The San Francisco call., 1905-01-21

verge of an incipient revolution, thou
sands of workmen parading the streets,
agitators and fanatics sowing the seeds
OF disorder, half the city in darkness
and without fire protection, owing to
walkouts, the situation was hourly
growing more tense tonight, when the
authorities decided to adopt energetic
measures to preserve order. prevent
rioting and overawe the violent-mind-
ed, at the same time seeking to pla-
cate the striking workmen by offering
satisfaction of their demands In SO far
as they are just and reasonable, thus
acting with combined firmness and
moderat. N.
The Government tonight augmented
the garrison of ST. Petersburg with $500
cavalry and 1000 infantry from Tsar-
skoe- e-Selo and flled the streets, espe-
cially in the disaffected quarter, with
heavy patrols of soldiers.
The refusal to permit delegation of
workmen to present a petition to En-
peror Nicholas at Tsarskoe- Selo has
made it known that the great demon
stration planned for Sunday with its
unlimited possibilities for an outbreak
will not be permitted to take place. At
the same time, acting in conjunction
with conference of employers, 1t has
been determined to offer concessions in
the terms of employment, which the
employers declared the great majority
of the workmen would be inclined 10
accept IL they were guaranteed protec-
ton from the more violent faction.
FATHER GOPON IN CUSTODY.
Father Gopon, leader of the workmen,
had been Quietly spirited away from
his, bodyguard aIid taken into custody.
in furtherance of the plan to disorgan-
ize the elements that are threatening
the peace of st. Petersburg.
The authorities believe that by these
steps they have the situation well In
hand and announce they expect
peaceful solution of the problem
The situation reached an acute stage
to-day, and the strike assumed an open
political phase. The day was one of in
tense excitement. Mill after mill and
factory after factory closed.
Throngs of workmen paraded the
streets, and, when their colleagues re-
fused TO join them, broke down gates
and forced out the men. The whole in
dustrial center is idle.
All the textile mills and every print
ing Office in st. Petersburg are closed
One electric light plant and one water
plant have shut down, and more than
100000 men are out.
Throughout the day workmen's meet
ings were held, at which incendiary
speeches were made, the widest threats
being uttered as to what would come, in
the event of the authorities and em-s
ployers failing to meet their demands.
The nervousness and dread of what
the next, few days might bring forth
was increased by reports that the
workmen of Moscow, Keiff Kharkoff
Kishineff and other large cities in the
interior might join the movement.
While the Government and employers
temporized, the telegraphers and rail-
road employees threatened to join the
walkout, paralyzing the communica-
tions of the country. Many foreigners
are preparing to send their families
abroad. Every newspaper in st. Pc
tesburg has been forced to suspend
publication, owing to the strike.
SUDDENNESS OF STRIKE.
The suddenness of the strike and the
far reaching nature of the workmens
organization was largely surprise to
the Government and the employers.
Starting with the walkout OF a few
thousand employees of the Putiloff Iron
Works, due purely to industrial causes,
it spread as rapidly as a confiagration
through the labor classes Of st. Peters
burg and became general. AT first only
industrial demands were presented,
such as shortening the hours Of labor
and for increases Of wages; but poverty
and discomfort, under the inciternent of
Social Democratic agitators, led to the
formulation of political demands.
A petition was drawn up and largely
signed, which, going beyond the COM
plants on which the strike originated,
attacked the whole capitalistic system
of the country, bitterly assailed the
present Government as one of bureauc-
racy and demanded the reform of
both asserting that death was prefera-
BILE to existence under such conditions.
This was to have been presented per-
sonally to Emperor Nicholas. A depu-
tation of workmen endeavored to see
his Majesty at Tsarskoe-Seloe and ap-
peal to him to come to the Winter Pal
ace Sunday to be present at an i'm
mense demonstration of the Industrial
classes. 1t was planned to have the
workmen in ST. Petersburg, headed by
their leader, the. priest Gopon, in full
gorgeous canonical garb, march to the
palace and assemble in the great pa-
rade grounds in front of the palace and
there present the petition to his Ma
jesty. The deputation, however, will
be refused admission to Tsarskoe- -Soloe.
The Government believes this will rem
der a meeting on Sunday impossible.
The priest Gepon is an interesting
personality. He Is idolized by the
workmen, who, since the beginning of
the strike, have furnished him with a
bodyguard. He has been accompanied
everywhere by a score of persons and
has not been sleeping at his own home
for a week for fear of the contingency
of arrest by the police. which is report
ed to have already happened.
WATER WORKS GUARDED.
AS peasant swine-herder when
boy Gopon showed such capacity Tor
learning that he was sent to the Pol
tava Ecclesiastical Seminary to be edu-