far, however, the
strike has preserved purely eco
nomic aspect. The great industrial
quarter Of st. Petersburg, which is
the pride Of modern Russia, presents
the appearance of an armed camp.
The idle factories are surrounded by
workmen and who represents them in
fantry march about the snow covered
plains.
The strikers are led by a priest
named Gopon, who Is idolized by the
wOrkwen and who represents them in
negotiations with their employers.
This Is the first great strike In nor.
thern Russia. Hitherto the workmen
have been unorganized, and previous
strikes in St. Petersburg have not
involved more than 10000 men. The
strike leaders claim to have funds
enough to hold out for a month, but
this is doubted, and the lack of money
and the privations Of winter and per.
haps government interference, are ex-
pected to make the strike short and
sharp. The strikers, who at first de-
clined the financial support by the
Eocialistic democrats OF Moscow on
the ground that they wished to sharp.
ly differentiate the walkout from a
political movement, are reported to
have accepted the Moscow contribu.
ton.
The strike has an important bear.
ing on the war in the far east, as
every days delay in completing gov
eminent contracts with the iron
works means the loss Of precious time
in the starting Of the third Pacific
squadron.